Maginot Line

CORE DEFINITION

The Maginot Line (French: Ligne Maginot, English: Maginot Line, German: Maginot-Linie, IPA: [maʒi'noː]), also translated as the Maginot Line, is named after André Maginot, the French Minister of War during the interwar period. The Maginot Line was primarily composed of concrete fortifications, obstacles, and corresponding artillery. Construction began in 1929 and was largely completed by 1940, costing 5 billion francs (in 1930s and 1940s currency). The main body of the line stretched for hundreds of kilometers, mainly located in the Thiouville region of eastern France. It was a pre-war defensive fortification in eastern France, built of reinforced concrete and extremely sturdy. Due to its high cost, it only defended the Franco-German border, while the Netherlands was supported by the Anglo-French forces. The Maginot Line could defend against various attacks, including air-to-ground bombing and large-caliber artillery bombardment. Internally, it housed various artillery, trenches, fortresses, kitchens, power stations, hospitals, factories, and other military and living facilities. Larger fortifications even had tram tracks. The Germans later did not attack the front of the line; they bypassed it to northern France.