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The 'Maginot Line' (IPA: [maʒi'noː], named after French minister of defence André Maginot) was a line of concrete fortifications, tank obstacles, machine gun posts and other defences which France constructed along its borders with Germany and with 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 'Alpine Line' is used for the Franco-Italian defenses.
The French believed the fortification would provide time for their army to mobilize in the event of attack, and/or 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, but as it had been drummed up as making France invincible, the following defeat made it look like a failure. The term is sometimes used today to describe any comically ineffective protection.
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 France's 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 ('''S'ervice 'T'echnique du 'G'énie'') overseen by CORF ('''C'ommission d''O'rganisation des 'R'égions 'F'ortifiées''). 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 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).
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 the forces (France counted inhabitants, Germany ).
★ 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.
Organization of the Maginot Line
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Although the name "Maginot Line" suggests a rather thin linear fortification, the Line was quite deep, varying in depth from between 20 to 25 kilometers deep. It was composed of an intricate system of strongpoints, fortifications, and military facilities such as border guardposts, communications centers, infantry shelters, barricades, artillery, machine gun, and anti-tank gun emplacements, supply depots, infrastructure facilities, observation posts, etc. These various structures reinforced a ''principal line of resistance,'' made up of the most heavily armed and fortified "ouvrages", which can be roughly translated as forts or major defensive works.
From the front and proceeding to the rear, the Line was composed of:
★ 'Border Post line (1)': This consisted of blockhouses and stronghouses which were often camouflaged as inoffensive residential homes, built within a few meters of the border, and manned by troops so as to give alarm in the event of sneak or surprise attack as well as delay enemy tanks with prepared explosives and barricades.
★ 'Outpost and Support Point line (2)': Approximately 5 kilometers (~2.5-3 miles) behind the border, a line of anti-tank blockhouses were intended to provide resistance to armored assault sufficient to delay the enemy so as provide sufficient time to allow the crews of the "C.O.R.F. ouvrages" to be ready at their battle stations. These outposts covered major passages within the principal line.
★ 'Principal line of resistance (3)': This line began 10 kilometers (~6 miles) behind the border. It was preceded by anti-tank obstacles which were metal rails planted vertically in 6 rows with heights varying from 0.70 to 1.40 m (2-4 feet) and buried to a depth of two meters (6-7 feet). These anti-tank obstacles extended from end to end in front of the major works across hundreds of kilometers, interrupted only by extremely dense forests, rivers, or other nearly-impassable terrain.
:The anti-tank obstacle system was immediately followed by an ''anti-personnel obstacle'' system made primarily of very dense barbed wire. ''Anti-tank road barriers'' also made it possible to block roads at necessary points of passage through the tank obstacles.
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★ 'Infantry Casemates (4)': These fortifications were armed with twin machine-guns (abbreviated as ''JM'' in French) and anti-tank guns of 37 or 47 mm. They could be single (with only one firing room in only one direction) or double (two firing rooms, in 2 opposite directions). These generally had 2 floors, with a firing level and a support/infrastructure level that provided the troops with rest and services (power generating units, reserves of water, fuel, food, ventilation equipment, etc…). The infantry casemates often had 1 or 2 "cloches" or turrets located on top of them. These cupolas of guettor (cloches GFM) sometimes were used to emplace machine guns or observation periscopes. Their crew was 20 to 30 men.
★ 'Petits ouvrages (5)': These small fortifications reinforced the line of infantry casemates. These were generally made up of several infantry casemates connected by an underground tunnel network to which were attached various buried facilities, such as barracks, electric generators, ventilation systems, mess halls, infirmaries, and supply caches (of water, fuel, food, ammunition, etc…). Their crew consisted of between 100 and 200 men.
★ 'Ouvrages (6)': These fortresses were the most important fortifications on the Maginot Line, having the sturdiest construction and also the strongest armament (artillery?). These were composed of at least six "forward bunker systems" or "blocks of combat", as well as two entrances, and were interconnected via a network of underground tunnels that often featured narrow gauge electric railways for transport between bunker systems. The various blocks contained necessary infrastructure such as power stations with generating units, independent ventilating systems, barracks and mess halls, kitchens, "feeder systems?", water storage and distribution systems, hoists, ammunition stores, workshops, and stores of spare parts, food, etc… Their crews ranged from from 500 to more than 1000 men.
