7 Interesting Facts about the Maginot Line

If you want to know about a line of concrete fortification, weapons and obstacle installation, you have to look at Facts about The Maginot Line. The name of the line was derived from the name of Andre Maginot. He was the French Minister of War in France at that time. The line spans on the borders with Germany and Luxembourg and just before the border with Switzerland in 1930s. Find out more facts about the Maginot line below:

Facts about the Maginot Line 1: the English Channel

If you look at the Map of Maginot Line, you will know that it did not span on the English Channel. It is due to the fact that the military of France did not want to cooperate with the neutrality of Belgium.

Facts about The Maginot Line 2: the construction

The construction of the line was conducted in 1930s during the run up of World War II. The intention of constructing the line was as a response of French experience during the World War I. Find out another important building in France in Louvre facts.

Facts about The Maginot Line 3: fortification

The Maginot Line is also used as the fortification. When the French army was under attack, they would have more time to move to Belgium. This condition applied if they had a critical war with Germany.

Facts about The Maginot Line 4: belief

The French military experts believed that the Maginot line was a smart and genius plan. It would be able for them to prevent the invention from the east. But some experts had a different point of view on the Maginot line. Some of them think that it was not an effective strategy to use the Maginot line since the fortification system prevented a direct attack.

Facts about The Maginot Line 5: the German confrontation

In about six weeks, the French had to surrender on German army after they swept the Maginot line. The German army started their confrontation from the Ardennes Forest and Low Countries. This line was a total failure at that time.

Facts about the Maginot Line 6: André Maginot

The Maginot Line was named after Andre Maginot. This man was the person who could convince the government to invest their money to construct the Maginot Line. He was The French Minister of Veterans Affairs. In 1928 till 1932, he was the Minister of War. Actually he was a veteran in World War I.

Facts about The Maginot Line 7: the phases

It is not easy to build the line. The French had to do it in several phases in 1930s.  In 1939, the main construction of Maginot Line was completed. The cost that the government had to spend was around 3 billion French francs. Check out facts about Gateway Arch here.

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