The battle for the maginot line 1940 casemate publishers. The maginot line was a very elaborate line of military built on the eastern border of france to defend against an attack from germany in 192839. Boek maken downloaden als pdf printvriendelijke versie. The maginot line was made of a number of fortifications and bunkers, close to the french border to germany, belgium, luxembourg and italy. While an understanding of the line s creation is vital to any study of world war i, world war ii, and the period in between, this knowledge is also helpful when interpreting a number of modern references. It is not permitted to upload this file to any pages that put them under any other license than the license given here. Maginot line maginot line this was a french line of. Unfortunately, the line covered the frenchgerman frontier, but not the frenchbelgian.
Bbc ww2 peoples war brits on the maginot line, france 1940. The maginot line was named after the man who argued for its construction, french minister of war. Today, the fortifications towards italy are commonly called alpin line. Germany, broke through the north end of the maginot line, and turned a. We know now that the maginot linecomplex was a dangerous disease of the mind. Heading underground in france to explore the maginot line. The cost ot halt a million lives did not yield verdun to the kaiser in the first world war a mass attack on the maginot line tor the. The maginot line should have been continuous or not at all. The sector was part of a system of fortifications that included the maginot line in other sectors. In books and also in simulation games the maginot line is often described as a continuous, massive and impassable fortification. Mar 18, 2017 as a french author and military liaison with the british, andre maurois, wrote about his disillusionment with the defensive line he originally enthusiastically supported. The ones that were installed, fulfilled an important role of cle.
However, different sections of the line were built at different times and the strength of various sections varied widely. Impressive line of military fortifications on the francogerman border built in the years prior to 1940, designed to force the germans to repeat the schlieffen plan of. German occupation of luxembourg during world war ii. The german occupation of luxembourg in world war ii began in may 1940 after the grandduchy of luxembourg was invaded by nazi germany. Maginot in 192934 and was continually improved upon until 1940. The maginot line dominated french military thinking in the interwar years. Maginot line definition, a zone of heavy defensive fortifications erected by france along its eastern border in the years preceding world war ii, but outflanked in 1940 when the. As a french author and military liaison with the british, andre maurois, wrote about his disillusionment with the defensive line he originally enthusiastically supported. During the first world war, the german army had built the hindenburg line, which is. Im reasonably sure that the maginot line was of little practical use to the germans.
Battles on the french frontier campaign series by marc romanych. The maginot line suffered the basic weakness of all fixed defences but it also offered benefits highly recommended. For a start it faced the wrong way,and even were it not so,the allies were sure to pull the same trick as the germans in 1940. Constructed throughout the 1930s, the maginot line was supposed to form the ultimate defense against a german invasion of france. The maginot line pdh online is now under construction on the eastern frontier of france and belgium. At the moment i am working on a book talking about its effect. The maginot line was a vast fortification that spread along the frenchgerman border but became a military liability when the germans attacked france in the spring of 1940 using blitzkrieg a tactic that completely emasculated the maginot line s purpose. A line of fortification constructed in the 1930s along frances border with germany. The world war ii german invasion plan of 1940 sichelschnitt was designed to deal with the line. The maginot line, the complex system of strongpoints constructed between the world wars by the french to protect against attack from germany, is one of the most famous, extensive and controversial defensive schemes in all military history. It consisted of an intricate system of strong points, fortifications, and military facilities such as border. From may 10 through may 15, 1940, general heinz guderians xix.
Or are you interested in war medals and their recipients. It included three fortified regions metz, lauter, and belfort, the rhine fortified front, and the saar obstacle region. In 1940 the germans took advantage and actually came through the forest bypassing the maginot line. However, different sections of the line were built at different times and the. The line failed in may 1940 when germany went around the line from the north, through belgium. Lwpmorganfall of france association of the united states army. Heading underground in france to explore the maginot line, wwii history. Now that im no longer a volunteer i only check this site for messages. Constructed throughout the 1930s, the maginot line was supposed to form the ultimate defence against a german invasion of france. Maginot line definition, a zone of heavy defensive fortifications erected by france along its eastern border in the years preceding world war ii, but outflanked in 1940 when the german army attacked through belgium. We know now that the maginot line complex was a dangerous disease of the mind. The radio is a subject which annoys the french ego, each time one. Following the experience of the 191418 war, the french government decided to look at ways of defending its borders to cover the possibility of germany ever attacking france again. Maginot line simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
The maginot line named after the french minister of war andre maginot, is a line of concrete. He used crutches and walking sticks for the remainder of his life. They invaded belgium on may 10, continued their march through belgium, crossed the somme river, and on may 12 struck at sedan at the northern end of the maginot line. Includes pictures explains the origins of the maginot line, its construction, and the world war. It was designed to protect northeastern france against german invasion. The line was a response to frances experience in world war i and was constructed during the runup to world war ii. The maginot line was built at the suggestion of minister of war a. Although luxembourg was officially neutral, it was situated at a strategic point at the end of the french maginot line. A disadvantage of the weapon was that when mounted in a cupola, the barrel was vulnerable since it stuck out quite some cms. Battles on the french frontier campaign romanych, marc, rupp, martin, white, john on. Maginot line article about maginot line by the free dictionary. Maginot line this was a french line of protection developed along the nations border with germany amid the 1930s and named after minister of war andre maginot who while serving after world war i as frances priest of war and afterward as leader of the chamber of deputies army commission, finished arrangements for the protective line along the northeastern outskirts and acquired the capital.
