The tours last a complete day and are usually based on the german attack at sedan in may 1940 and the french maginot line defences in the area. However, different sections of the line were built at different times and the strength of various sections varied widely. The maginot line was never intended to be impregnable. Maginot line definition of maginot line by the free dictionary. The line was named after andre maginot, the french minister of war and consisted of weapons and fortifications along frances eastern border. In 1929 andre maginot, the french minister of war and a veteran of verdun, began pushing for the creation of massive defenses that would cut off. Most importantly, it discusses how the line fit into french military strategy it was not meant as a wall to hold off the germans at the border, contrary to popular opinion, but part of an integrated defense with. This book shows that the maginot line is more than a metaphor for poor planning. Refer to the text to check your answers when appropriate. Mar 18, 2017 the popular legend of the maginot line portrays the frontier defenses as a useless white elephant project that was prompted by a gross misapprehension of warfares new realities in the mid20th century and quickly overwhelmed by the forceful advance of the german blitzkrieg. Bitche served as bootcamp training base for military preparation. To push the enemy to circumvent it while passing by switzerland or belgium. A forgotten strategic lesson, the maginot line the blog of mathias. My visitors come from all around the english speaking world usa, canada, australia, new zealand, south africa, uk.
Although the maginot line did not prevent a german invasion, it forced. The problem was that maginot line, a great line of fortifications that spanned frances borders with several neighbors, was essentially a glorified trench. Map, maginot line, france, world war library of congress. A forgotten strategic lesson, the maginot line mathias foehr. The maginot line was one of the largest military structures ever built, second only to the great wall of china. Both the maginot line and the doctrine of blitzkrieg emerged in the. Besides the main fortifications between france and germany, it covers the minor fortifications between france and beligum that were ultimately exploited by the nazis and the fortifications between france and italy, that were successful in stopping the italion thrust into. 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. Maginot line article about maginot line by the free dictionary. The battle blocks were in fact organised in two groups, linked by a large ditch. Besides the main fortifications between france and germany, it covers the minor fortifications.
The maginot line was named after andre maginot 18771932, a politician who served in world war i until wounded in november 1914. Maginot line tours tucker tours sedan 2020 all you. Jan 01, 2011 their most recent books on fortifications are the maginot line, the atlantic wall, the forts and fortifications of europe 18151945. After wwi andre maginot believed that germany would attack france again. Maginot line history crunch history articles, summaries. This book gives a good basic overview of the actual fortifications, the history and the place of the maginot line in french history. This book provides a concise and informative treatment of the maginot line, from northeast france to the mediterranean. Do you want to create your own battlefield tour to sights of wars from the past. No fortification is, but it held up well to attacks, even after the interval troops between and near the forts were withdrawn. Maginot line tours tucker tours sedan 2020 all you need.
Maginot line definition of maginot line by the free. It was a series of bunkers, forts, turrets, and obstacles that spanned more than 450 miles of frances border with germany. A greater account of the maginot line can be found in alistair hornes book to lose a battle france 1940,as well as an in depth look at the events surrounding it cheers david p shirk preceding unsigned comment added by 68. 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. This book removes the mysteries that have long surrounded the maginot line and explains its true history. The maginot line was one of the largest military structures ever built, second only to the great wall. The maginot line had a garrison of fortress troops about 200,000, who were reinforced and transformed into an army group at the beginning of world war ii 193945. Against general belief the entire maginot line was not a continuous, heavy line of fortifications. The maginot line was made of a number of fortifications and bunkers, close to the french border to germany, belgium, luxembourg and italy. The maginot line 11 fascinating facts about frances. My own mental image for the line turned out to owe rather more to french wartime propaganda than to reality.
You should see me out in france wearing my tin hat with shot and shell its worse than well its even worse than that now imagine me in the maginot. Fortifications provide an advantage to the attacker. The maginot line an insiders guide easy company goes. H w kaufmann, phd, is a retired professor, and they live in the united states. It consisted of an intricate system of strong points, fortifications, and military facilities such as border. Oct 11, 2018 drachenbronn is used by the air force. The heavy gun turrets, underground passages, crew barracks with kitchens and infirmaries, ammunition storage and even the subway trains have been mentioned in all literature concerning this subject. The blue ridge path, through france, luxembourg, germany, and austria.
See more ideas about fortification, bunker, siegfried line. 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. Looking for reliable information or news facts about ww2. A line of fortification constructed in the 1930s along frances border with germany. The maginot line an insiders guide easy company goes to war. Now, i believe the specifics on the maginot line stated are correct though the cost is argued, some sources put it higher at 5 billion francs, im not an expert on it but it does sound right from what ive read. The central states, the forts and fortifications of europe 18151945. In general they come to sedan,france specifically for my tour as part of their european tour. The thinking was that a use of various weaponry at stratic locations would offer a strong enough defence with minimal staffing to deter any aggressor long. The maginot line, the massive series of fortifications buil. Simple history the maginot line here is simple historys recent video on the maginot line. About maginot line tours tucker tours maginot line tours tuckertours are sightseeing tours arranged with my visitors typically weeks or months in advance. Of all the permanent fortifications of the second world war, those of the maginot line were most successful.
