There is only a relatively small number of Australians who have heard of a place in France called the “Maginot Line” - our French residents and students of the battle grounds of Europe. There are many reasons that one can find to explain away this deficiency the lack of promotion by the French themselves, the passing of time, the lack of Australian involvement and so on, but it is a place that every visitor to north eastern France...
2/16/2008 - Purposes of the lineThe Maginot Line was built to fulfill several purposes: To avoid a surprise attack and to give alarm. To cover the mobilization of the French Army (which took between 2 and 3 weeks). To save manpower (France counted 39,000,000 inhabitants, Germany 70,000,000). To protect Alsace and Lorraine (returned to France in 1918) and their industrial basin. To be used as a basis for a counter-offensive. To push the enemy to circumvent it while passing by Switzerland or Belgium. 2/16/2008 - Planning and constructionThe defenses were first proposed by Marshal Joffre. He was opposed by modernists such as Paul Reynaud and Charles de Gaulle who favoured investment in armour and aircraft. Joffre had support from Henri Philippe Pétain, and there were a number of reports and commissions organised by the government. It was André Maginot who finally convinced the government to invest in the scheme. Maginot was another veteran of WW I, who became the French Minister of Veteran Affairs and then Minister of War (1928–1931). The line was built in a number of phases from 1930 by the STG (Service Technique du Génie) overseen by CORF (Commission d'Organisation des Régions Fortifiées). The main construction was largely completed by 1939, at a cost of around 3 billion French francs. The line stretched from Switzerland to Luxembourg, although a much lighter extension was extended to the channel sea after 1934. The original line construction did not cover the area chosen by the Germans for their first challenge, which was through the Ardennes in 1940, a plan known as Fall Gelb. The location of this attack, probably because of the Maginot line, was through the Belgian Ardennes forest (sector 4) which is off the map to the left of Maginot line sector 6 (as marked). 2/16/2008 - The Maginot Linenamed after French minister of defense André Maginot) was a line of concrete fortifications, tank obstacles, artillery casemates, machine gun posts, and other defenses, which France constructed along its borders with Germany and Italy, in the light of experience from World War I, and in the run-up to World War II. Generally the term describes either the entire system or just the defenses facing Germany, while the Alpine Line is used for the Franco-Italian defenses. The French established the fortification to provide time for their army to mobilize in the event of attack and/or to entice Germany to attack neutral Belgium to avoid a direct assault on the line. The success of static, defensive combat in World War I was a key influence on French thinking. The fortification system successfully dissuaded a direct attack. However, it was an ineffective strategic gambit, as the Germans eventually flanked the line, and proceeded unobstructed.
2/16/2008 - Purposes of the line
The Maginot Line was built to fulfill several purposes: To avoid a surprise attack and to give alarm. To cover the mobilization of the French Army (which took between 2 and 3 weeks). To save manpower (France counted 39,000,000 inhabitants, Germany 70,000,000). To protect Alsace and Lorraine (returned to France in 1918) and their industrial basin. To be used as a basis for a counter-offensive. To push the enemy to circumvent it while passing by Switzerland or Belgium.
The Maginot Line was built to fulfill several purposes:
2/16/2008 - Planning and construction
The defenses were first proposed by Marshal Joffre. He was opposed by modernists such as Paul Reynaud and Charles de Gaulle who favoured investment in armour and aircraft. Joffre had support from Henri Philippe Pétain, and there were a number of reports and commissions organised by the government. It was André Maginot who finally convinced the government to invest in the scheme. Maginot was another veteran of WW I, who became the French Minister of Veteran Affairs and then Minister of War (1928–1931). The line was built in a number of phases from 1930 by the STG (Service Technique du Génie) overseen by CORF (Commission d'Organisation des Régions Fortifiées). The main construction was largely completed by 1939, at a cost of around 3 billion French francs. The line stretched from Switzerland to Luxembourg, although a much lighter extension was extended to the channel sea after 1934. The original line construction did not cover the area chosen by the Germans for their first challenge, which was through the Ardennes in 1940, a plan known as Fall Gelb. The location of this attack, probably because of the Maginot line, was through the Belgian Ardennes forest (sector 4) which is off the map to the left of Maginot line sector 6 (as marked).
The defenses were first proposed by Marshal Joffre. He was opposed by modernists such as Paul Reynaud and Charles de Gaulle who favoured investment in armour and aircraft. Joffre had support from Henri Philippe Pétain, and there were a number of reports and commissions organised by the government. It was André Maginot who finally convinced the government to invest in the scheme. Maginot was another veteran of WW I, who became the French Minister of Veteran Affairs and then Minister of War (1928–1931).
The line was built in a number of phases from 1930 by the STG (Service Technique du Génie) overseen by CORF (Commission d'Organisation des Régions Fortifiées). The main construction was largely completed by 1939, at a cost of around 3 billion French francs.
The line stretched from Switzerland to Luxembourg, although a much lighter extension was extended to the channel sea after 1934. The original line construction did not cover the area chosen by the Germans for their first challenge, which was through the Ardennes in 1940, a plan known as Fall Gelb. The location of this attack, probably because of the Maginot line, was through the Belgian Ardennes forest (sector 4) which is off the map to the left of Maginot line sector 6 (as marked).
2/16/2008 - The Maginot Line
named after French minister of defense André Maginot) was a line of concrete fortifications, tank obstacles, artillery casemates, machine gun posts, and other defenses, which France constructed along its borders with Germany and Italy, in the light of experience from World War I, and in the run-up to World War II. Generally the term describes either the entire system or just the defenses facing Germany, while the Alpine Line is used for the Franco-Italian defenses. The French established the fortification to provide time for their army to mobilize in the event of attack and/or to entice Germany to attack neutral Belgium to avoid a direct assault on the line. The success of static, defensive combat in World War I was a key influence on French thinking. The fortification system successfully dissuaded a direct attack. However, it was an ineffective strategic gambit, as the Germans eventually flanked the line, and proceeded unobstructed.
named after French minister of defense André Maginot) was a line of concrete fortifications, tank obstacles, artillery casemates, machine gun posts, and other defenses, which France constructed along its borders with Germany and Italy, in the light of experience from World War I, and in the run-up to World War II. Generally the term describes either the entire system or just the defenses facing Germany, while the Alpine Line is used for the Franco-Italian defenses.
The French established the fortification to provide time for their army to mobilize in the event of attack and/or to entice Germany to attack neutral Belgium to avoid a direct assault on the line. The success of static, defensive combat in World War I was a key influence on French thinking. The fortification system successfully dissuaded a direct attack. However, it was an ineffective strategic gambit, as the Germans eventually flanked the line, and proceeded unobstructed.
Those sites open to the public are maintained by local volunteer groups. Because none of the groups have full-time staffs - visiting hours can be irregular. Only the largest Maginot Line museums have regular visitation schedules. Other sites are typically open only one or two days a month, often on weekends. It is wise to verify opening times before departing for a visit (Internet websites are a good source of information). Those sites open to the public are maintained by local volunteer groups. Because none of the groups have full-time staffs - visiting hours can be irregular. Only the largest Maginot Line museums have regular visitation schedules.
Those sites open to the public are maintained by local volunteer groups. Because none of the groups have full-time staffs - visiting hours can be irregular. Only the largest Maginot Line museums have regular visitation schedules. Other sites are typically open only one or two days a month, often on weekends. It is wise to verify opening times before departing for a visit (Internet websites are a good source of information).