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★ 'Observation Posts (7)' were located on hills that provided a good view of the surrounding area. Their purpose was to locate the enemy and direct and correct the indirect fire of artillery from the artillery fortifications as well as to report on the progress and position of key enemy units. These are large reinforced buried concrete bunkers, equipped with armored turrets containing high-precision optics that were connected with the other fortifications by field telephone and wireless transmitters (known in French by the initialism T.S.F.).
★ 'Telephone Network (8)': This system connected every fortification in the Maginot Line, including casemates, infantry and artillery fortifications, observation posts, and shelters. Two telephone wires were placed parallel to the line of fortifications, and had "many transversals and a multitude of concreted rooms of cut (in which the troops of countryside could connect) constitute this network".
★ 'Infantry Reserve Shelters (9)': These were found between 500 and 1000 meters (~.3-.6 miles) behind of the principal line of resistance. These were buried concrete bunkers designed to house and shelter up to a company of infantry (200 to 250 men), and had such features as electric generators, ventilation systems, water supplies, kitchens, heating, which allowed their occupants to hold out in the event of an attack. They could also be used as a local headquarters and as a base to carry out counter-attacks from.
★ 'Flood Zones (10)' were natural basins or rivers that could be flooded on demand and thus constitute an additional obstacle in the event of an enemy offensive.
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★ 'Safety Quarters (11)' were built near the major fortifications in order to make it possible to ouvrage crews to reach their battle stations within the shortest possible timetime in the event of a surprise or sneak attack during peacetime.
★ 'Supply depots (12)'.
★ 'Ammunition dumps (13)'.
★ '60 cm (~24 inch) Narrow Gauge Railway System (14)': A network of narrow-gauge railways was built so as to rearm and resupply the major fortresses ("ouvrages") from supply depots up to 50 kilometers (35 miles) away. Gasoline-powered armored locomotives pulled supply trains along these narrow-gauge lines. (A similar system was developed with armored steam engines back in 1914-1918.)
★ 'High-voltage Transmission Lines (15)', initially above-ground but then buried, and connected to the civil power grid, provided electric power to the many fortifications and fortresses.
★ 'Heavy rail artillery (16)' was hauled in by locomotives to predesignated locations so as to support the fortress artillery, which was intentionally limited in range to 10-12 kilometers.
Inventory
Ouvrages
There are 142 ouvrages, 352 casemates, 78 shelters, 17 observatories and blockhouses over all of the Maginot Line.
Armoured cloches
There are several kinds of armoured cloches. The word ''cloche'' is a French term meaning ''bell'' due to its shape. All cloches were made in an alloy steel.
★ The most widespread are the 'cloches GFM', where ''GFM'' means Guettor - Rifle machine-gun. They are composed of 3 to 4 openings, called crenels. These crenels are next equipped by differents hoppers: Rifle machine-gun, direct vision block, binoculars block or mortar of 50 mm. Sometimes, the cloche is topped by a periscope. There are cloches GFM on all the line. Almost every block, casemate and shelter is topped by one or two cloches GFM.
★ The 'cloches JM' are the same as the cloches GFM except that they have one opening equipped with a pair of machine-guns. There are 174 cloches JM on all the line.
★ The 'cloches AM' (Mixed weapons) are 72 on the line and are equipped with a pair of machine guns and a 25 mm anti-tank gun. Some cloches GFM were transformed into cloche AM in 1934. (The aforementioned total does not include these modified cloches.)
★ The 'cloches LG' (grenades launcher) are 75 on the line. Those cloches are almost completely covered by concrete, only a hole is kept open to launch the grenades.
★ The 'cloches VP' (periscopic vision) are 20 on all the line. Those cloches could be equipped with several different periscopes. Like the cloches LG, they were almost completely covered by concrete.
★ The 'cloches VDP' (direct and periscopic vision) are similar to the cloches VP, but have 2 or 3 openings to provide a direct view. Consequently, they were not covered by concrete.
Eclipsable turrets
There is the inventory of turrets.
★ 21 turrets of 75 mm model 1933
★ 12 turrets of 75 mm model 1932
★ 1 turret of 75 mm model 1905
★ 17 turrets of 135 mm
★ 21 turrets of 81 mm
★ 12 turrets for mixed weapons (AM)
★ 7 turrets for mixed weapons + mortar of 50 mm
★ 61 turrets of machine-guns
Artillery
'75 mm under casemate': It was the most popular cannon on the line.
Anti-tank guns
Features
The specification of the defences was very high, with extensive and interconnected bunker complexes for thousands of men; there were 45 main forts (''grands ouvrages'') at 15 kilometres intervals, 97 smaller forts (''petits ouvrages'') and 352 casements between, with over 100 kilometres of tunnels.