In books and also in simulation games the maginot line is often described as a continuous, massive and impassable fortification. Constructed throughout the 1930s, the maginot line was supposed to form the ultimate defence against a german invasion of france. It is a unique network of fortresses, linked underground, almost impossible to penetrate and in the hands of the german army in 1944. In 1940 the fascist german forces reached the rear of the maginot line through the ardennes and after the surrender of france forced the garrison of the maginot line to give up. 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. To push germany into an effort to circumvent via switzerland or belgium, and allow france to fight the next war off french soil to avoid a repeat of 19141918. 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. Chinas a2ad is a far cry from the maginot line war on. Apr 20, 2015 the maginot line dominated french military thinking in the interwar years. 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. Andre maginot fought against the french in the first world war. Maginot line synonyms, maginot line pronunciation, maginot line translation, english dictionary definition of maginot line.
Maginot line definition of maginot line by merriamwebster. Packed with plans, contemporary and modern images, plus digital artwork, it presents a detailed visual exploration of this famous fortification system. Maginot line article about maginot line by the free. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow. This french line of defense was constructed along the countrys border with germany during the 1930s and named after minister of war andre. Allied propaganda touting the strength of the line, combined with its secrecy extending into the 1970s, has led to many misperceptions. More to the point, it is not the benedict option as i presented it to a conference earlier this year in which. The thinking was that a use of various weaponry at stratic locations would offer a strong enough defence. No, the maginot line will not hold the american conservative. Download premium images you cant get anywhere else. 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 maginot line, the complex system of strongpoints constructed be. News accounts in the 1930s made mention of massive underground barracks, underground.
Mar 07, 2018 this feature is not available right now. Among the most valuable assets gained by the german army was control of the maginot line. The maginot line was a world war ii era line of defenses in france, intended to protect the country from a potential german attack. The maginot line 11 fascinating facts about frances great. Prior to this book, i knew of verdun to be a horrible battle, but not sure of the. Besides the main fortifications between france and germany, it covers the minor fortifications between france and beligum that were ultimately exploited by the nazis and the fortifications between france and italy, that were successful in stopping the italion thrust into southern france. Researching my book, i looked into what actually happened in the weimar republic. The book is an excellant modern study to the complete maginot line. The maginot line at war site is also a suberb resource with much useful information on visiting maginot sites and the author has also written an osprey book on the subject. Blocks 1 to 6 constituted the eastern group, blocks 7 to 10 the western, while blocks 21. He used crutches and walking sticks for the remainder of his life. The largest fortress of the maginot line, hackenberg had seventeen battle blocks and the usual two entrance blocks. The maginot line masked a somewhat underhanded strategy.
Find highquality maginot line stock photos and editorial news pictures from getty images. But the maginot strategy also concealed a hidden agenda worthy of machiavelli. Schoenbourg was used until the early seventies as fort and until 2001 as training base. Besides that, a permanent defense base will not be destroyed when it is occupied by. May 07, 2017 the maginot line masked a somewhat underhanded strategy. 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. Looking towards the future, the french ligne maginot experience should push us to question socalled evidences and, especially for leaders, to appreciate the quality of the decisions made.
Built between 1930 and 1940, frances maginot line was a massive system of defenses that became famous for failing to stop a german invasion. Looking towards the future, the french ligne maginot experience should push us to question. The story of a marine grunt in the first battle of khe sanh april 1967 duration. The reality of the maginot line remains as a monument to mans technical ingenuity, and, as an inanimate object, cannot be held responsible for the blindness of its creators. Part of the intent of the maginot line was to deter war. During their blitzkrieg invasion, the germans were able to identify these weak points and focus their attacks against them. George formby imagine me in the maginot line lyrics. The kaufmanns and their coauthors created a book that is effective as both a. We recommend booking monument maginot tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. Or are you interested in war medals and their recipients. After the war, the maginot line wrongly became the scapegoat for the greatest military and political disaster ever suffered by france. It is named after andre maginot, who was the french minister of war when it was built. It remains a physical series of structures that can still be.
Maginot article about maginot by the free dictionary. Beyond thionville the maginot line continues and the moselle maginot line tourism website lists many of them as does this site. En francais the maginot line when telling the story of the 100th infantry division, it would be a disservice not to include an explanation of the maginot line. Contrary to legend, the maginot line functioned perfectly and did everything that was expected of it. 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. Maginot line simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
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