On 10 may 1940, the german wehrmacht invaded luxembourg, belgium and the netherlands. On 15th june 1940, the germans launch operation kleiner bar against the maginot line in alsace, on the rhine. I have heard it both ways that the french maginot line was either a complete success and a total failure. The french doctrine of 1940 had evolved from the great war. On may guderians panzers emerged from the supposedly impassable narrow valleys of the. Contrary to legend, the maginot line functioned perfectly and did everything that was expected of it. This book removes the mysteries that have long surrounded the maginot line and explains its true history. Looking for reliable information or news facts about ww2. Around 1600 mortars were delivered in 1940, but not all of them were installed. The french maginot line in use from 1935 to 1940 from world war ii has come to stand as one of the great symbols of shortsightedness, myopic architecture, stupidity, ostrichlike response to threat, and just general fail.
The maginot line myth and reality by anthony kemp answered none of my big general questionsinterests. Aug 31, 2017 i have heard it both ways that the french maginot line was either a complete success and a total failure. I am arguing that it did everything it needed to do. Mar 30, 2018 built between 1930 and 1940, frances maginot line was a massive system of defenses that became famous for failing to stop a german invasion. While an understanding of the lines creation is vital to any study of world war i, world war ii, and the period in between, this knowledge is also helpful when interpreting a number of modern references. Aug 17, 2011 heading underground in france to explore the maginot line, wwii history. Clayton donnells expert, finely detailed and graphic account of. During their blitzkrieg invasion, the germans were able to identify these weak points and focus their attacks against them. Maginot line synonyms, maginot line pronunciation, maginot line translation, english dictionary definition of maginot line.
Nonfiction reading test maginot line ereading worksheets forts, yet it proved to be almost useless. Maginot line definition of maginot line by the free dictionary. The fortifications were built as part of frances maginot line defensive strategy, but the sector lacks the large interconnected fortifications found along frances land border with germany. The maginot line consists of stratigically located and spaced independent defensive sites initially intended to overcome the lack available male soldiers to staff an army following the tremendous loss of french men from world war 1. Maginot line french fortification, europe britannica. The first five divisions are good ones but the 3 last ones are rather second line troops. Links and sources all the contributors of the content bibliography. The maginot line was a vast fortification that spread along the frenchgerman border but became a military liability when the germans attacked france in the spring of 1940 using blitzkrieg a tactic that completely emasculated the maginot lines purpose. Purpose frances defeat by germany in 1940 is one of the most. Impressive line of military fortifications on the francogerman border built in the years prior to 1940, designed to force the germans to repeat the schlieffen plan of 1914 attack france through belgium, if at all.
The maginot line by greg moore built from 1930 to 1940 and at a cost of over 5 billion french francs, the maginot line was a fortified line in depth, usually 25 to 25 kilometers deep. What was it like as a french soldier to defend the maginot line when the germans invaded in 1940, and was the line really a strategic and tactical disaster a massive waste of resources. Built between 1930 and 1940, frances maginot line was a massive system of defenses that became famous for failing to stop a german invasion. Hackenberg a fortress of the maginot line written by neil barber. For example, only around 1009 were installed in gfm cloches. After reading this book i have no idea how the maginot line would prevent the germans from simply marching to the left or right meters and simply avoiding this defense system. The maginot line was named after andre maginot 18771932, a politician who served in world war i until wounded in november 1914. After the war, the maginot line wrongly became the scapegoat for the greatest military and political disaster ever suffered by france. This is the most comprehensive account of the maginot line in 1940 and later in wwii.
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