Maginot Line.
Maginot Line
Maginot Line
The French failed line of defense during World War II was the Maginot Line. This series of fortifications was built along the French-German border to deter an invasion, but the Germans circumvented it by attacking through the Ardennes Forest, which was lightly defended. This led to the rapid defeat of France in 1940.
The idea was the the Marginol line would stop the Germans. The Germans counted on the French not leaving their positions along the line, so the Germans came across the Ardennes with tanks and crossed the Meuse River into France.
During WWII, the demarcation line (or green line, as it was drawed in green on the map), was the limit between the northern and western part of France, occupied by German troops, and the "free zone" which was not occupied. The demarcation line disappeared in Nov. 1942 when the Germans decided to occupy all of France.
Though it was thought to be impossible, Germany simply moved their armour and troops through the dense and hilly Ardennes forest in Belgium, attacking the line from behind. A fatal flaw of the Maginot Line was that the cannons were stuck invariably East, towards Germany - meaning they couldn't turn the guns around when attacked from behind. Germany swiftly crushed resistance at the line and conquered the majority of France within 3 weeks.
France. This was a "false" line that was mistaken for a secure means to keep the Germans at arms length.
The Germans simply out-flanked the Maginot Line by invading France through Belgium.
Hmm. Not sure if this is what you mean. The Maginot Line was the defensive line of forts and bunkers that France built along its border with Germany after WW1. France thought Maginot Line would protect them from another invasion by Germany. However, the Germans simple attacked through Belgium and went around the forts.
The Germans made an end run (flanking maneuver) around the Maginot Line through the Low Countries.
Germans bypassed the Maginot Line during World War II by invading France through Belgium and the Ardennes Forest in May 1940. The heavily fortified Maginot Line, designed to protect France from German invasion, ended at the French-Belgian border, leaving the northern flank exposed. The German forces executed a rapid and coordinated blitzkrieg strategy, which included fast-moving armored units and air support, allowing them to outmaneuver and circumvent the line effectively. This unexpected approach led to a swift defeat of French defenses and facilitated the occupation of France.
The French were focused on the French-German border, meanwhile, the Germans entered France through Belgium. The Germans were able to quickly flank the French forces, and kept the French pinned until they retreated to England.