The fortifications did not extend through the Ardennes Forest (which was believed to be ''impénétrable'' ("impassable")) or along the border with Belgium because the countries had signed an alliance in 1920, by which the French army would operate in Belgium if the German forces invaded. When Belgium abrogated the treaty in 1936 and declared neutrality, the Maginot Line was quickly extended along the Franco-Belgian border, but not to the standard of the rest of the Line. As the water table in this region was high, there was the danger of underground passages getting flooded, which the designers of the line knew would be difficult and expensive to overcome.
There was a final flurry of construction in 1939–1940 with general improvements all along the Line. The final Line was strongest around the industrial regions of Metz, Lauter and Alsace, while other areas were in comparison only weakly guarded.
In contrast, the propaganda about the line made it appear far greater a construction than it was; illustrations showed multiple stories of interwoven passages, and even underground railyards and cinemas. This reassured allied civilians.
German invasion
The World War II German invasion plan of 1940 (''Sichelschnitt'') was designed to deal with the Line. A decoy force sat opposite the Line while a second Army Group cut through the Low Countries of Belgium and the Netherlands, as well as through the Ardennes Forest which lay north of the main French defences. Thus the Germans were able to avoid a direct assault on the Maginot Line. Attacking on May 10, German forces were well into France within five days and they continued to advance until May 24, when they stopped near Dunkirk.
During the advance to the English Channel, the Germans overran France’s border defense with Belgium and several Maginot Forts in the Maubeuge area. On 19 May, the German 16th Army successfully captured petit ouvrage La Ferte (southeast of Sedan) after conducting a deliberate assault by combat engineers backed up by heavy artillery. The entire French crew of 107 soldiers were killed during the action. On June 14, 1940, the day Paris fell, the German 1st Army went over to the offensive in "Operation Tiger” and attacked the Maginot Line between St. Avoid and Saarbrücken. After hard fighting, the Germans broke through the fortification line as defending French forces retreated southward. In the following days, infantry divisions of the 1st Army attacked fortifications on each side of the penetration; successfully capturing four petits ouvrages. The 1st Army also conducted two attacks against the Maginot Line further to the east in northern Alsace. One attack successfully broke through a weak section of the Line in the Vosges Mountains, but a second attack was stopped by the French defenders near Wissembourg. On 15 June, infantry divisions of the German 7th Army attacked across the Rhine River in Operation “Small Bear,” penetrating the defensives and capturing the cities of Colmar and Strasbourg.
By early June the German forces had cut off the Line from the rest of France and the French government was making overtures for an armistice, which was signed on June 22 in Compiègne. As the Line was surrounded, the German Army attacked a few ouvrages from the rear, but were unsuccessful in capturing any significant fortifications. But the main fortifications of the Line were still mostly intact and manned with a number of commanders wanting to hold out; and the Italian advance had been successfully contained. Still, Maxime Weygand signed the surrender and the army was ordered out of their fortifications, to be taken to POW camps.
End of the war
When the Allied forces invaded in June 1944 the Line, now held by German defenders, was again largely bypassed, with fighting only touching a part of the fortifications near Metz and in northern Alsace towards the end of 1944.
The Line after WWII
The Legacy of the Line
Generally considered one of the great failures of military history, the term "Maginot Line" is now sometimes used as a metaphor for something that is confidently relied upon, but ends up being ineffective. External observers came to believe the French propaganda: the Line would make France impervious to invasion. When France fell in only a month, the blame was squarely laid upon the Line.
However, it could be argued that this association is inaccurate, as the Line achieved the specific task it was intended to do, rendering a direct assault against France's eastern border impossible (the few Maginot forts which were directly attacked by German armored troops held very well). Consequently, the French High command expected it to be bypassed and had therefore massed the bulk of its troops on the Belgian border.
See also
★ List of all works on Maginot Line
★ Cloche GFM
★ Siegfried Line
★ Atlantic Wall
★ Czechoslovak border fortifications
Notes
References
★ Allcorn, William. ''The Maginot Line 1928-45.'' Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2003. ISBN 1-84176-646-1
External links
★ Maginot Line's board
★ Maginot line - Molvange
★ Maginot line (''requires Flash'')
★ The U.S. Army vs. The Maginot Line by Bryan J. Dickerson
★ Schoenenbourg official website
★ Maginot Line at War
★ Actual Photos of the Maginot Line in the Sectors of Boulay and Thionville
★ Illustrated article on the Maginot Line at 'Battlefields Europe'
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