The british chief of the imperial general staff, sir edmund ironside, meets his french opposite number. Built between 1930 and 1940, frances maginot line was a massive system of defenses that became famous for failing to stop a german invasion. The maginot line and french defenses in world war ii stackpole military history series. Constructed throughout the 1930s, the maginot line was supposed to form the ultimate defence against a german invasion of france. It was built between longwy near luxemburg to switzerland and it was instantly proclaimed impregnable by the french. The maginot line and french defenses in world war ii, stackpole books, 2006. Petite ligne maginot was the component of the maginot line that defended the southeastern portion of france. For that reason, it was considered as a prototype for the artillery fortresses of the maginot line. During six years, around 1800 workers, with rudimentary means, were employed to build 19 combat blocks and to. May 07, 2017 the maginot line was a 900mile long network of underground bunkers, tunnels and concrete retractible gun batteries. Guide des forts a visiter, editions ouestfrance, 2014.
The history of the fortifications that failed to protect france from nazi germany during world war ii. Why did the massive maginot line fail to stop hitler. Oct 26, 2015 soldiers from the 90th infantry division inspect a newly cleared bunker along the maginot line in the lorraine sector of france september 1944. Hey guys, im back with another moc, and this one is one of the most piecegreedy builds ive ever made, and also a very cool one. Because of its place in history, the maginot line has come to mean a defensive. Visit rhine maginot line memorial museum on your trip to. The maginot line it is known as a great military blunder, b. The maginot line took 10 years to build, starting in 1929. Frances maginot line might not have kept out the germans, but for our. This was a major section of the maginot line and fermont consisted of two entrance. The maginot line 11 fascinating facts about frances illfated. The ultimate result of its work was a war book, completed in. Although it acquired an unjustified reputation as a white elephant, the maginot line fulfilled the role for which it was built, allowing the french high command the opportunity to mass its forces and counter the german invasion.
The line, which eventually added an extension dubbed the little maginot line along the mountainous frenchitalian border, was mobilized in 1936 and considered fully operational two years later. 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. Jan 26, 2017 this book provides a refreshing study of the grossly misunderstood maginot line. Maginot line a fortification built before world war ii to protect frances eastern border. Feb 10, 2010 maginot line 1940 covers the almost unexplored topic of the fighting taking place along the eastern flank of the battle of france in 1940. Apr 28, 2016 the serpent is the largest remaining artifact from world war ii. It has all the advantages mentioned above, plus users to your site can conveniently access it directly on your site.
However, different sections of the line were built at different times and the strength of various sections varied widely. Maginot line definition of maginot line by the free. The maginot line was a huge screen wall developed in the 1930s to protect france from future german invasion. Do not reupload our content on youtube or other social media. France had occupied this region following world war i, and had heavily fortified it in an attempt to keep the germans from retaking it these prepared defenses were called the maginot line after the french minister of war who had authorized their. Maginot line fortification crosssection, published in. French maginot line a defensive failure history essay. Trying to eat an orange like an apple would be disastrous. Maginot line, elaborate defensive barrier in northeast france constructed in. The frenchies win by simply building more maginot lines all throughout france. The maginot line was a world war ii era line of defenses in france, intended to protect the country from a potential german attack. Despite its strength and elaborate design, the line was unable to prevent an invasion by german troops who entered france via belgium in may 1940.
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. Charles river editors author visit amazons charles river editors page. Why frances world war ii defense failed so miserably. In fact, a forgotten battle in the southeast of france, where four french divisions later. The maginot line and french defenses in world war ii stackpole military history series kaufmann, j. Long blamed as the reason for frances loss, clayton donnells book seeks to correct the historical record. The construction started in 1930 as one of the very first to be built. Hughes, who provides a convincing view of how frances military and political leaders tried to safeguard their nation and why they failed. It is a remarkable fact that the first world war, which affected canadian. In contrast to the main line in the northeastern portion of france, the alpine line traversed a mountainous region of the maritime alps, the cottian alps and the graian alps, with relatively few passes suitable for. Allcorn has spent a great deal of time in what remains of the line, and it is amazing to hear that the mighty maginot line only mounted 43 5mm howitzers and 8 elderly 75mm guns, as well as 162 other mortars and guns. The role that frances maginot line played in the defeat of france by the german army in may and june of 1940 may be one of the most misunderstood aspects of world war ii history.
