The pre-WW1 penalties are offset by research of the WW1 doctrines (which Germany has completed).

Thanks for your answer. Well, in my germany game they are still existent, i am in the year 1944 now and have researched *all* of the WW2 Doctrine tree now. Still its not gone.

It doesn't "go". You have a -10% for Pre-WW1 but you have a +5% from defensive trenches (?) and +6% from fortress defence (?) so the net is the WW1 doctrine has been offset.

Unless you go for defence in depth doctrine, you won't get much entrenchment without engineer companies.

Whether max entrenchment is too low relative to base game I've no view. Don't forget you have the extra option to build Pillboxes.

Ah, now i see - i got your offset wrong. Means no real entrenchment bonus unless you have forts, pillboxes, engineers. Thanks for the clarification!