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    Osprey - Fortress 010 - The Maginot Line 1928-45 PDF

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    Irina Chugay

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    Fortress ORE Eiae The Maginot Line 1928-45 OsPREY Fortress « 10 gnu “— The Maginot Line =| 1928-45 William Allcorn - Illustrated by Jeff Vanelle & Vincent Boulanger (Soeigsayocoon es yon mmc erreupmmnnoee groupe arom eur te Ning ne pre tants Cp el, ik Soper pear a sgeweamon Abbreviations “The flowing arvana on he fraton prs nhs volume arene AS ez shal wt as ny A Aocunk grea nny come Bock (Ae) Clas 13snm tower creme 7S) Tsmmgun or mora is) casemate CC try eomot bck with ches oiy CSL Grete uncerexhe try caver ck CQVAR Obierton nd oma rife che Command pst 5G Enrane oc for gion E# —_Ealted men accommosion Grom ed or eye ed rein Acknowledgements Forse often and dh geo wich be rons fn page 1 and 3 ar aed orgy ppearedin ius (4 (0586) 5 (987) of FORT be mao al of Fores Suey up. "ul perder Be oh ernie without wows hab he bose woud not hve be posbie Aber Ms {ormakeng nae we pts took we sare i he Magno ne in 999 a 940 re serio he mma {ino of work he ut nan pats e shoes preparing he pe and pe fore bok Mare Maker enw etx {orang protograph fore book athe strane an fo ede ng fer aoc ard tance ulm evening nd proving aaa conmans on he Tory McGovern for proving potorape forte Sook Pal Sana for mung ibe hi eve eaecton of Wold ‘War photeppie sng Han Vernet ors protean et formation fort Soke Fray woud he to wrest ny dart tote who hve ‘en hme ad alr cient presersing aed ‘Fenonng Magnet Une fixers itor cane us Conversion table Traine fn] 08354 I enemas fem] 03937 Iimewe 936 ards cme fn} 4 alee "dopa tg) 22066 Home 09682 sgeon (UK) orp medial es Latina abo ccs hat MI Qarage min amuison rape NCO Nomeommaoned ofc aceommodsion © Ofer’ sconmodaton OP —Obranadon lose Poe. fr Power pre T Telephone nebo Tias 13S howmer covet, TS Tonmgunuree, Tel Simm mora eet HG Twnmacine sin Ye Menton and es wo Wal Wr Weer Contents Introduction Chronology Historical background Planning and building the Line consrction The structure of the Maginot Line Northen Fane The Rin Rv fre The Mago nen he A Gran. nope comms Pre-war life in the Maginot Line “ring and preparing for war The myth of the Maginot Line The Maginot Line at war “The Phony Wi» lig and ie Bo Frc The Hag Lie ude segs andes de Rea rs “Arie “Scone 1940-45 Aftermath: the post-war era HIGHLAND: IBRARIES 5 Visiting the Maginot Line today 030 2 ‘Notveatern Fane The Ale Further reading and research Cn te eet DS AFOV Glossary Index 43 45 47 58 59 60 62 63 64 Age ae ie ery Seat ofthe gor owroge of aco ware os cogs Itty urge wort: are be peri anergroud for or ae Introduction Te Maginot Line, the massive series of fortifications built by France in the HF 918 1830s to defend its borders with Germany and Italy, 1s perhaps the most 1920 maligned collection of fortifications ever buit, commonly viewed as an abject 1927 fallure a disaster for Trance, 2 total waste of both money and manpower, and. 2 monument tothe fll of tate defence, Yet there are those who argue that, J 1928 to the contrary, it accomplished exactly what It was designed to do. What's rot disputed is thatthe Maginot Line was a technological marvel, far and 1934 fay the most sophisticated and complex set of fortifications built up to that time. Consising of massively strong, mutually supporting works of f 1935 reinforced concrete and steel sunk deep into the ground, proof aginst 6 from the heaviest arillery, immune to polo gas attack, and able 1 operate 1935 seitsutfiiently fora month or more the Maginot Line constituted a thin but formidable barrie to direct stack from Germany ot Waly Yet ultimately, it did 1936 hot save Fance from crushing defeat in 1940 and this fct alone shapes the Tegacy of the Maginot Line today more than any othe ine 1946-60 0-70 Chronology November End of Worlé Wir | France regi Alae-Lorraine Fes propos or foryng France’ expanded borders. ‘The Conon Ores des Rigor Fri (CORF) exabahad to ere the impementason ofthe border foraiazon programme. Fortfeation castration beget oth n northstar rate andthe Contraction begins on there rn’ extensions to theca ferieatons northern France 1B January Ina plabacite,the Sand votes to became part of ‘Germany an [Auguste Forcicationsfcily red Lo Len Mag he Magn Une) in onour of the former Minster of War. André Mago anaary Wit constuction of the argal Magnet Lie frtiasons large complete, CORF i banded ‘March In response to German remiarsiion ofthe Rinna he aint Line forfeston are mobile forthe rt tna The forest Construction of the'new fronts completed The Magno Une s mobied to the German ecaption ofthe Sudeeland 12 August Rising tensora between Genny and Pld cause the French tpverrmen 0 aga order mobisaen of te Maio Li September Germary invades Poin, France and lies mobile snd desre war on Geran, Lined French ofan ans se (German Sautand October Star of he Phony War 10 May Germany lnincher fr ofeneve sant Begum and Holand he 20 May. German armoured spearheads reach he French oust cutig the Slime Second pas ofthe German offensive, the Bate for France, begins wit German stacks along the i of the Somme ad Aline vers. June” Germans unch dec tacks onthe Magno ine forfatons ortentera Frac 15 June German asa crosing aginst Magnot Lin fortfeains nthe Aline Rive valley 20 June aly tack inthe As Bane Franco-German smite sgn 25 June Franco-an armies ene Jely The le Magiot Line suraps surrender: serompt 1 eld wee ofthe works gust srancing Amarin Forces ‘The French milkary restores ad manne some Magno ine work ¢ Cold War defence. ‘The French mary sl or abandons mor ofthe Magne Line forefeaon. ‘The fee Magn Line works are opened 0 the publ a tour sractone Historical background [Planning and building the Line 11919 France was one ofthe nominal vietors cf World War but victory had fy ihe carly 1920s the defensive school had prevalled and France began to Come at great cost Te French armed forces had suffered more than 6 milion say how best to defend Hs fonts. tm the North ast twas faced wth a Casualties, the northern provinces had been devastated by fighting and thelf can sate. Fr hundreds of yeas, tad relied on permanent fortifications as Country was burdened with a huge war debt. While her politicians worked tolf the basis for border security, but because the newly regnined Alsace-Lorraine yrsAcmons bate par the {impose 2 punitive peace treaty on Germany in the hope that it would prevent region inthe ast had been part of Germany from 1870 to 1918, is cutrent Mager Ue pene min he her from ever again posing a threat, the French Army began to consider what fonder with Germany were completely undefended by modern fortifications. exepdon of ose bun Coen. military stps could be ten to save France fom fare invasion. "me army high command was divided. One group under the leadership of Marsal Foch the supreme allied commander atthe end of the wat, argued tha the best defence was good offence that should Germany ever again. threaten France, France should respond with an immedate offensive across the Rhine The other group argued tht the experiences ofthe ast wat, and of the Battle of Verdun in parcla clsly demonstrate the superinty of tong defensive Riecisegeacadcl, poten eoorting permanent oration an the ey loses peers ld infict on offensive forces operating gui ther. They argue that nthe peta ne oes vent of war Fance would best be served by ¢sategy of defending behind Gries csenesonsnd Some sort of permanent frtications unt sich ime a talis could come to tomate ie te a is aid and a join blockade could strangle Geemany Prone uo oe Demographic considerations strengthened tae arguments of the defensive Stoo fate nett. To geno. rane ha a population of some 40 milion, Germany 70 milion an eset elk watery sret Germany had the higher ith ae, Beyond that studies showed that a res ina us eg poston kof te war, France would be faced witha significant shortage of conscripts il maw (EvcGovem Clacon) the second lf ofthe 1930s “German ora hanes ‘horoy ater fr ssreraer i ine Tot Eure ce prote ss ara arg rg Oe 28 ve os cure Boor the supe nd tthe aap two pce ‘rrance ble The locks ae (Petipa Caeser “The requirements of whatever scheme was ultimately adopted were t seshout ‘prevent any future war ftom being fought on French soll and in particul Secure vulnerable key industial areas from attack; + compensate forthe superior manpower advantage enjoyed by Germany; and + provide a shield behind which the French Army could mobs. ‘The fst offical proposal came in May of 1920 froma group lead by Marsha Jott, the vlctor ofthe Batleof the Marne. It proposed a series of fortified zones running from the North ea tothe Alps behind which the Feneh armas ‘ould mobilise and sek favourable opportunities to attack. ln 1921, a Masha Pétain, the Inspector General of the Army, countered Joe with 3 proposal ‘hat ws to become the bass for French state doctune forthe next 20 yea His proposal was for “battetelds prepared in peacetime’, by which he meant continous lines of permanent fortifeations analogous tothe tench lines ‘World War 1. The fortifications were to run along the Rhine River and fo there along France’ northern border to the vicinity of Thionvile on the Moselle River. Marshal Pétain strongly believed that to the west of Thionvill the Ardennes Forest in Luxembourg and easter Belgium presented such significant and easly defended barr thatthe Germans would ot serious ‘contemplate attacking through it Further to the west he held that the front ‘with Belgiim ‘can only be defended from within Belglum.’ In this he was probably" correct, West of the Ardennes, the Fanco-Belgan frontier ra through mostly low-lying, open countey with no natural barr. Furthermore the large and important industrial area around Lille saddled the border. T build an effective line of fortifications through it would have bee prohibitively expensive in land costs alone. Finally in the 1920s, Belgium wa | committe French ally and the most logical defensive strategy was for Franc nd Helglam to jointy defend the line of Haglan forictians aang the Mes River in eastern Belgiam, Discussions a8 how best to implement the strategy proposed by Marshal Pétain continued through the fst part of the 19208. By 1927 a general consensus had been teached that France’ borders with Germany and with potentially hostile Haly should be defended by more or less continuo lines of fortiiations. The Commission d'Organisaton des Regions Fortis (Commission forthe Organisation of Fortified Regions) was established tol ddown the baste outline ofthe works required and oversce tele construction. “The commission, presided over by General Bethagu, the InspectorGenecal of Engineers, was universally refered to by is initials, CORF, Intl financing feos ananged and actual construction began in 1928 both i north-eastern France and in the Alps Tess at this point that André Maginot entered the picture, He was a hero fof World War I who was immensely popular for his work as Minister of Pensions in the 1920s, securing pensions for veterans and compensation for ‘etme of the war I 1929 he became Minister of War and threw al his Tormidable abilities into the fortifications projet and into obtaining the fading necessary to Se It through to completion. In this he was successful, Winning over the right with arguments of patriotimm and the left sith rguments that the project would create employment during a time of deep economic crisis. He was so successful infact that by 1933, few years Site his death, the prest had begun to refer to the fortifications a the Maginot Line’ (La Ligne Masinot) and in August ofthat year, the term w38, offically adopted. Construction CConstraction of the fortifications, cased out by a large number of elvan ‘consirution firms under contrat tothe French government, was an immense project comprising 100km of tunnels, 12 milion cubic metres of earthworks, 1's milion cubic metres of concrete, 150,000 tons of steel, and 4SDkm of roads snd raliways. Work continued throughout the fst half of the 1930s and by 1935 constriction was largely complete except for some small extensions ade to the project in 1984. Asin almost any mafor government projet there ‘vere cost overruns and design changes asthe project went along The ne result ‘vas that some features were eliminated inching an entre second cycle that would have greatly strengthened the works built during the inital cycle. But the final cost of over 5,000,000,000 Francs was stil close to twice the amount ‘nginally badeted in 1929, On 1 January 1996, CORF was offically dsolved France continued to build border fortifications right up until the German Invasion of France infune 1940, but none ofthe works constructed were on the seal of those built during the Maginot Line programme, Stevo ne omar ack re ofthe ron europe at fowt ‘Casco fg of Ian of dra sain cca rai ave ng ce ‘Stappeared wo oft ures Seckroun (Athos sagt) “orton of goes Une sovoge are thors resech Eh vere ar ‘om he aay waa of Spe need eet blow ‘heap Teeny nego {he Bimm morars eps by {he enterenot i wae mented The structure of the Maginot Line ‘The final scheme Implemented under CORFs guldance was to protect France's ‘most Vulnerable borders with a thin, tough Skin of fortifications backed by strong local reserves of fortress infaniry and artillery units operating outside the fortifications, Aline of fortifications was to be bul along France's nother border from the town of Longuyon, approximately SOkm north-west of Met, tothe Rhine Fiver and then doven the Rhine River valley to the Swiss border Along the mountainous northern. portion of Fance’s border with Italy the major passes nere to be protected by fortifications while tothe south where the terrain was les rugged a neatly continuous ine would be constructed. The fortifications were tobe bult fom a series of standard components that could be adapted and combined together as needed to frm individual works which ln turn could te combined to form defensive lines and positions. North-eastern France ‘The tern long the Franco-German bord vais from gently rolling ground to fail hilly country, ut its generally passable by atleast infantry along it entre length, Because an attack was possible at almost any point, a continuous line of defences was bullt along most of the border. tis ths sectlon of the ‘Maginot Line >togramme fortiscations that Is commonly thought of a being the The Maginot Line “ihe defences in this arca consisted of an almest uninterupted line of ant-tank obstacles and barbed vite entanglements flanked by strong, mutually supporting, reinforced-conerete bunkers (known as interval casemates) armed With machine guns and antitank guns. The intervals between the casemates ‘varied from a few hundred mete to a Klometre or more, depending on the terrain, Te line of interval casemates was strenglnencd at iregular intervals with stronger defensive works, the underground forts, called oumages, for Wich the Maginot Line was so famous and in eich al of the artillery ings to the Line was mounted. Like the interval casemate, the owmraes diteally ‘works’ were mutually supporting “The line of fortifications ran roughly parallel to France’ northern border from a point near Longuyon tothe Rhine Rive, A gup of jst over 40km was left in the line astride the Sarre River south of the Saarland, the india ‘border area of Germany around the city of Saarbricken. There seem to have ‘ben several reasons why this gap, which came to be Known asthe Satre Gap, svas created. Fist, the area was low lying and had a high water table that made 4 unsuitable for the construction of eumges. Second, the Saarland was ‘occupied by France under a provision ofthe Treaty of Versailles that followed ‘World War, and France would contin to occupy i atleast unt the ells ofa plebiscite that was tobe held in 1985 were revealed, Finally, the Saeiand ‘vas the only German industrial area located neat the French border: should the plebiscite result ini reverting to German control and should hosts break fut between France and Germany, the Sate Gap area tas where the French ‘Army was likely to mas fr a possible offensive against Germany. “The fortifications were organised into two fred tegons, the Metz Fortified Region covering the area from Longuyon to the Sare Gap and the Lauter Forte Region covering the area fom the Sate Gap tothe Rb Rivet, each of which was further divided into fortified sectors and subsector, “The line was located 5-10km from the border This made it posible to accurately survey likely artery targets before the outbreak of hostilities and provided time forthe garrisons to achive fall combat readiness the unlikely ‘event ofan enemy surprise atack. Wherever possible the line followed low He lines. The interval easemates were situated in loations which provided optimum ‘elds of ire and ebservation. The ouaes were often situated on hilltops The interval casemates ‘The interval casemates (in. French, commonly catemater dintealles, but properly casemaes de miralenses isolées ~ isolated machine gun casemates) ‘were all based on a series of standard plans modified to mect local ste requirements. They were two-storey (ground floor and basement) reinforced- concrete structures approximately 15-20m on a side, Each hid ® garrkon Consisting ofa leutenant and up to 30 enlisted men ‘They were classified as either single or double casemates depending on the ‘number of firing chambers they had (one ox two) Fig chambers were located fon the uppee oor and wer oriented to ite tothe flank along the line of antitank obstacles, ot to the front towards an atacking encmy. rientating the casemates to fire to the flank minimised the exposure of fring embrasure to dlrect enemy fre while allowing the casemates to hit the enemy inthe flank atthe pot at wich he as most Vulnerable. In the case of double casemates, the two fing ‘chambers wre oriented to i in opposite directions. Where the train did not Permit deuhie exwmats the employed. pair of casemate, each fring in ‘Opposite directions, was often used to accomplish the same effect. Occasionally, the casemates ofa pir were connected together by an underground gallery “The fring chamber(s) of an interval casemate generally had two armoured firing embrasures: one for a so-called twin machine gun Yumelage de ‘mitaiewses), a mounting holding two drum-fed 7-Smm machine guns side by side, and one that could be wed interchangeably for elther a second twin machine gun mounting o fora 87mm or 47mm antitank gun, Inthe later ‘embrasure the twin machine gun was mounted on hinged mount that could Ouvroges and other structures Region Gros Petits Interval Observation | Troop ouvrages | ouvrages_| casemates_| posts shelters onary treovat | 2 2 2 Bee 2 2 2 7 © fora Atrgermbe of ppg sce An nampa double ‘anters could be apn mee tect eri cotton foray {estore ued nh ard ‘eos poet ilow se pe fen Haron Rar) Interval Casement (St. Antoine) be swung out ofthe way tallow the anti-tank gun, mounted on an overend rl, tobe sla forward and secured into the embrasure, ‘Walls facing the probable divection