The Maginot Line was an extensive network of underground fortifications built between the world wars along France’s border with Germany. Vast sums were spent on the line which guarded the traditional invasion routes. The Maginot Line turned out to be the ultimate white elephant as the Germans simply bypassed by going through Belgium where the defences were lightest. The concept of the Maginot Line came out of the static warfare mentality of World War One and did not consider the German’s newly developed ‘Blitzkreig’ style of warfare. Blitzkreig literally means ‘lightning’ or ‘flash’ war and relied on mobility, speed and surprise. It employed fast moving armoured and motorized infantry formation with air support and often airborne forces. The poorly equipped, run down armies of Western Europe crumbled in the face of the German Blitzkreig. General Charles de Gaulle had long been a critic of the line argued that funds would be better spent on improving tanks and aircraft.

The Maginot Line remains today as a monument to the material waste of war and as an abject lesson in lack of foresight. It was also a marvel of engineering in its day for its scale and complexity and is probably what draws the majority of visitors today.

A few of its 108 major forts have been restored and most of these are located in the Alsace-Lorraine region of Northern France especially around Verdun (famous WWI battleground) and Thionville.

The largest and best preserved are Hackenberg, Schoenenbourg, Galgenberg, Fermont, Immerhof and Zeiterholtz.

At Fermont visitors are taken into the underground complex by miniature train originally designed to move the troops from fort to fort.

The attractive town of Thionville near Metz is a good base for exploring these extensive fortifications.

A detailed enthusiast site in English - click here.

A site in French about the Maginot Line - click here.

Order a book about the Maginot Line