The Bar Lev Line along the Suez Canal, along with the Purple Line in the Golan Heights, was born out of Israel's overwhelming victory in the Six Day War of 1967. Devastated by their defeat, the Egyptian Army began a prolonged campaign of artillery bombardments of Israeli positions causing significant casualties. Accordingly, the IDF Chief of Staff, General Haim Bar Lev, ordered the construction of a series of fortified positions and observation posts that were named the Bar Lev Line by the Israeli press. This book describes these positions, along with those on the Holan Heights and examines their effectiveness when the Egyptians and Syrians launched a massive joint offensive against the fortifications on 6 October 1973, surrounding and isolating a number of the positions with deadly results.

Only let there be peace -- Chronology -- Building the Line -- The Bar Lev Line -- The war of attrition -- The Purple Line -- Holding the Line -- Life on the Line -- Eyes have they but they see not, Psalm 135:16 -- Breaking the Line: Back to the Purple Line -- Aftermath -- Walking the Line.