of attack and roofs were constricted! of| reinforced concrete 2-2.25m thick in order to withstand bombardment from artlery of up to 240mm, Outer walls aot subject to ditect bombardment were ‘one metre thick, The concrete used to construct all the Maginot Vine fortifications was strengthened with an exceptionally dense network of steel reinforcing bars. As a resi, i was unusually strong. Additional protection from direct artillery and antitank gunfire was provided by building the interval casemates into the sides of hils of artificial mounds of earth, so that no oncrete was visbe from the primary direction of attack. The fing embrasures External walls that were not shielded by earth were protected by ditches approximately 2m wide and 3m deep. These ditches served two purposts: they prevented the enemy from attacking embrasure and doors with explosive ‘harges and. provided somewhere for concrete chipped off walls by bombardment 10 40 50 that it did not pile wp and block the embasires The ditches were Manked by embrasures for 7-Smm automatic les (fils imitates for closein defence. Additionally, special launchers were instaled toallow hand grenades to be dropped det ino the ditches. Aan interval casemate was entered through an armoured door in ts rear. The door was reached by a removable bridge, hich spanned the casemate’ ditch. The entiance was defended! by ‘one oF two embrasures for automate rfls: one flanking the fentranee and sometimes a second inside the doo, positioned 10 fre through the doorway when the door was open. Allround observation and defence was provided by from cone to three steel ches installed on the roof ofeach interval Casemate. Extemally the clckes (literally ‘bells) resembled fattened domes. They were the only portions of the casemates that could be seen ftom the front by an advancing enemy: Several types were employed. They were typically 152m in diameter and extended about a miete above the roof of the ‘asemate. They were of cast armoured ste 25-30em thick. The ‘most common type, the observation and automatic il cla, ha from three to sx embrasures ited with thick glass vsion blocks. These could be removed and replaced by an automatic nfl or a SOmm breec-loading mortar when recessry, Other types of caches were armed with twin machine guns and in Some cases 4 25mm anti-tank gun mounted between two machine guns in 4 single mount, the so-called armes mites (literally ‘mixed atms). & small ‘numberof interval easemates were armed only with cliches, Interval casermates were enced bya low babed-Wvite entanglement and were usually further protected on the forward side by antsank obstacles, Additonal antetank obstaces and barbed-wte entanglements joined each interval casemate In theline. Tantitank obstacles normally consisted of several rs of tel alls set vertically in concrete, but ina fe paces anti-tank ditches were employed Ilumination of tv areas between the interval easemates was provided by a7 semoured searchlight mounted on a pedestal in the rear of each casemate and friented to illuminate the area defended by the casemate’ weapons. They ould be operated remotely from inside the casemate. Installation of the Seatchlights had not been completed prior to the outbreak of World War IL ‘ach Interval casemate was provided with everything necesary to make it seltsustaiing fora considerable period of time inlng living accommodation {albeit very cramped), food, a water supply, and a generator for elect power. Asa ect result of the experiences of Woeld War I, reat cae was taken to censure that the casemates could continue to function in a battlefield Contaminated by poison gas. To this end, exterior openings were sealed to the ‘maximum extent possibe, casemate entrance doors wete proved with af unlock, and the eisemates sere provided with 2 sophisticated lt filation system. This sjstem drew air from outside the casemate, fitered it, and fed it Ito the casemate at a presure higher than the outside ar presure. The resulting overpressure inside the casemate prevented olson gases fom ‘entering through embrasures and other openings and helped to keep the fring dn M1804 Ae a nin {Sing poison he manson ‘sop rnc loko {ros wage of Soenenourg Sahn balnd be pn tor hich hey aro int lo ‘poten eon ‘som orb ret got One rages (Par Her) “le amare te sandr ‘inns of nocd concrete as egned proce Use Trcomseron pc be tego wich ruc as lets chen tery cous be brug bar Concrete Protection | Proce | Tiree etre “yp wes sommes | ses hook —| Exernd | Newwpernl] Fears tordean ret ok te A 7 Tom [as as To THE | Peo contr Bec seis crtar Mok 5 tn n ‘soem [8 7 o os Boahoue Rhee Rr coor | ‘te ocig cae eh “(Aor pote) ‘age cheer, Ont af Sle caremat Arte rere Coomtat enrmcet ede ihe (aber prot) eae ae chambers fre of the suffocating fumes produced when the weapons were ire Fumes were further reduced by provisions to move spent cartridges out of the casemates a quickly as possible This was accomplished by ataching a exible tube to each weapon in such a way that spent cartridges were cjected directly {nto the tube, which in tum dumped them through a small opening in the ‘asemate's exterior wall into the ditch in font ofthe weapon's embrasure ‘The ouvrages The ounages that strengthened the line of interval casemates varied greatly in strength from works consisting of not much more than enlarged interval ‘asemates to elaborate combinations of surface combat blocks and subterranean Supporting faites with garrison of more than 1,000 men. The cinrages were lassed in a variety of ways, but the most common casication divides them into 90 groups: petits rages and sos unas (itealy small works” and ‘age works), The tems imply division by size and indeed petits ourages svete considerably smaller an had smaller garsons than gros nae, but there twas another important distinction: petits curages generally mounted only Infantry-type weapons, such as antsank guns and machine guns, while res ‘umrages mount! both infantry and artery weapons. There were 31 petits ‘unraes and 22 gros owas in northeast France. ike the interval casemates, the ourages were constructed from standardised components combined and modified as necessary to mest local site requirements. In the case of the owrages, the components were the surface ‘combat blocks in which the ong’ weapons were mounted and the Vatious Interconnected surface and subterranean works that supported the combat blocks, The number, type and distribution of combat blocks varied widely from ‘ouvrage to cura, especially among the ros aueaes. Supporting works existed in proportion tothe combat block. No two oumages were dential. "The surface portions ofthe uaages were constructed of reinforced concrete that was generally ticker even than that used in the interval casemate. Roos tnd exposed walls wete generally 2m thik in petits ourages and 3.5m thick in grow ourrages, The later were intended be able to withstand sustained bombardment fom 420mm siege guns like those that were employed against ‘Like the interval casemates, onmage blocks were equipped with clohes for aularound observation and closein defence. In adation tothe types of coches fmployed in the interval casemates, there were other types whose usige Was largely limited to the curraes. These included artillery observation coches and the so-called lanc-genade literally grenade thrower cloche. The lance senade ‘oche differed from most other coches in that ts top was Hush with the root fof the block in which ft was installed. It was intended to mount a SOmm or ‘om beeec-loading mortar fring through an embrasure inthe roof of the loche that would provide additional close-in defence for the block. Technical problems developing the weapons meant that none of the ‘laces were ever armed (The artillery observation clohes ar discussed in the Observation Black section on page 25) The petits ouvrages A typieal petit ammage consisted of thre interconnected combat blocks two infantry casemate blocks and an infantry ture block The infantry casemate blocks were ‘ey similar to single (one fring chamber) interval ‘asemates. Each ad a firing chamber with two armoured ‘mbrasues, one for a twin machine gun and one for use Interchangeably by a twin machine gun or an atta ‘gun. Fach block was also provided with & number of ‘aces for observation and close-in defence The infantry turret. block was a monolithic, rsinforced-concrete structure of roughly the same siz a sn infantry casemate block. was sunk completly into ‘he ground. ‘The only portion of the block that was exposed was its Na oot, which was ash withthe surface fof the suntounding tain, The principal weapons ofthe block were mounted in a revolving and retracing ture. The turet was a cylinder approximately 2m in diameter with low, domed roof. Both the rot and walls were of 2cm-thick east ste armour “The turret was set within a domed armoured shield. The shield was buried In the concrete ofthe block so that its top was nearly sh with the top ofthe block. When the turret was in its lowered postion, the roof ofthe turet and the shield together formed an almost continuous dome. The turrets weapons fred through embrasires in the face ofthe turret. These were fully protected by the turer’, shield when the turret was im its lowered position. Most of the Infantry tueets were machine gun turrets mounting a twin 7-Smm machine gun similar to that mounted in the easemste blocks, but a number were lassiied as mixed arms (ames mites) turrets, which comprised two principal types. The fst type was a. purpose-built turret mounting single 2Smm anti-tank gun between