Welcome!

Discover the combat history of the Maginot Line online

History has largely ignored the combat record of the Maginot Line during the German invasion of France.  In reality, the Maginot fortifications were involved in a series of battles involving thousands of combatants and several periods of intense fighting.  This website seeks to fill the gap in the historical record by documenting the battles that involved of the Maginot Line.

Forever linked to the French defeat of 1940, the Maginot Line has its critics and advocates - even today - almost 70 years after the German invasion of France.  Period book art representing opposing views of the Maginot Line.  Left:  French perspective - the formidable strength of concrete and artillery.  Right:  German view - permanent fortifications defeated by aerial bombing.  Both views are misleading because French fortress artillery was easily outranged by German artillery, and because German aerial bombing of the Line was ineffective.

 

Main Sections

Illustrated description of the structure and primary defensive elements of the Maginot Line and their employment in combat.

The five major German operations against the Maginot Line framed within the context of the Campaign in the West.

Information about French and German soldiers who fought in the battles for the Maginot Line.

Historical photographs of the fortifications, German and French forces, and combat action from the US National Archives and several private collections.  Includes US Signal Corps photographs of the Maginot Line taken in 1944.

Archive of primary and secondary documents relevant to the battles for the Maginot Line 1939-40.

Period and recent photograph comparisons.

Links to various materials and web sites with information useful to WWII researchers and amateur historians.

Useful and informative web sites, books, and videos concerning the Maginot Line and the Campaign in France.   

A short guide to Maginot forts that can be visited today.  Includes historical and recent photographs in a “then and now” format.

What's New!

April 2009 - After a year-long hiatus to write a book about combat on the Maginot Line, we will now be revamping the website and adding new material.  Please check back for new material!

29 April - New research tools added.

02 May - Broken links repaired, document titled "The Strategic Performance of Defensive Barriers" added to the Combat Operations page, and added links to YouTube videos of the Maginot Line.

08 May - Information how how to find information on US and German soldiers added to "Research Tools." 

10 May - New "Then and Now" page added.

25 May - New research tools added.

06 June - Even more reearch tools added.

Special thanks to www.sturmpanzer.com for graciously hosting many of the files posted to this webpage. 

Coming in February 2010

"Maginot Line 1940: Battles on the French Frontier" written by the authors of this website.