Extensive flooding of the IJssel floodplains and the surrounding areas was intended as a substantial barrier between Nijmegen and Kampen.

To ensure a sufficient amount of water for the area north of Deventer, a third movable floating dam was added at Olst.

The IJssel line of defense was intended to slow down a Soviet offensive, providing time for Allied support to reach the Netherlands.

The IJssel Line would have been a northern extension of NATO main defences along the River Rhine, preventing an almost immediate occupation of the Randstad Holland as would have been the case in the original version of the NATO plan, envisaging a more southern defence in this area, along the Lower Rhine or Waal, abandoning the major Dutch cities and ports to the enemy.

The IJssel Line Foundation was formed as a voluntary body in 2003 to maintain the buildings and structures as historical monuments.