to 7-Smm machine guns, each with its oven fring ‘embrasure: These tures also had a short-range, brech-oading SOmm mort The second type was converted from 7Smm artillery turets taken from pre-World War I French forts. The turrets two 7Sim guns were removed and replaced by a pale ofthe same ares mises employed in some clas, The main portion of the body af the turret was encased in the 2 Sm-thick roof ofthe turret block, but its trunk extended downward to the lower level ff the block. The trunk rotated with the turret. The turet’s primary tre control position was attached to the turret trunk at the lower level and rotated with it Sighting was through a periscope whose view port was located either between or adjacent to the weapons embrasues in the face ofthe Turtet. The lower level ofthe lock aso contained the mechanisms fr raising and lowering the tare (a lever and counterweight system) and rotating Ht ‘magazines; ar filtration equipment; and all of the other equipment necesaty to the functioning of the turret, In alton to is tre, each turret block was generally provided with one of to clos for observation and close-in Aefence. Unlike the cascmate block, there wa unvally no direct ext from a tute block tothe surface of the ona The combat blocks were connected together by underground galleries, The gallery level was reached via staircases tanning down vertical shafts from ‘ach block, At the gallery level living accommodation, kitchens, power Segroon ithe embrasure forthe soma ie ren, ‘eesace nthe foreground saroage (ante pacggh) or The machin gin tre of the baciground The enanerare Sod sreenn he re of ta ture (Authors potograh ko Pre fae pti ‘equremone (En er) Mauvais Bois Scroeraboorg bt the sone tagnine hold 20 rane The ‘eb he gn nc sch are Paka) Hobling ce Plants, and all of the other facilities necessary to Bilow the ourage to function isolated trom the ‘outside world fora month or more were constructed In order to ensure thatthe underground portions of the aurage were immune from damage by enemy fre and to allow the gatison to rest in an atea as soate 2 possible rom the stress of the batted, the underground portions of the ‘urrage were normally located at least 20 and often 30 or more metres below the ourage’ssurtace. “The three blocks of a typical petit curage were generally lad out in triangular orm with an infantry casemate block oriented! to ire to each Hank slong the fine of antitank obstacies that connected the interval casemates land the owirages. The turret block was usually located between the to ‘asemate blocks and somewhat forward of them, The interval between the ‘atious blocks varied according to the site, but were generally in the 0-180m range. The entire ensemble was surrounded by antitank ral and barbed ‘wie A few petits ounaes were provided with separate entrance Blocks located Lower Level sn covered areas inthe reat ofthe ownage, but more typically entrance 0 the ‘uyrage was through one of the infantey casemate blocks, with the other ‘casemate block providing an emergency exit. Ina numberof eases where the teain permitted, the functions of two or even three combat blocks were combined into one lage monolithic block with one ot ‘wo firing chambers for trin machine guns and ant-tank guns and an infantry tut, This combining of blocks resulted in several petits ones having only single combat block. In this case a gallery level was generally not constructed, all living accommodation and support facies being Iocated in the Block isl. While pets ourages with three combat blocks or thee equivalent were typical, there were numerous variations to meet local site requitements. One of the most common variations was the addition of a combat block similar to an Infantry turret block but equipped only with laces, Such blocks were constructed where necessary to provide observation and fe over areas that were not wisble from the other blocs of the ouage. They also sometimes served a5 atilery observation post. Other petits ouvayes had one oF 0 infantry casemate block, an five were armed With SImm mortars in adation to theie normal armament. The garrisons of the pets curages varied widely but ‘ypiclly consisted of two to fou offices and 100 t0 150 men The gros owvrages ‘The sos outages wete the suongest of the Maginot Line works and contained ‘rtually all ofthe artillery permanently mounted Inthe Line. They weee large, omplex structures with garsons of 500-1000 or more men. Each ouvage ‘consisted ofa numberof combat blocks grouped together ina rlatively small area on the main line of resistance and a support area. The support afea was {generally located $00-800m to the rear of the combat blocks. The entire Support ara, withthe exception of to blocks that house the entrances tothe ‘uirage, was located 20 or more metres below ground level. An underground sallery connected the support area t the combat block are, ai Hee) = Lint Pan of onrog fis Foe ial ota ooe pet ews nary easovte Bos bres tangle sacar ‘Cone tata nonber of pats, urges at was so ames thowr be fon a he wok bind Sine Bray wabie ole! ‘he loered poston The vane pote shows he work om the fea (Ge aeration 2» “The recog Brn rrorarerpyetn the got hear seeped 3 este ‘ow conor airy Seereeteoem ‘Shuster whew eens ary yon (Gude ere ee soe watson et ped the fins fe ror, seen atneane ear amare Se ‘This ptogrgh shows one tmorarsin ace 3 ooh pot tovoge of UAgasen ne ane Alp, The to ge (incor stove be mora be cima pvr om tbe eee rig frog Ths ‘helo egh aonb be ‘ar woul ave an conrad t2 Feng on te sor pipe Senora ube “Te appr of wo aed ‘ower and hes con eee trove posible 5 degrees, “en lara an tein my Sr octane dow far rare treech The ech Block at ‘hen man Spare snd routed othe rgb uae he haps harlem he own Ts bon moved te Froese nt he ae ane Tike he beech (tor) Combat blocks \ variety of combat blocks were employed including infantry combat blocks identical to those employed in pets curnaes, artillery turret blocks, atillery ‘casemate Elocks, and observation blocks, As in pets ona, the functions ot ‘combat blocks in the gos unages were sometimes combined, ‘Most gyer ourages ad a numberof infantry combat blocks, including both infantry casemate and Infantry turret blocks. Infantry casemate blocks were ‘often located on one or both flanks ofthe combat block aes, orlented to ite to the tanks of the onnage One or two machine-gun or mixed-arms Blocks ‘were normally postioned in the forward portion of the combat lock area ‘where they could cover lksly enemy avents of approach Anil blocks were two-storey strctures and were normaly either tare blocks, each with a singe artillery turret, oF casemate Blocks each with to oF thece artillery pieces fring through embrasures. The atlery of the auras ‘consisted of thee principal types of weapon: Simm breechrloading mortars, 135mm howitzers, and 75mm guns. All were purpose-built fortes atley pieces and could not be removed from the oumages for use as fed arti. The Siam mortar had a maximum range of 3,200m and was intended primarily fr fairly close defence ofthe ourae isl twas a breech-doading ‘weapon thit fired standard mortar ammunition at a fixed angle of 4S degrees The 135mm howitzer (once-bom, literally “bomb thrower) was a. very short-boreled weapon witha maximum range of5,700m, is range limited it ® primarily defensive role. The 75mm gun canon-bnsi, literally gu-howitze) twas the most important ally seeapon mounted in the rs ona. Ik w38 ‘ery accurate and hl high rate of ire. Several models were employed, ut th ‘majority had a maximum range of about 12,000m. The major exception Was & Shortbarelled model that had a maximum range of only about 2,000 Technically clase asa howitzer (use, for convenience itis usally grouped together with the 7Smim guns. The greater range of the 7Smm gun made it Psible to employ it in a more offensive role than was possible fr elther the ‘Simm mortar or the 138mm howler. The artilery weapons were mounted ether in artillery tutes or in atlery casemates with the majority being in turets. The arilery tutes resembled enlarged fafantry turrets; however, in thelr raised position they did not projet as far above the block’ roof as infantry turets did. The walls and roolsof the antler turrets were 30-85em thick. Regatdiss of the type of atllery weapon, each turret mounted two weapons fing through fembrasues in the face of the turret. In order to make it posible for the turret’ embrasues to be fully covered by the turret’ shield When the turet ‘was in ts Lwered position, and to minimise the size ofthe fing embrasure, the 138mm howltzers and 75mm guns were muzzle pivoting. While this served 10 protect the weapons from hostile fire, it increased the distance {through sehich the breech moved during elevation and depression, which in turn made loading dificult, These problems were not particularly severe for the shortturelle L3Smm howiteer, but were serio in the eater models of the 73mm gun turets. The problem Was solved in lateemodel turrets by installing « movable platform for the loaders within the turret. The platform moved up and down automatically asthe guns were elevated or depressed. Which delivered ammunition to the loaders a the most convenient Relght, whatever the helght ofthe loading platform. luke an infantry turet. the primary fre control position of an artillery turret was attached to the turrets trunk at the upper of the to levels of the block ise The turret trunk aso contained two ammunition hoists, one for cach gun. These were serviced fom 9 ready-use magazine, known a6 the MS magazine, located on the lock’ upper