the maginot line

raf · 28-06-2006, 06:33 PM

hi guys

question

when the allies advanced through france did the Germans have a 2nd line or a stop line like what was planned in the uk.

did they occupy the french fortifacations of the maginot line.

cheers

raf · 03-07-2006, 02:15 PM

any takers on this.........please

spidge · 03-07-2006, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raf

any takers on this.........please

I did answer this in part however the system went down and all my posts were lost.

I will try and repeat the post tomorrow.

Regards

Geoff

spidge · 04-07-2006, 08:11 AM

[quote=raf]hi guys

question

Quote:

when the allies advanced through france did the Germans have a 2nd line or a stop line like what was planned in the uk.

Yes: France, Belgium, Holland, Germany. (Not meant to sound facetious)

They probably did in theory however it was thought that with the strength of the Atlantic wall that the allies would not get off the beach.

Quote:

did they occupy the french fortifications of the maginot line.

Most of the equipment was looted to reinforce the Atlantic wall.

The line saw little action until 1944, although the Germans used it for storage and spare parts. The Allies fought through a small portion of the line around Metz in the fall of 1944 and in northern Alsace in December.

Paul Reed · 04-07-2006, 02:24 PM

I have visited a number of Maginot sites all over France, and almost without fail, most of them saw action in 1944. I used to pass a system of Maginot bunkers south of Mons (Belgium) which was the route to Mons followed by US units; the bunkers were used to slow them down and show signs of battle damage from the period.

spidge · 04-07-2006, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Reed

I have visited a number of Maginot sites all over France, and almost without fail, most of them saw action in 1944. I used to pass a system of Maginot bunkers south of Mons (Belgium) which was the route to Mons followed by US units; the bunkers were used to slow them down and show signs of battle damage from the period.

From everything I have read there were German placements in the line however the only real encounters were at Metz & Alsace.

Paul Reed · 04-07-2006, 04:29 PM

I suspect it depends on what you mean by 'real encounters'; most of these would be small scale skirmishes. In some cases the locals tell me that the AT rails and minefields were all still there in 1944, which meant passage in places was tough. Many villages in Northern France and southern Belgium have memorials to US units who lost men in these forgotten battles.

von Poop · 04-07-2006, 04:59 PM

looking up 'AT rails' I found this site with excellent schematics of the line from overall maps down to bunker designs:
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Foru.../diagrams.html

mahross · 04-07-2006, 05:14 PM

Here is a very good article the use of the line in 1944.

http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com...ginotline.aspx

Ross

raf · 04-07-2006, 05:59 PM

thanks for all the posts......question well and truely answerd.

cheers

28-06-2006, 06:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
raf Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: wigan Posts: 388	the maginot line hi guys question when the allies advanced through france did the Germans have a 2nd line or a stop line like what was planned in the uk. did they occupy the french fortifacations of the maginot line. cheers

04-07-2006, 02:24 PM	#5 (permalink)
Paul Reed Ubique Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: UK/France Posts: 2,853	I have visited a number of Maginot sites all over France, and almost without fail, most of them saw action in 1944. I used to pass a system of Maginot bunkers south of Mons (Belgium) which was the route to Mons followed by US units; the bunkers were used to slow them down and show signs of battle damage from the period. __________________ The WW2 Society: Remembering those from Britain & The Commonwealth who served 1939-45 - http://www.battlefieldsww2.50megs.com/ww2_society.htm

04-07-2006, 04:29 PM	#7 (permalink)
Paul Reed Ubique Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: UK/France Posts: 2,853	I suspect it depends on what you mean by 'real encounters'; most of these would be small scale skirmishes. In some cases the locals tell me that the AT rails and minefields were all still there in 1944, which meant passage in places was tough. Many villages in Northern France and southern Belgium have memorials to US units who lost men in these forgotten battles. __________________ The WW2 Society: Remembering those from Britain & The Commonwealth who served 1939-45 - http://www.battlefieldsww2.50megs.com/ww2_society.htm

04-07-2006, 05:14 PM	#9 (permalink)
mahross Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Penzance, Cornwall, UK Posts: 277	Here is a very good article the use of the line in 1944. http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com...ginotline.aspx Ross __________________ Thoughts on Military History

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03-07-2006, 02:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
raf Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: wigan Posts: 388	any takers on this.........please

04-07-2006, 04:59 PM	#8 (permalink)
von Poop I Like Tanks. Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Perfidious Albion. Posts: 7,618	looking up 'AT rails' I found this site with excellent schematics of the line from overall maps down to bunker designs: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Foru.../diagrams.html

04-07-2006, 05:59 PM	#10 (permalink)
raf Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: wigan Posts: 388	thanks for all the posts......question well and truely answerd. cheers

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