Complex sentence: In general, despite some of the defence's defects the Romanian command was convinced in the strength and ability of the fortress to hold on against major enemy attacks and it was often referred to as "the second Verdun" or "Verdun of the East".
Split into simpler sentences: In general, despite some of the defence's defects, the Romanian command was convinced of the strength of the fortress, and confident in its ability to hold out against major enemy attacks. It was often referred to as "the second Verdun", or "the Verdun of the East".