level. Fora 7Snim gun ture, the se magazine held 1,200 rounds of ammunition The turtet trunk extended to the lower level of the block where the mechanisms for faising, lowering. and rotating he turret ere located. These mechanisms were electrically poveered bt manual back-up mechanisms were also provided The block also contained ale tation equipment and led crew accommodation. AS sith ather combat blocks, the artilery turret blocks were provided with one or tO ches for cose inedefence Like Infantry —casemates, snllery casemates were olented f fie along the main line of resistance, not tothe font toward an atacking enemy. While artillery tures with their 36D-deqree fields offre could be employed in both oensive and defensive roles, arlery casemates, with thelr limited 4.degree feds of fe were restited fo the role of supporting adjacent Maginot Line works. This Support oul ica ring ety on op of wok sould an enemy succeed The most common typeof artillery casemate block had a fring chamber on its upper level mounting two of theee 7Smm guns fring through armoured embrasure in one of the block's sides. Such blocks generally als had sit filtration equipment, an M3 magazine with 600 rounds of ammunition per ‘tun, and coches for clase defence To minimise the exposure of the concrete ofthe artillery casemates to direct enemy fire, the blocks were built into the reverse slopes of hills or artifical ‘mounds. Only the face in which the embrasures were located Was not covered ————— 1801931 mode rv he Divot pit was mare rer to ‘Be munie ate pon Te reais he aun of te ‘Shr a rjc rom be Srerare tobe fad wis ‘dco be eed > protect he rl hen ne gon ‘ran frig Te aacarage ‘tronng eh pt psn forwarder a creed ‘he tmeune of movement he breach ste gn ws eented tnd depres Ta ocate Ion ee 1932 mong as equppe wth por ‘Srehe pyar oe Detomatiy moves versa ‘hte ech of oe ps (Procaobe Ha) a 2 Maginot Line artillery pieces by earth and twas constructed in such a way that each embrasure was stepped back fom its neighbour so thatthe entie face angled away from the primary rection of attack. Asin infantry casemate block, ditches were constricted it front ofthe exposed fae ofthe artillery casemate blocks. Artillery casemate blocks were often provided with an emergency ext i the form of a low ‘doorway that provided access to a removable bridge spanning the Block’ ath Those 13Smm howitzers mounted in semsts were mounted singly in blocks that housed some other armament, often 135mm turtet. The Slmm mortars ‘mountedincasemates were general mounted in pais, often a the lower level ‘of an infantry casemate block below the block normal fring chamber. This ‘Howe the mortars to fire from the concealment ofthe Block’ ach arillery block, whether a turret block or a casemate block, was connected by its own vertical shaft to the owas galery level. This shat Contained @ staircase and two Us for transporting ammunition from the tillery vel to the combat block level, The only interconnection between Docks wis at the gillery level. Facilites at the galley level of each block senerally included 8 lage secondary magazine known as the M2 magazine Py Feenare The armoured rot hit (tae vermesen Teco ponte te en [ror ouroge of Hows The Indo one pt prowess toe wet ae (A rs) (holding 2800 rounds per tbe in the case of blocks armed! with 7Smm guns), 23 block cemmand post, and accommodation for the block commander The block command post was responsible for the detailed computations necessary to bring fie to bear on targets designated by the omnage command post. Fie commands were passed rom the block command post othe guns by ‘means of an order tansltr, which was basally an elaborate version ofthe engine room telegraph used to pass commands from the bridge to the engine room om 3 shi. At the gallery lve, a single pasage connected the combat block to the rest formally kept closed. In an emergency, the airlock covld be barricaded to physically slate the combat block and is supporting facilities a the gallery level fom the rest ofthe ounage or vice vera. AS i the interval esemate, the alr within the ouonaes could be filtered and was maintained ata slight ‘overpressure to Keep Out poison gases. The exact amount ofthe overpressure Was ‘losely controled and varied from combat block to combat block depending on the type of weapon mounted. The pressure selected would ensure optimum ‘expulsion of the fumes produced when the weapons fire. Under normal conditions, the combat blocks drew their air from the galleries of the arora, but, In an emergency, each was capable of drawing and fering ai from outside the biock set. 7 As in the interval easemates and infantry 60 ore ‘omlat locks, careful provision was made for the rapid evacuation of spent casidges rom | EO™R the arilery combat blocks. The guns elected vues ‘helt cartridges directly into chutes that carted the cartridges directly to a special room located ot the galley level belo the block, Within the ure, atlery ammunition vas stored and transported in large metal cages holding $0 oF more rounds Scpending nthe ammunition calle. Hand-operated trolley host suspended from overhead rails were used to move the cages both inside the blocks and Observation blocks In addition to its combat blocks, most sas ouages had one or sometimes tw observation blocks. These resembled turret blocks without turrets. Fach was quipped with several laces two of which wete generally specialised ones for rillery observation and Bie control. One was povided with observation slts rid 4 roof mounting tha could take various types of relatively love power observation periscopes including a specialised one for night use. The other was ish withthe roof of the observation block and mounted 3 high-powered, caractable periscope similar to those employed on submarines, Iwas intended precise target location. The observation blocks were positioned 50 48 to provide the bet view possible of Ukely avenues of approach. In some ease this meant tat the block was situated outside ofthe combat biok area Combat block distribution The total numberof artillery tubes mounted in te gos urager of north-castern ance, 189 tubes in 22 gros onnages, was surprisingly smal, averaging some ‘ight and aba tubes per ova, The iow numberof weapons wos payoff by the fc thatthe weapons had very high rats offre that could be sustained foe much longer pesods of Hine than was possible for fei atillery seapons, or example, twas felt that a single 73mm gun turet wa equa in firepower 10 wo 75mm fel artery batteries, a(n bowmaer rr ote rare te pote be ‘uve ern a) A pln of he upper rund ie ‘hs cae of hep rage Stier Te are Frosesons eH) 2s 2% xan of ror ouwaes in rordvenart France Hecarbarg rey acpi tobe he re Sago Recent Se lee which cone of ache gr wre eds ees tthe noah ie aura (eictanen Rochonvilers The siaeand shape of the combat block area vale grey depending on the terrain in which the anrage was located and on the size and number of combat blocks with which it was equipped. For an averagesize ounage, the area Was 200-300m wide and about the same deep. The entire area was surounded by antbtank obstacles and barbed wire entanglements. In addition, indivi Blocks ‘within the area were often surrounded by thet own babed.wire entanglements. The two largest oueages ~ Hockenberg, cast of Thionvll, and Hochwald, south-west of Wisembourg - each had to areas of combat block, The tw0 areas at Hockenberg were joined together by an antitank wall and eit that ‘was Nanked by infantry blocks integral tothe onrage isclt. The fo areas Hochwald (hich were om opposite sides ofa fan high ridge) were alo ‘connected by an antitank ditch, but this was flanked! for the most part by Dlockhouses that were not integral tothe ourage. ‘The number an typeof combat blocks that an aurage possessed also varied. ‘The gms ourae of Fermont, north-east of Longuyon, ean be considered fly typical thoagh. It had two machine gun turet blocks, one infantry casemate block, one Bimm mortar turret block, one 75mm gun turtt block three-gun 75mm. gun casemate block, and an observation block, The srs cnnage of Rochonvilles, north-west of Thionville was a somewhat more heavily armed ‘work with to machine gun turret blocks, a combined machine gun turret and faantry casemate block, four artillery turret blocks, and an unusual atilery ‘casemate block with one 135mm hovitzr and three 75mm guns The largest euvrage of all was the gros ownage of Hackenberg. ‘The foorthem-mt ofits two afeas of combat blocks had a. combined infantry ‘casemate and machine gun turret block, an Simm mortar turret block, a lock ‘vith 135mm howiter turet and a single casemate-mounted 135mm howitze, and a theeegun 75mm gun casemate block. The southern combat block area had a machine gun turet block, a combined infanty casemate and ‘machine gun turret block, an Simm mora ture block, a 138mm howitzer {uret block, a 7Smm gun turret block, anda thre-gun 7Smm gun casemate block, The anti-tank sll and ditch connecting the to combat aess were ‘lanked by five variously armed infantry blocks, one of which aso hada single ‘asemate-mounted 75mm howitzer. Two obxeration blacks were located a the top of ide betwexn and inthe ea of the to ares of combat Blocks, The ouvrage command post The actions of an ousrageS combat blocks were controlled from the ouvrage command post consisting of a Seles of rooms at the gallery level of the ‘urna. The command post was located in the vicinity ofthe combat blocks, bften near the observation block. The ouwraye command post consisted of three separate but closely co-ordinated command