Transcript The Maginot Line

The Maginot Line
What was the Maginot Line?
• Named after André Maginot, French Minister for
War 1929 – 32.
• A series of impressive defensive fortifications
along France’s border with Germany.
• Fortified zones,
• Underground
bunkers,
• Anti-tank defences,
• Pill-boxes,
• Artillery placements,
• Communication
centres,
• Etc.
What was the impact of the Maginot Line
on French foreign policy?
• The aim of the Maginot Line was as a defence
and a deterrent against German invasion.
• What it did in reality, was to encourage a
defensive mentality amongst the French. The
French army became rather a static force, with
no desire to move forward against German
troops.
• It also meant that, although the French made
mutual assistance pacts and agreements to
support other countries, they were not able in
practice to implement them because virtually
their entire focus was on defence.