Maginot Line 1940

Battles on the French Frontier

Maginot Line 1940 cover

Maginot Line 1940

Battles on the French Frontier

Description

The failure of the Maginot Line shocked the world and lead to the sudden collapse of organized French resistance against Germany.

Constructed throughout the 1930s, the Maginot Line was supposed to form the ultimate defence against a German invasion of France. However, different sections of the line were built at different times and the strength of various sections varied widely. During their Blitzkrieg invasion, the Germans were able to identify these weak points and focus their attacks against them.

This book uses maps and period photographs to tell the story of the five German operations launched against the Maginot Line. While the Germans were able to smash through the lightly defended section of the line along the Meuse River, at other points the line held. Although ultimately the Maginot Line was to prove a failure, the stiff resistance put up by some of the fortresses confirms the fighting ability of the French army during the invasion.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Chronology

Origins of the campaign
Opposing commanders
Opposing armies
Orders of battle
Opposing plans
The campaign

Aftermath
The battlefield today
Further reading
Index

Product details

Published 20 Dec 2012
Format Ebook (Epub & Mobi)
Edition 1st
Extent 96
ISBN 9781782008743
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations 40 b/w; 52 col
Series Campaign
Short code CAM 218
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Marc Romanych

Marc Romanych is a retired US Army combat arms off…

Author

Martin Rupp

Martin Rupp has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the…

Illustrator

John White

John White was born in Knebworth, Hertfordshire, i…

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