posts: the ounrage ‘commanders command post, the artillery command post, and the infantry ‘command post. In addition, it contained the auorages central telephone texehange and sleeping quarters fora numberof oir whose duties required them to be near the command posta ll times, The infantry command post co-ordinated the actions of the omrases {infantry blocks as well as the general close defence of the oumage. The allery command post controlled the atlery ire of the curse. It reclved Information about enemy sightings from various sources Including the ‘uvrages own observation block and decided which of the ownage’ atilery blocks would engage a target. Once a block was designated to engage a target, st was placed in direct telephone contact withthe observer who had reported the target. The ouage command post then monitored the conduct ofthe fre that oes cared ut by ditect co-ordination between the ring. block's ‘command post andthe observer Tach oirage was alto patt of an artillery group. The omrase’s artillery command post was in diect contact with the group command post. The ownage ‘command post could pass on tages that it could not engage tothe artillery froup command port for possible Engagement by another ownage and ‘ould receive targets from the group ‘command! pos. In order to provide the most secure and reliable communications possible an fextemsive network of buried phe lines connected all the Maginot Line works Together The ‘eleplione network supplemented bya radio network, butt proved toublesome and unreliable in prachce. The antennas were a major problem. They were generally situated fon the face of artillery casemate or femtrance blocks, but the reception was less than optimal and they could fay enslly be damaged by hostile fe Fecha. oe cowae (a Hos) u [tse pea ppt are for the Soerch prs uwoge Oi age See rally rae long the ma galery eae) “The pomar pare aren ofthe ps uae of Senoeerscrg orders Fance Echo {cw dsergme panera feertor se wan pate of Producing 6D LW of HO va Scie serine cere Mosk tle equpert wth te serag spd oe neces to proce te 609 ot Shectearen rears he ‘ay caressa te Table rece cara reed by the tre motors The ome ‘ddd comers grclage ‘Sree rode by he tn ower go mest he uvope ‘ese Har) ‘The support area Where terain permitted, the support area of an omrage was located several hundred metres to the tear of the combat block area, The combat block area was connected t0. the Support area by a singe gallery. This gallery rormally forked near the support area with fone fork leading tothe accommodation area and the other leading t0 the ourage's main magazine, known as the MI magazine. Tansporation of ammunition and heavy ‘uipment along the main galleries of the fuage was by means of a0 6a-uge rly. ‘The allway’ was provided with electric Jocomotives, except in eases where the tern ‘made it necessary to locate the support area neat the combat blocks all as were hand-pused In onrages without electric locomotives. The accommodation ares contained barrack rooms, kitchens, latrines, washrooms, storerooms, a hospital, and all ofthe other facilities necessary to Support the ouvaye’s gartson. It was provides with Ht own integral water Supply and was stocked with all of the provisions necessary for functioning in complete Isolation from the outside world for 4 month or more. Facilities were far from plush. Enlisted men slept in shifts in barack rooms that accommodated 24-36 men in tightly packed bunk beds. Food was eaten on Small tables that folded down from corridor walls, Virtually no recreation facilities were avallble. Although electric heating and lighting was provid, the accommodation areas were generally damp and poorly it "The support area also contained the mai ai ltration equipment and the cuorage’s electric power station. An ownage normally drew its electic power from the French national power grid through buried cables, but i also provided with up to four large dleseLarven generator Sets for use in case of & failure ofthe external power supply. Suficiet fuel and lubricants were stocked to allow the omrae’s generators to fil all of the tages power needs fora month or more. As an ‘MAitonal backup, mages were interconnected 30 that, man emergency, one nie could provi rte size of the ML ‘magazine varied widely the Nank. Like the aillery embrasues in north-eastern | Laval? rance, the artillery embrasures in the Alps were normally rotected by overhanging conerete and by ditches, Because t va possible to employ casemate-mounted weapons fring t0 the front, only six artilery and no ifantry turrets sere Installed in the Alpine foraseations The tures that sere Installed were identical to those used in north-estera Franc, Alpine atlery casemate blocks tended to be more heavily armed and less standardised than those in the North Eas. Different types of weapons were frequently mounted inthe ime block, and blocks often had embrasres fring diferent diections. Weapons were generally mounted in pairs. two-storey rangement was common with a pair of artillery pieces fring through fembrasures on the upper level and a pair of Simm mortars on the lower level ring up through embrasues in the block’ ditch Blocks 50 equlpped might ave other pars of weapons fring in diferent directions Block Sof the sos ourage of Lavoit, defending several small passes in the area jut to the west of the Freus Pas, was one of the more heavily armed pine ailley blocks. It had one pair of Sizim morats and & par of 75mm mortars fring to the southewest and another pai of Simm morta fring to the south-east. Unlike many other artilry blocks inthe Alps the weapons of this block were allocated on the sime level. Block 2 of the gos aurage of Cap Martin, the southernmost of all the ownage, had an artillery armament ‘consisting ofa single 7Smm gun lanking the beach at Menton. The block also served as an infantey combat block with an armament of thre twin 7.5mm nachine guns. The most heavily-armed artillery block in the entre Maginat Line fortifications programme was block 2 ofthe gs oorage of Saint-Agns, It was a four-level structure overlooking the town of Menton, and was armed tn two 135mm howitzer, two Bimm moar, and two 75mm ‘mortars The ouvrages In the Alps os and petits ouvrages similar in many respects to those used in north-eastern Hance were the main components of each defensive postion. oth types of ourages ested in equal numbers, 22 of each, Alpine petits cuvrages generally had fom one to four surface blocks interconnected by galerie. The blocks included infantry combat blocks, ‘observation blocs, and possibly an entrance block. The exact mix employed at each uvtage depended on Toeal site requirements and as much less Sainte-Agnes (Biock2) ~®S 6S Fees fe) trae cf akon Ags gray capt tobe th on hay ‘peroaliry sted ovr the {Sunol Maon nd fo ont the ‘tor (Ec Heron Rowe fhe nome ad (Autor: photons) ” 38 (Clone pare compact ogee ppc sheer nome Dre within oc arrayed Fare drectons Except or standardised than in north-eastern France. The sarison ofa pti ouvrage generally consisted of fone or two officers and 40-80 enlisted men, ‘Aipine gros ounages consisted of varying mixtures of artillery and infantry combat blocks and observation Blocks together with an fentrance block and. subterranean. support faclities, and were generally. smaller than hoe in the North East. The average Alpine ros fuvrage had three or four combat and Dbservation blocks and. mounted about six anillery pices. The garrisons of the largest Alpine orages were less than 400 officers and ‘men, The gms owrage of Pas du Ros, one of those defending the Figjus Fass near Modane, was a fallly typical Alpine example. It had a {otal of five blocks: an artillery combat bloc with two pais of Simm mortars: another with 2 par of 5mm ‘mortars an infantry combat blocks an observation block; and an entrance block. One ofthe largest was the gas ourage of Monte Grosso, situated on a commanding tlltop north of the town of Sospl inthe Maritime Alps. ft had a total of seven blocks: two artillery turret blocks, one with a 135mm howiterturet and the other with 3.7mm gun turret; 1 block with two 7Smm guns aswell as an fembrasure for a twin machine gun; a block with two pats of Simm mortars two combined infantry defence and artillery observation blocks; and an tentrance block, One ofthe smaller ones was the gros ouage of Sait- Roch ne Sospel. Its enti artillery armament of one 7Smin gun and two pais of 81mm ‘oars was installed na single artillery casemate block. Fach ofthe ourage’s ‘other two combat blocks mounted only 2 single coche one an artery observation coc, the other an observation and automatic rifle loch. It aso bad an entrance block, “The support areas ofthe Alpine onages were similar to those in nowh-eastern France, with most of the sime faites, Dut on a generally smaller scale ‘commensurate with the smaller garrisons ofthe Alpine nas. One feature that ‘vas ackingin the Apne ouages was an MI magazine: instead ammunition was SMored in magizines located in the vicinity of and in the combat blocks themselves. Asin the North East, the support area was lated well below ground level i order to oat it as much as possible fom the battled. Because the Alpine sos curaes were bull high up the slopes of steep hills, the support areas ‘vere usally located directly below the combat blocks. Locating the support area ‘ose to the combat blocks eliminated the need for an electric tlivay &© transport ammunition and supplies within the aanae. The aaa principal talleris vere, however, fitted with tracks and smal, hand-pushed ral Wucks