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. The problem was that maginot line, a great line of fortifications that spanned frances borders with several neighbors, was essentially a glorified trench. On the surface, the maginot line was engineered to blunt a direct german attack into france, while safeguarding vital industries situated in the contested alsace and lorraine regions. Ouvrage hackenberg, one of the largest a gros ouvrage of the maginot line fortifications, is part of the fortified sector of boulay.
And french gun turret development 18801940 new vanguard by clayton donnell and donato spedaliere sep 19, 2017 4. The fact that certain modern fortresses had held out against german artillery during world war i, as well as the. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Lang usefully explains the inception and construction of the maginot line, the maginot line during the second world war, and the maginot line after 1945. After the war, the maginot line wrongly became the scapegoat for the greatest military and political disaster ever suffered by france. What was the french maginot line and what was its german counterpart.
It was certainly built to last and more than 70 years after the combat that surrounded it ended, much of it remains. After wwi, the french sought means to defend their territory against the rising menace 1930s nazi germany by constructing the maginot line, a series of interconnected strongpoints and fortifications running along much of frances eastern border. The maginot line did not extend across the northern border with belgium. The book also discusses numerous strategic errors and successes of the various armies that attempted to use the maginot line for either defense or offense.
During their blitzkrieg invasion, the germans were able to identify these weak points and focus their attacks against them. Military weapons military art military history military ranks luftwaffe ww2 uniforms german uniforms military uniforms german soldiers ww2 the german heer, or army, was formed in may of 1935. The kaufmanns and their coauthors created a book that is effective as both a. Do you want to create your own battlefield tour to sights of wars from the past. Much mythology surrounds it, including the belief that it did not work. Fortress study group this combined history and guide to the maginot line is essential reading and reference for anyone interested in fortifications, especially those of the 20th century and second world war. The line was a response to frances experience in world war i and was constructed during the runup to world war ii. This french line of defense was constructed along the countrys border with germany during the 1930s and named after minister of war andre. Because it was assumed that the ardennes were an impenetrable barrier to the north, none of the line was built facing north. We went deep inside the maginot line which was frances super bunker to defend from the german invaders which proved to be useless. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids. Check out these 10 facts about one of military historys most impressive yet. The maginot line, the massive series of fortifications built by france in the 1930s to defend its borders with germany and italy, is perhaps the most maligned collection of fortifications ever built. It will also allow you to plan visits to what remains of the line, so consider it a win, win.
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. The maginot line was an impressive concrete superstructure that stretched for 943 miles, cost roughly three billion francs, and took eleven years to build. Following world war ii, some of the larger positions of the alpine line were retained in use through the cold war. This french line of defense was constructed along the countrys border with germany during the 1930s and named after minister of war andre maginot. Millions of frenchmen have died in the war, the spanish flu is destroying the country, and political agitation in germany is scaring the french government. History memes world history world war ii history online history major ww2 history military photos military history bunker what others are saying seventh army soldiers view bunker of the maginot line ouvrage hochwold near climbach, france. This book removes the mysteries that have long surrounded the maginot line and explains its true history.
This book provides a concise and informative treatment of the maginot line, from northeast france to the mediterranean. It then moves to a discussion of maginot line in combat and quickly dispels the myth that the germany army simply bypassed the line on its way to victory. The maginot line masked a somewhat underhanded strategy. This excellent book will allow you to develop a wholly more positive appreciation of what the french achieved. The maginot line and french defenses in world war ii stackpole military.
However, different sections of the line were built at different times and the strength of various sections varied widely. Map, maginot line, france, world war library of congress. Unfortunately, it took only five days for the germans to circumnavigate its defenses. The maginot line 11 fascinating facts about frances great wall. Who symbolized the american women of industry during ww2. Ap france suffered a notoriously quick defeat at the hands of its german neighbor in world war ii. The maginot line and french defenses in world war ii stackpole military history series stackpole military history series as want to read. The maginot line named after the french minister of war andre maginot, is a line of concrete. Why frances world war ii defense failed so miserably.
