What was important about the Maginot Line?

Answer 1

That was a series of linked fortifications built by the French along their border with Germany after the First World War to defend against another German attack. But they did not take it all the way to the sea. They decided that sense Belgium and Holland were neutral, the Germans would not invade them in order to get to France, even though the Germans had done precisely that in the first war. Naturally, that was precisely what the Germans did in the second war as well.Michael Montagne

Answer 2

== == It was THE Maginot line. This was a series of defensive forts and gun bunkers, built by the French to protect their border. The line ran for more than 300 miles, and it was supposed to be unbeatable by an attacking force, due to the huge amount of men and guns that were placed in it. The Maginot line was defeated by the German army, in 1940 by a simple tactic, they simply outflanked out it by invading Belgium first then preceding down south from Belgium to head into France, effectively completely skipping the Maginot Line. Unfortunately for the French, the Maginot line was designed with once purpose in mind, to defend France from a German invasion, and a German invasion only, therefore the forts and weapons permanently faced Germany, looking out into the Rhine, it couldn't be turned around, and once German forces outflanked it, they began an offensive from it's behind, and completely annihilating the defences. Not much of the line remains today, simply because Germany had busted it to pieces after they had captured France, so that material support could be easily transported without having to go around it.

Answer 3

The Maginot line, named after the French defence minister Andre Maginot, was built from 1929-1936 along the German frontier from Luxembourg to Switzerland. The Germans outflanked it in 1940 by invading via Belgium. Hope this is of help.

Answer 4

During World War II, the limitations of the Maginot Line were only two in number, and yet these limitations were profoundly decisive. First, the defense-line did not extend all the way to the English Channel, hence Germany's solution -- going around the Line -- was easily accomplished. Second, the defense-line had a psychological effect upon the French people that undermined serious war-making: once the defense-line was turned, the French lost the will to fight.

Answer 5

The French defensive line that spanned the entire border between France and Germany. France built the line to ensure they would be protected from German attack in the event of another world war. At 450 miles long, it was quite a sight to behold. Completely made of concrete and steel, the entire line was connected via a series of tunnels. Andre Maginot boasted that the air-conditioned bunkers were more comfortable than any hotel in Paris.

The line had one fatal flaw, however - Every gun the fortress had was pointed in an Easterly direction, towards Germany, and could not be turned around. When Germany did attack France, they went through the Belgian Ardennes forest (it was thought to be impassible) and attacked them from behind. A bloodbath - mostly French - ensued.

Answer 6

It was designed and built to fight another WWI, but was ill prepared to deal with the changes in weapons and tactics developed after that war. WWII battles would be mobile instead of static, fortifications were a thing of the past.

Answer 7

France built the Maginot Line because they still perceived there was a threat of German invasion post- WW1.