trere used to transport heavy supplies and equipment. Callies and shats Connected the Support facilites to te surface blocks. AS in north-eastern France, Shafts serving artllry combat blocks were fitted with lifts to transport "The standard Alpine entrance block was a combined garrison and ammunition and supplies entrance block. Like the entrance blocks in ‘north-eastern Franc, which it resembled, it was protected by a ditch and was ‘eferded by infantry weapons fring through embrasure and sometimes aso by one or more lacks. I had two side-by-side entrances, a small one for the ‘oops ofthe garrison and a larger one fr ammunition and supplies. The ditch infront ofthe enteances was crossed by two bridges: a removable one serving the toop entance and a drawbrdge serving the supplies entrance. The drawbrge was armoured and, ints alsed position, formed an armoured doot Inthe Alps twas generally possibie to locate the entrance blocks on the same level a5 support afea. feature unique to the Alps was the aerial cableway entrance found in gros ourages that were dificult to approach by road. The Cableway entrance was sometimes part of the main entrance block and sometimes a separate block. In either case the block served as the uphill ferminus of an aerial cableway that was used to cary supplies to the cue Because Alpine ourays were often insight of one another, provision was made for visual communication between works in addition to the normal telephone and radio Hinks, This consisted of small round embrasures in the terior walls of combat blocks aligned in such a way that signal lamps could be used to communicate between works in a manner similar to that used The distribution of the fortifications Each of the major passes along the Franco-ttalian border was defended by small group of outrages forming a defensive postion, The aunnes of each fsroup were generally mutually supporting, however they ‘were not interconnected by a line of permanent obstacles. The number and type tempioyed in each group varied considerably from Iwo pets ouages defending, the Petit Saint-Bernard Pas to five ges euvages and one petit usage defending the Freus and Mont Cenis pases, Inthe Manitime Alps a more o les continuous line of aurages was built, On north-eastern France, but it lacked the continuous line of obstacles and Infantry easemates that was ake component of the later. Instead, the nage vere closer together and lnfantyy defences were confined primarily to the venues of approach to the main line of defence AS in north-eastern France he principal defensive postions inthe Alps were, fr the most par, located & few hilometres from the border. The positions aso included a number of Imerval troop shelters and afew other structures, The troop shelter resembled pets ourages except that they contained adeltional sleeping and command merece pinemors, ee » ” ae of Hoos Drecty recast (A Ha) post facilities at the gallery level for one or two sections of Apne Infantry The mission ofthese troops was to fight inthe open to cover gaps between the fortifications Most ofthe postions in the Alps had been fortified in preceing centuries ‘Many ofthe older fortiications stil existed and a numbee of forts dating fom 1870 to 1914 were modernised and incorporated into the Alpine defences, Modernisation consisted mainly of providing modern lighting and protection agains poson gas similar to that found in the new wosks. Corsica Corsica as viewed by the French as an unsinkable arr caer guarding the ‘ey shipping routes tots North African colonies, Consequently, defences for it ‘were included in the original Maginot Line programme, A total of 24 works ‘were ui sited to defend likely points of invasion. For the most par the Works ‘onsite of casemate blocks similar to the interval casemates constructed in ‘north-eastern France, but thre of the eaemates were azmed With 75mm guns. There were also five troop shelters, Subsequent construction The Mapnot Lines designers had made plan fora second cyte of works that vould greatly stengthen the forifatons: more combat Docs, pets omage Upgraded tgs naps, and more and beter antitank defences, However, the engineer plans for improved forifcation met with polit reluctance to av for them, andthe second eycle mat never bul For praca purposes, {he dsolton of CORE in 1986 marked the end ofthe development ofthe Maginot Line, Fortiation constuction. did continue. Dut what. was Constructed Gurng the yeas leading up to the outbreak of Wovld War was ier expensive and henct les sphisated, Advance posts or fortified houses In some areas of north-eastern France small fortified advance posts were constructed near points where roads crossed the border. Each was gansoned by a few soldiers from the paramilitary Garde Républicaine Mobile whose mission it was to report and delay any surprise auack, thus giving the garrisons. of the owirages and. interval casemates of the main line of resistance added time to achieve fll combat readiness, ‘The advance posts were collectively known a fortified houses (maisons fortes) snd nef gent ps Tos rectangular, thieeroom, single-storey ‘concrete structures with small projecting blockhouses with fring embrasures for Ardennes Forest area and in some places in the Vosges mountains resembled to storey hovses. The lower story was in fact & concrete blocknowse withing embrasure for small arms and sometimes an antitank gun, while the upper storey Provided living accommodation for the garrison, Alpine advance posts inthe Alps prior tothe outbreak of World War I, a number of advance posts ‘were constcted ford ofthe main defensive positions along major avenues { approach and at key points near the border. Their mission vas to provide advance warning and 10 delay an enemy attack. A number also served 3s atllery observation poss. A few ofthe advanced posts consisted of 2 singe Infantry combat block but most had plans that bore a superficial resemblance to those of petits cuvrages with a sinall number of lightly armed infantry combat blocks interconnected by underground galleries or trenches. The advanced posts were, however, much smaller and more lightly constructed Their armament consisted of standard infantry weapons fring through cembrasues and their support faites were on a much lesser scale than those fof the petits ounages. They lacked both electric power and sophisticated ‘entiation systems. The garrison of an advance post generally consisted of fone officer and a small number of enlisted men Fortifications de campagne Construction of foicaone de campagne (teraly “Reld fortifications’) took place all along France's borders throughout the later part of the 1930s and ight up to the German invasion in June 1940. The basic goals were to add ‘depth to the Maginot Line defences and to fl the gape where Maginot Line works Nad not bec bt The Works constructed varied ftom substantial anes that bore a superficial esemblance to Magno Line easemates but which licked their stength and sophistiation, to fms, unreinfored-concretepillboxes that provided little more than aniluson of protection, The details ofthese are beyond the scope of this book. ‘Soenanbourg The ge dre ftom he op (Mare Her “ Pre-war life in the Maginot Line J] speciatsea units of fortress infantry, airy’ an! engincers were ralsed to man the fortifications. Te fortress infanty’ units bath manne the interval casemates and the infantry weapons ofthe antes and provides the infantry component fof the interval troops whose mision fk was operate outside the fortifications Supporting them and containing any possible hostile penetration ofthe line Like he infantry, the fortress atlry units hada dual role, They manned both the arly integral tothe ammages an the fed artillery that supported the interval op and provide offensive firepower forward of the line. In north-estem Hance and slong the Rhine River alone the feld artillery totalled more than 1,200 pieces. The vast majority of these were 7Smm and 1SSmm guns and howitzers but there were a small umber of heavy guns ranging in clie from mm to 370mm. The mission of the fortes engines units wast operate and ‘maintain all ofthe specialised equipment within the frtiications othe than the ‘weapons. Tey also operated most ofthe communications equipment Te Maginot Line fortifications were organised geographically primarily into fortied sectors, the majority of which were futher divided into subsectors Beyond! that most of the fortified sectors in north-eastern Face forme! pat of citer the Metz or Lauter Fortified Regions. Foruess unit organisation roughly onresponded to the geographic organisation, In addon, the airy wa ‘organised into groups for coodination purposes ach fortes unit was made up of bth active duty and reserve soldiers. The tive duty component consisted in large part of the highly tained specialists who were required t keep the works read for war and who could man them {a moment’ notice in the event ofa surprise attack. The reserves were dawn rom the local area so that they could be rapidly mobilised to reinforce the active duty toops and bring them up to wartime strength The solders ofthe fortress units wore special insignia that made them easly recognisable, the most prominent being distinctive beret badge bearing the ‘motto ofthe Maginot Line ‘On ne pase pa, usually translated as "None shall puss Not surprisingly given their mission as France’ fist line of defence and "he immense amounts of money that had been spent on the Maint Line, the fortes tops considered themselves to be among the elite of French Army and they were renowned