The great war, commonly referred to as wwi, was primarily conducted with trench warfare, a completely inefficient method of conquering territory, but an ideal form of slaughtering one anothers army across lines drawn in the sand with tons of casualties and no real change. Wwii the maginot line france epik fails of history. They did, actually, quite successfully, and with low losses. The maginot line has come to symbolize everything wrong with the allied. The thionville sector was the strongest of the maginot line. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer. The maginot line was a system of defences built along the french border in the 1930s. The story of a marine grunt in the first battle of khe sanh april 1967 duration.
The sector describes an arc of about 25 kilometres 16 mi, about halfway between the french border with luxembourg and thionville. Little maginot line demonstrated that the defense concept of maginot line should have been effect if the line had been built to the atlantic ocean on french land. Ouvrage rimplas was the first maginot fortification to be completed on any portion of the maginot line, in 1928. French troops march up to the grasssown hilltop at rochonvillers, part of the maginot line, on october 27, 1938. Looking for reliable information or news facts about ww2. The maginot line arose neither from french cowardice nor stupidity. Or are you interested in war medals and their recipients. The country capitulated just six weeks after hitlers land invasion began on may 10, 1940. While many believe it was military technology that failed and the germans simply went round it, few realise that in several locations the german army attempted to breach it during the blitzkrieg in may 1940 and failed to do so.
This book provides a concise and informative treatment of the maginot line. The book first introduces us to the maginot line by succinctly describing its prewar construction and organization. This book provides a refreshing study of the grossly misunderstood maginot line. The maginot line ww2 on location france 1940 01 world war two. What your history teacher told you about the maginot line. Military times this is a useful piece of work, combining a detailed history and a guide to the line. The abandoned bunkers and fortresses of the maginot line. The maginot line was not the failure many think in fact it was quite a remarkable feat find out more in this video. Hitlers foreign legions nine nongerman units that fought for the nazis in ww2. But the maginot strategy also concealed a hidden agenda worthy of machiavelli. World war ii the maginot line war, world war, world war ii. What your history teacher told you about the maginot line is wrong. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
Includes pictures explains the origins of the maginot line, its construction, and the world war ii. The maginot line 192845 fortress book 10 and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. So in 1941 the germans violated the neutrality of belgium and invaded france through that country, just as they had in world war i. Despite being a technological marvel, and the most sophisticated and complex set of fortifications built up to that time, it failed to save france from crushing defeat in 1940. The true flaw in french military strategy during the opening days of world war ii lay not in reliance on the maginot fortifications but in the armys neglect to exploit the military opportunities the line created.
Constructed throughout the 1930s, the maginot line was supposed to form the ultimate defence against a german invasion of france. Frances defensive failure in world war ii built between 1930 and 1940, france s maginot line was a massive system of defenses that became famous for failing to stop a german invasion. Contrary to legend, the maginot line functioned perfectly and did everything that was expected of it. Maginot line french fortification, europe britannica. Had the germans attacked the french maginot line in ww2. This was because belgium was a neutral country and france did not want to offend the belgians. Because of its place in history, the maginot line has come to mean a defensive. Maginot line, elaborate defensive barrier in northeast france constructed in the 1930s and. History and guide and millions of other books are available for amazon. The fact that certain modern fortresses had held out against german artillery during. It was formed after the passing of the law for the reconstruction of the national defense forces. A defensive barrier for world war ii world war i has just ended.
The book also discusses numerous strategic errors and successes of the various armies that attempted to use the maginot line for either defense or. The maginot line was in fact, a series of large and small combat blocks, which were. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. The first world war veteran and author of the 1934 book vers. The maginot line 11 fascinating facts about frances. It is located between gros ouvrage billig and petit ouvrage coucou, facing germany. The maginot line dominated french military thinking in the interwar years.
78 320 722 1252 893 114 131 241 1175 1253 1028 544 175 1362 1491 1198 1031 71 515 776 1284 1166 382 152 1142 514 1086 1051 37 133 441 935 1240 1193 498 629 569 1319 204