The Maginot Line & Associated Tactics

[Neil]

Did the Germans actually employ super-long range weapons against the Maginot line?

[Viking]

Did the Germans actually employ super-long range weapons against the Maginot line?

Yes, they sent the 7th Pz. Division to Paris to turn off the Maginot line.

[Sheilbh]

IIRC*, the upkeep costs of Maginot Line were enormous and cut into France's military budget, so I don't think you can claim the Line as success from the POV of imposing disproportional costs on the enemy.

And the associated defensive strategy really hurt French attempts to find allies in Central Europe and encircle Germany.

[Razgovory]

Hey, Shelf.  Hadn't seen you in a bit.  Glad you haven't left us.

[alfred russel]

So here is my evolved thinking on this. Many of you know far more about the military stuff than I do, so feel free to poke holes in it.

The Maginot Line was developed with a WWI type conflict in mind. What was decisive in a WWI battle was being able to quickly move men and material into a sector and keeping effective command and control. The real strength of the Maginot Line was that you would have front line troops directly connected and supported by the french rail network--all the way to the firing line. Unlike the guns that obviously needed some exposure to fire, the rail network was deep underground and essentially immune from attack. If the Germans managed to take one of the forts, they would then have an isolated position having to be supported over exposed ground by truck or animals (as the forts had interlocking fire, this supply chain could also come under fire).

I think this is what made the line "impregnable", not the batteries built into the forts.