Following world war ii, some of the larger positions of the alpine line were retained in use through the cold war. The line has since become a metaphor for expensive efforts that offer a false sense. The maginot line, named after french minister of defense andre. 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. The line system, itself, takes its name from a man who promoted its construction but who had died before work had got under way. This french line of defense was constructed along the countrys border with germany during the 1930s and named after minister of war andre.
Lego ww2 the maginot line may 1940 france ship raider. Built between 1930 and 1940, frances maginot line was a massive system of defenses that became famous for failing to stop a german. Ouvrage hackenberg, one of the largest a gros ouvrage of the maginot line fortifications, is part of the fortified sector of boulay. Looking for reliable information or news facts about ww2. The maginot line and french defenses in world war ii has 2 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. The alpine line was unsuccessfully attacked by italian forces during the italian invasion of france in 1940. 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. It was a line of almost six thousand forts, blockhouses, dragonsteeth antitank barriers and other fortifications along the. The maginot line was impervious to most forms of attack. The maginot line was constructed in the years before world war ii and. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The second is on wwii, with remains of a downed republic p47 thunderbolt, german transport vehicles, and many artifacts and weapons. For an entrepreneur running an online business enterprise enhancing the visibility of hisher business websites search engine is a critical step that heshe must.
Maginot line synonyms, maginot line pronunciation, maginot line translation, english dictionary definition of maginot line. In preparation for a german invasion, the allied powers failed to realize that the new german panzer could actually pass through the ardennes. It was in effect frances military strategy for the years between the two world wars. By the eve of wwii, the french had constructed a string of fortifications stretching from the swiss alps to the english channel, but the heaviest defenses were along the 280mile 450kilometer border with germany. See more ideas about fortification, bunker, siegfried line. 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. Wwii the maginot line france epik fails of history. Do you want to create your own battlefield tour to sights of wars from the past. The first is about the maginot line, with a comprehensive and very interesting collection of models of its various types of forts and reinforced structures. The maginot line was not the failure many think in fact it was quite a remarkable feat find out more in this video. The true history of netflixs the liberator smithsonian magazine. 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 history of the fortifications that failed to protect france from nazi germany during world war ii kindle edition by charles river editors. A defensive barrier for world war ii world war i has just ended. In eastern france there were a number of systems and the a2 ouvrage fermont was built from 1931. Maginot line definition of maginot line by the free dictionary. The maginot line was in fact, a series of large and small combat blocks, which were themselves mostly a series of smaller bunkers.
Built at enormous expense over 3 billion francs, the maginot line was not a continuous fortification but a series of strong points. A line of fortification constructed in the 1930s along frances border with germany. Antitankrails maginot line antitank rails around casemate 9 of the hochwald ditch at fort eth maginot line, the devastating effect of highvelocity 88mm fire was aptly demonstrated when guns firing at close range blasted huge chunks of steel out of two armoured cupolas on block 1. The maginot takes its name from french minister for war andre maginot 1877 1932. Its heaviest defences were located along the 280mile long border with germany image source. The kaufmanns and their coauthors created a book that is effective as both a. On completion it comprised more than 50 million cubic feet of concrete, 150,000 tons of steel and 280 miles of internal roads and railways.
World war ii mar 15, 2018 mark barnes it is ever so easy to ridicule the maginot line given its strategic failure, but it would be wrong to denigrate the wonder of its construction and scale. Still a neat game, but it really needs a little something extra to keep my att. The maginot line 11 fascinating facts about frances illfated fortifications. The maginot line has come to symbolize everything wrong with the allied strategy in the years leading up to the second world war. Ouvrage rimplas was the first maginot fortification to be completed on any portion of the maginot line, in 1928. The maginot line was one of the most advanced networks of fortifications in history. It is situated twenty kilometres east of thionville, in the moselle departement, near the village of veckring, on the hackenberg 343 metres. Today, the fortifications towards italy are commonly called alpin line. This excellent book will allow you to develop a wholly more positive appreciation of what the french achieved. The decision to fortify northeastern france has usually been considered a tragic mistake, an example of bad planning and missed opportunities. Check out these 10 facts about one of military historys most impressive yet. It will also allow you to plan visits to what remains of the line, so consider it a win, win. Ironside visits the maginot line world war ii today. Unfortunately, it took only five days for the germans to circumnavigate its defenses.
