European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 22, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Theft Maginot Une Concrete Bunker part of the fort a Chaux Complex on the Maginot line emerges from i Hillside near Lembach France. A a Frances a Decro by Mark wonders staff writer the idea for a Quot Concrete line Quot in Eastern France to defend against enemy attacks was conceived in 1919, a year after world War i. The French government wary of another invasion from Germany and aware that French manpower was Low after the Long War Drew up plans for a series of fortified areas along its Border. The government hoped that the defensive line would eliminate the need for Large numbers of troops at the Border because it would slow waders Long enough for the French army to mobilize. The idea was opposed by some who Felt there were aws in the concept and by some who weren t sure How 0 go about constructing the defensive network. But in 927, a commission was appointed to oversee the project. Two years later construction began at a Cost of 5 billion francs. Andre Maginot the War minister and a world War i Ero As a sergeant staunchly defended the plan. He secured legislative approval on Jan. 14,1930, although im6 work started a year earlier. Maginot died in. An d in the years afterwards his name was used most 0 in to describe the series of fortresses. It took More than five years to build one fortress and several smaller fortifications were built As late As 1940. When finished the 25 fortified areas a which stretch from Lille near the English Channel coast to Nice on the Mediterranean sea near the italian Border a was the second largest military object in the world after the great Wall of China. The line was originally designed to protect the Industrial Alsace Lorraine area in the Northeast and was never intended to cover the entire Border. Its Extension Northwest to the Channel and Southwest on the Mediterranean coast were additions to the original plan. The line of defense began with the outposts which consisted of fortified houses located on the Frontier. These houses were permanently manned by Mobile guards whose responsibility was to give warning of the enemy s presence in Case of sudden attacks. The massive fortresses set underground several Kilometres from the Border were the heart of the Maginot line defense. They were connected by underground Telephone lines a radio network and series of tunnels. They were equipped with heavy armament placed under a 360-degree rotating Turret or fixed in a Slit which offered limited firing Angle. Additionally there were machine gun nests outside the fortresses plus interval artillery troops and some anti a amps Petor Jaeger aircraft batteries. The defense was designed in such a Way that it did not violate International agreements on construction that permitted defensive Only fortifications. In May 1940 the feared German attack began. The German tank columns did not puncture the Maginot line they skirted it entering France from Belgium. Then after splitting the French army and their British allies the germans turned Back toward the Maginot line and attacked it from the rear. The attacks on the fortresses began on May 11. All failed with the germans sustaining heavy losses. But the germans Success elsewhere in France continued and on june 17 the French requested an armistice removing France from the War. The Maginot line defenders though unbeaten were forced to surrender. Some of the Maginot line forts Are still intact and some of those Are open to the Public. Photographs and information on three of them Are on the following six pages. For More information on military Sites in France write French National tourist office Westen Strasse 47, Postrach 2927, 6000 Frankfurt 1, Germany or Telephone 069-747091. November 22, 1990 stripes Magazine 5