Multilingual Fortification Dictionary
The Multilingual Fortification Dictionary (MFD) contains a illustrated list of fortifications and their translations in multiple languages ; The initiative for founding this dictionary came from Mr. Carlos Scheltema, IFC general secretary, honorary member of the Stichting Menno van Coehoorn and ICOMOS, in 2005.
In 2018, the IFC initiate the publication of the MFD on our website. We complete some definition and translation since now and we can propose the translation in 12 language (Croatian, Czech, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Lithuanian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish).
The IFC is considering to add new languages and new time periods, eventually including the ‘concrete’ and ‘reinforced concrete century’. IFC and will cooperate. Due to various circumstances work on the dictionary came to a standstill. Apart from that the layout of the dictionary’s website is outdated. The IFC plans on restarting the work on the dictionary and giving the website a new and modern look.. In October 2025, our general assembly in Evora (Portugal) decided to resume work on the dictionary in order to update it in light of research conducted in recent years on fortifications EFFORTS and to provide translations for new term.
Il some terms can be translate easely, for a definition of the World War II Atlantikwall (Sudwall and Siegfried line), see: /files/Atlantikwall_definition_of_a_phenomenon.pdf
You are invited to use the dictionary and to send comments etc. to the Secretariat (secretariat@internationalfortresscoucil.org ), that will forward the comments to the Multilingual Fortification Dictionary Working Group
