In the United States vegetables and fruit are often sold in open market in the streets. In Europe merchandise of every kind, even clothes and jewelry, is sold in the street market. Notice the very great variety of objects displayed, plates, bowls, pitchers, vases, tiles. No fine china is offered in such a market, only the coarser earthenware and glass, but many of the articles are very good in form and color. The dealer in the foreground, Martin Frank, does not live in Koblenz but brings his wares from Leutesdorf (loi´ tsdorf) a small village near by. From this we know that Koblenz is the center of trade for all the surrounding country. This district is rich in clay suitable for making dishes and there are potteries in all the nearby towns as well as in Koblenz itself. Koblenz is a German city beautifully situated at the junction of the Moselle River with the Rhine. More than two thousand years ago it was a Roman stronghold. In 1814 it came into the possession of the Prussians by whom it was strengthened to form a part of the fortifications which were built to guard the Rhine. On the south and west, Koblenz is surrounded by forts, one of which, called Ehrenbreitstein (´rn-brt´shtn) is one of the strongest fortresses in the world. It stands on a rock 390 feet above the Rhine, its northwest side protected by three lines of defense. After the armistice (är´m-sts) was signed Koblenz was surrendered to the Allied Armies. American troops of the Army of Occupation were ordered in to hold this stronghold until the final settlement. The American boys filled the city and doubtless this scene is familiar to many of them. Find Koblenz on your map. What do you know of the Rhine River? Keystone ID: 10378 Note: All titles, descriptions, and location coordinates are from the original Keystone Slide documentation as supplied by the Keystone View Company. No text has been edited or changed.