Fortress France: The Maginot Line and French Defenses in World War II (Stackpole Military History Series) (Stackpole Military History Series)

This an academic work. It is full of facts about the Maginot Line, but also is overwhelmed with data on the politics. It also has many irrelevant tables of data. It is, frankly, a poorly organized work that is very difficult to read and follow. It WOULD be a great resource for research on the environment and development of the Maginot line.Other works may be more enjoyable for those not engaged in academic research. Annotation. The Maginot Line was the last great gun-bearing line of subterranean forts built before World War II. 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. Unfortunately, the French leadership failed to make the most of its assets, with the resulting disastrous outcome. During the 1920s, the French High Command formulated a number of offensive plans to strike at Germany, but by the end of the decade, it switched to defensive plans because of a lack of manpower. Work thus began on the Maginot Line and on other fortifications such as the French Mareth Line in North Africa and the heavy naval coastal defense batteries in Bizerte (Tunisia) and Toulon (France). The authors conclude that the Maginot Line offered the French High Command many opportunities from September 1939 until May 1940. They blame a failed French military doctrine for taking the initiative away from subordinates, laying the groundwork for the disastrous events of 1940 that left the French High Command paralyzed while German forces broke through the weakly held Ardennes

Guide to the French defenses encountered by the German blitzkrieg in 1940 Includes finely detailed plans, diagrams, and schematics of forts, blockhouses, turrets, artillery pieces, tanks, and more

Between the world wars, France constructed a vast and complex array of defenses designed to prevent German forces from penetrating the French heartland as they had during World War I. Among these was the famous Maginot Line, the last of the great gun-bearing fortifications, but France also built defenses along its coasts and in its territories in North Africa. Fully illustrated with photos, maps, and drawings, Fortress France describes the design and construction of these fortifications, discusses French defensive doctrine and strategy, and explains why these efforts proved unable to stop the German attack in the spring of 1940.

Ch. 1. Marching To The Wrong Tune -- Sidebar : Charles De Gaulle And Mechanized Warfare -- Sidebar : Economic Considerations -- Sidebar : Building On Experience -- Sidebar : French Generals And Marshals And Ministers Of War -- Ch. 2. The Maginot Line -- Sidebar : Initial Funding Of The Fortifications -- Sidebar : Optics For Fire Control And Surveillance -- Ch. 3. Closing The Gaps From The North Sea To The Mediterranean -- Sidebar : Equipment Used For The Construction Of The Fortifications -- Sidebar : Positioning The Forts Of The Maginot Line -- Sidebar : Final Costs For The Maginot Line -- Sidebar : Maginot Fort Garrisons -- Ch. 4. Sea And Air Defenses -- Sidebar : Georges Leygues, Minister Of The Navy. J.e. Kaufmann And H.w. Kaufmann ; Illustrated By Tomasz Idzikowski. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [189]-193) And Index. Guide to the French defenses encountered by the German blitzkrieg in 1940 Includes finely detailed plans, diagrams, and schematics of forts, blockhouses, turrets, artillery pieces, tanks, and more Between the world wars, France constructed a vast and complex array of defenses designed to prevent German forces from penetrating the French heartland as they had during World War I. Among these was the famous Maginot Line, the last of the great gun-bearing fortifications, but France also built defenses along its coasts and in its territories in North Africa. Fully illustrated with photos, maps, and drawings, Fortress France describes the design and construction of these fortifications, discusses French defensive doctrine and strategy, and explains why these efforts proved unable to stop the German attack in the spring of 1940. "Between the world wars, France constructed a vast and complex array of defences designed to prevent German forces from penetrating the French heartland as they had during World War I. Among these was the famous Maginot Line, the last of the great gun-bearing fortifications, but France also built defences along its coasts and in its territories in North Africa. Fully illustrated with photos, maps, and drawings, Fortress France describes the design and construction of these fortifications, discusses French defensive doctrine and strategy, and explains why these efforts proved unable to stop the German attack in the spring of 1940. It includes finely detailed plans, diagrams, and schematics of forts, blockhouses, turrets, artillery pieces, tanks, and more"--Publisher's description Discusses the gun-bearing fortifications and coastal defenses of France created between the world wars and challenges the premise that the defeat of France in World War II was the result of a misplaced reliance on the Maginot Line for its defense