for theis high morale. Te Maginot Line works, especially the ewrage, were cold, damp, dreary, and generally uncomfortable places in which ta lve. Consequenty, permanent “The Maginot Line in the Maritime Alps Looking southwest ong the le of Mago Line ange of Barbonnet wat ao bt on the ftp adcent foresieasons rear the town f Sospelia the Marine Abs. tothe fore The dance rom the LAgien to Fort, LEgaisen and Sane Roch are middle sed Apne grt Barbonnet above Sem sxomges The grvnon of Ungian umbared shew 500 oficers ard men whl Sine Roch a arson of se (over 200 The amar of UApaizen hve bean depicted Uncorred to show thee postions more clearly Fert Barbonnet was bl i he I8BDe. Is eirary srmamene conte of two turrets, ao dating frm the 1800s each armed wa ew ISSmm gun The earets were renomned in che 1930s and incorporated to the Maint Line programme defences The smal Magno in area fires gana north or south slong the Ine f the uwoges be the Sm gn and two ofthe Blinn Mores In tock 4 of Sane Rach fre tothe est over Sonpel They olen the aly the eat of he town through which rn road rom This Seton of he Magn Line was inal the feng anette Kalan n 1940 with Fre Barbone ‘wo tres proving tobe parc eflectve a Teen of soon, pond hrs he ng ov (Matos poropse) barack complexes were provided forthe regular army portion ofthe fortes troops These were constructed at intervals along the line close enough to the fortifications 40 thatthe troops could convenient tan to each gor outrage 2 small complen of buildings was constructed to provide temporary accommodation for those tops ‘whose dues equied them to spend longer petiods at the aurrages. These bldings were Constructed of wood so that they could ‘sil be knocked down in the event of wa Training and preparing for war The fortes nits tained in the works they pritoned, bat because the frtcatons frre located in ian ares It tas nt Dowsbie to actualy fre tet weapons. To Seunvent this lmitaton, mockups of infants weapon emplacements were bul 2 local ring anges where automatic is, ‘hace guns and in some css anak suns coat Bed. To practise vehi with Ellery weapons the oops pesodealy iravelea to fe sity of the town of Biche Inthe northern Voeges mountain, here gos oumage was uated In 2 Ioltarytalning aren and ailey Ive re vas possible The gations carefully surveyed the area around sich ownage 30 that fre could uel and accurately be brought to ear om ay tage ht came within range To make It caver for observer 0 Pinpoint targets snnotted panoramic photographs ofthe surounding ar trere prepared for each lace and sina photos were prepared forthe ona in harch 198, in sesponse to Germany's relation ofthe Rhineland, the fries oops were moblled and faved Into the frifcations forthe fst time. Pablems were encountered withthe works themselves, expel dampness and poor ging. Dificales were also experienced integating the ‘aris components ofthe arizons, Ar aoon a the ct was ver sep Were {akon toads the problems. Lighting was improved where posible and the Problems astocated with damp were leat somewhat although they were ever completely solved, Tnaneffor to improve the functioning of the sage gations fcr were sent to sy the way the crews of naval ships opened. The eal was the divided Into watcher lt fo those wed on ship The myth of the Maginot Line The existence of the Maginot Line was never intended to be 8 seeret To the contrary, since one of ts major purposes was to deter atack, i as Important {hat potential enemies know of its existence. In any case, it would not have been possible 1o keep it secret. France was a democratic society, and the debates surtounding its construction and funding were public knowledge and widely discussed in the press. Beyond that, the scope ofthe construction was massive and could not have been hidden, especially since all ofthe fortifications In north-eastern France were constructed in areas of France that Germany had ‘occupied from 1870 to 1918 and that stil contained a portion of the population that was sympathetic to Germany. Concerted efforts were made t0 keep the etal secret however. The plans of individual works and their exact locations nee casted information. Photographing constrction sites was prohibited The actual sites occupied by the completed works were of limits. Al this meant that the public had little real information about the fortifications. There ae indications thatthe French government mace efforts to exaggerate thir strength and extent in an attempt to increase their effectiveness 4s deterent, While a few fairly accurate reports desing various aspect ofthe “Maginot Line di appear i the pres inthe 1930s, most published reports were full of fanciful exaggeration Frequent mention was made of an impregnable line of fortieations running ftom the English Channel to the Swiss border Reports spoke of al the forts being connected together by an underground ral network, Others claimed that the forts were invisible from the ae, 1936 the Dally Express of London published what Was purported to be a cutaway rawing of one ofthe *£30,000,000 Forts of the "Maginot Line" It shomed 8 seversevel, hundred-metredeep structure that looked more Uke an underground hotel than an actual ourage. There was even a streaalined express train shown running through one level, But it was not jst press accoumts that kept the Maginot Line inthe public eye. Thee were novels that, centred around the Mayinot Line and in 1938 even a feature fl, Double crime Sura Lie Magi As late as 1939 the French government was til engaged in deception, While It did release photos and newsreel footage taken inside Maginot Line outages, the purported exterior views actualy showed pre-World War forts bull by the Germans wile they had oecupied Alsace-Lovaine. All this fed the mth ofan invulnerable Maginot Line and itis clear that much of the public. and perhaps even some within the French military, bought into the myth, holding ‘exaggerated expectations as tothe Maginot Lin's ability to save Fance from invasion ~ expectations that were doomed to disappointment. The German view [Assed on thee pubic statements, it sems clear that a least some individuals German intelligence services were not. An extensive German military keport compiled In 1935 and 1936 quite accurately described the Maginot Line fortifications, not only correctly identifying thete general locations and relative strengths, including those in the Ags, but also providing details of their semament. A subsequent report prepared in 1937 contained accurate, tailed plans of several uae, plans that were too detailed to have been drawn simpy from memory by a German miltary attaché who had been given quick tour of them. Both reports contained inaccuracies, but they do show that at least 6 ‘Combat bloce mmm 23-8204 2d Snuipersonnel obstacles \amomeed A pln showing the oping fea ste cn come Ucar she ae ‘he boom fre song he ne Shades fot shown) anne she wo ge he in See ‘pon are wat en ug (Grete ‘Area under the fre of some sections of the German military had a much clearer understanding ofthe strengts and weaknesses of the Maginot Line than did the genera public. Iti not own how the Germans obtained the information on which these reports ‘were based. Certainly, sping played a significant role, but some information may albo have been obtained ftom those directly involved in building the the French work force. AS a result, large numbers of foreign labourers had been ‘employed including many from Germany The Maginot Line at war Tension in Burope had een high since Germany's Anschi (annexation) of \ustria in March 1938 and its subsequent occupation of the Sudetenland, the largely German-speaking regions of Czechoslovakia that bordered Germany and Aust. On both these occasions the French fortes troops had bee temporarily mobilised and the frtiications had been placsd on a war foting, Tensions ‘continued tose throughout the Sst half of 1989. March, Germany seized the rest of Caechoslovakla and began to exert increased pressure on Poland for ‘concessions on Danzig and the Polish Corrido, former German tetris that it had be forced to relinguish after World War [iy August was ces that Toland having seen what had happened to Czechoslovakia, would fight rather than wake concessions. War between Germany an Poland appeated inevitable and France and Britain, a8 Toland’ alles, sere sure to be pulled in ‘On 21 August, France again began mobilisation ofthe Maginot Line and the ores whase mission it was to provide the fst line of defence along its hordes This was a stepby-sep proces over several days: the peacetime garcsons moved Into the fortiiations and readied them for combat, the reserve portions ofthe fortress troops were called to ative duty and steps were taken to secure the borders against surpaise attack. At OS4S on 1 September 1939, Germany invaded Poland, In response to Its treaty obligations, the French fovernment ordered general mobilisation and prepared for war. The border With Germany was closed and evacuation of the evilian population in border areas began. Britain too ordered! mobilisation and made preparations to move large pst of ts army to France The ‘Phoney War’ Pollsh resistance was crushed and Poland was occupied in a matter of weeks, but in the West, not much happened. Anglo-French mobilisation’ was slow and in any case the Allled strategy. was Primarily defensive in nature, relying on blockade, ‘conomic strangulation, and fortifications to wear Sonn Germany and lay the groundwork for an led offensive sometime in the fue. France

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