Considered by many to be an expensive failure, a symbol of french passivity and retrenchment, of her bunker mentality and unwillingness to boldly face the growing nazi menace in the 1930s, the maginot line was an incredibly costly and highly. Maginot line tours tucker tours booking unavailable on tripadvisor. The maginot line named after the french minister of war andre maginot, is a line of concrete. Nov 16, 2007 the maginot line was the last great gunbearing line of subterranean forts built before world war ii. The maginot line, named after the french minister of war andre maginot, is a line of concrete fortifications, as well as obstacles and weapon installations built by france in the 1930s to deter invasion by germany and force them to move around the fortifications. Save the ligne maginot by alexandre guirkinger wallpaper. However, the germans invaded through the low countries in 1940, bypassing it to the north. The maginot line ww2 on location france 1940 youtube. The f35 of world war ii never stood a chance by rune scott november 9, 2019 what your history teacher told you about the maginot line is wrong.
Its like comparing apples and oranges or mortars and hand grenades or castles and earth works. Using the maginot line to win ww2 total tank sim youtube. Wikicommons it was one of the most formidable military projects in history. A city in northern france on the north sea where in world war ii 1940 330,000 allied troops had to be evacuated from the beaches at dunkirk in a desperate retreat under enemy fire. 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 was a defensive structure built along the french border in the 1930s named after the minister of war, andre maginot. Official history of the canadian army in the second. Aug 06, 2020 viewed in this light, the maginot line was a sensible idea. Since 2010, the yiddish book centers wexler oral history project has recorded more than 500 indepth video interviews that provide a deeper understanding of the jewish experience and the legacy and changing nature of yiddish language and culture.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Comedians in london sang a jingoistic song in the music halls called were going to hang out the washing on the siegfried line. Ironside visits the maginot line world war two, history, military history. The conventional wisdom is that the maginot line was incomplete, and at the start of the second world war the germans cunningly went round it and thereby defeated the french. Jan 19, 2021 the maginot line was meant to stop a world war istyle attack of infantry and artillery, and it did what it was supposed to do, says kirchubel, whos written multiple books on world war ii military campaigns. Waddell, a professor of history at west point and one of the books editors. The maginot line was weakest at the ardennes sector, and the wehrmacht took advantage of this. Based on the book by writer alex kershaw, the liberator depicts how the.
The fact that certain modern fortresses had held out against german artillery during. The maginot line has come to symbolize everything wrong with the allied strategy in the years. Maginot line french fortification, europe britannica. 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.
Maginot line fortification crosssection, published in the. Displacement, the maginot line, and the bluest eye. Maginot line history crunch history articles, summaries. The line was named after andre maginot, the french minister of war and consisted of weapons and fortifications along frances eastern border. Also published in how we play football in alabama and other short stories from dougs world by doug hilton, september 2011. Morrison constructs her novel as a sub tle interplay. Jun 15, 2015 this book provides a refreshing study of the grossly misunderstood maginot line. 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.
All the above work at their assigned tasks, but how they do it, is vastly different. Which was the stronger defensive work of wwii, the french. Feb 11, 2016 maginot line fortification crosssection, published in the on line version of abandoned towers, january 2009. Or are you interested in war medals and their recipients. The maginot line was conceived by marshal petain and the french minister of war, andre maginot, to prevent le boche from again tearing up the french countryside ala wwi style. This book gives a good basic overview of the actual fortifications, the history and the place of the maginot line in french history. Why the massive maginot line failed to stop hitler history. During their blitzkrieg invasion, the germans were able to identify these weak points and focus their attacks against them. See more ideas about bunker, fortification, military bunkers. Kristallnacht night of the broken glass november 9, 1938, when mobs throughout germany.
Based on frances experience with trench warfare during world war i, the massive maginot line was built in the runup to world war ii, after the locarno conference gave rise to a fanciful and optimistic locarno spirit. Apr 04, 20 the maginot line was an impressive concrete superstructure that stretched for 943 miles, cost roughly three billion francs, and took eleven years to build. For an entrepreneur running an online business enterprise enhancing the visibility of hisher business websites search engine is a critical step that heshe must endeavour to achieve in order to succeed in the digital world. Maginot line tours tucker tours sedan 2021 all you need to.
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