Between the world wars, France constructed a vast and complex array of defenses designed to prevent German forces from penetrating the French heartland as they had during World War I. Among these was the famous Maginot Line, the last of the great gun-bearing fortifications, but France also built defenses along its coasts and in its territories in North Africa. Fully illustrated with photos, maps, and drawings, Fortress France describes the design and construction of these fortifications, discusses French defensive doctrine and strategy, and explains why these efforts proved unable to stop the German attack in the spring of 1940. Includes finely detailed plans, diagrams, and schematics of forts, blockhouses, turrets, artillery pieces, tanks, and more.
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?[D]escribes the background and development both of the Maginot Line between the world wars to protect France from a German ground assault, and of coastal defenses France developed to provide additional security.??Reference & Research Book News
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56 of 57 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Viva La France!,
By R. Phillips (Manhattan) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Fortress France: The Maginot Line and French Defenses in World War II (Praeger Security International) (Hardcover)
A fine introduction to French defensive systems of World War II. In six chapters this book covers the inter-war period through World War II. The challenge of the French military after the Great War in deciding on doctrine and dealing with a basic demobilization of their forces is the theme of the first chapter. The next chapter covers the creation of the Maginot Line and how it was built and organized. The third chapter describes how the gaps in the French front between the Maginot Line and sea were covered including the Maginot Extension of the New Fronts and also the little known Mareth Line in Tunisia. Chapter 4 describes the naval and air defenses of the French nation. Chapter 5 and 6 deal with the events leading to the 1940 campaign, German intelligence on the French fortifications, and a summary of the events of the campaign showing the relationship of the fortifications to French strategy and some of the positive aspects the high command failed to take advantage of. There are many drawings in the book of more than just the Maginot Line. They include maps of the defenses, drawings of aircraft, ships and tanks and even perspectives of not just the Maginot line positions, but even a 340-mm gun turret block of the coastal defenses at Toulon! The book is a little pricey at almost $50, but the $10 CD supplement that I ordered from Merriam Press has many more illustrations including photos (there are no photos in the book)and copies of pre-war German plans although I do not know why this CD was not included with the book. This is about the best general work covering all aspects of the French defenses that I have seen in English.
52 of 53 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fanstistic Book on the Defenses of France,
By Tom (Alexandria, VA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Fortress France: The Maginot Line and French Defenses in World War II (Praeger Security International) (Hardcover)
I received this book with the Osprey Maginot Line book this week. After reading both, I find that it would have been nice to have similar colorful illustrations like those in the Osprey book included here. Unlike, the reviewer "Jackie", I do not think the book is seriously lacking in text, but maybe in illustrations. I have also noticed a number of typos and what appear to be editing errors. Still the work provides a good detailed description of the Maginot Line and also information on the Mareth Line of Tunisa and other French defenses. There is an amazing amount of information packed in this 200 page book. I am not aware of the CD mentioned by the other reviewers (maybe someone will add details), but this is a great book for those interested in what was going on on the "other side of the hill." I would give it a solid "4 Stars" but have made it "5 Stars" to compensate for "Jackies" distortions.
37 of 38 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fortiifed France and the Maginot Line,
By "The History Man" (Virginia) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Fortress France: The Maginot Line and French Defenses in World War II (Praeger Security International) (Hardcover)
This 200 page book is a useful introduction to the history and technical details of the Maginot Line. The Maginot Line is not only described, but it is placed into context within the overall French strategy of defense in the 1920's and 1930's. French strategic plans that the French had developed before the outbreak of WWII, and at the attempt to modernize and rearm the French Army, Navy and Air Force during this time period are covered. The chapters include: Marching to the Wrong Tune that describe post World War I policy, strategy, and more; The Maginot Line covering its development, construction and components; Closing the Gaps showing how the French extended their defenses along the frontier, modernized and economized on the fortifications; Sea and Air Defense examines another aspect of the French defensive system; March to Defeat shows what the Germans knew and public expectations as war approached; and the French at War covers the campaign and the role and use of the fortified systems.
The book also includes many amazing drawings, maps and numerous useful tables of data excellent drawings of the Maginot Line, tanks, ships, aircraft etc. Why there are no photos in this remarkable book seems strange, despite the excuses given in some of the other Amazon reviews. This is a book I strongly recommend especially because of the useful drawings and charts that, with the text, help the reader understand French strategy and the role of French fortifications in World War II.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
Until the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, the army of Napoleon III appeared to be the leading military force in Europe, but the conclusion of the conflict left the French army broken and humiliated. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
Séré de Rivières, Région Fortifiées, other ouvrages, interval casemates, munitions entrance, combat blocks, flanking casemates, turret block, casemate positions, reservist divisions, artillery casemate, artillery blocks, mortar turret, palm fort, interval troops, turret batteries, fortified sectors, light mechanized division, fortress divisions, methodical battle, subterranean facilities, mixed arms, fortress troops, fortified region, gun casemates Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Army Group, World War, Tomasz Idzikowski, Fortress Corps, Maginot Extension, Northeast Front, Haut Poirier, Maritime Alps, North Sea, New Fronts, Mareth Line, West Wall, Fortress Division, Monte Grosso, Joseph Kaufmann, Great War, Phony War, Closing the Gaps, General Gamelin, Cap Martin, The March, Wrong Tune, Battery Cépet, Mont Agel, Army Air Element Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Surprise Me!
Until the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, the army of Napoleon III appeared to be the leading military force in Europe, but the conclusion of the conflict left the French army broken and humiliated. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
Séré de Rivières, Région Fortifiées, other ouvrages, interval casemates, munitions entrance, combat blocks, flanking casemates, turret block, casemate positions, reservist divisions, artillery casemate, artillery blocks, mortar turret, palm fort, interval troops, turret batteries, fortified sectors, light mechanized division, fortress divisions, methodical battle, subterranean facilities, mixed arms, fortress troops, fortified region, gun casemates Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Army Group, World War, Tomasz Idzikowski, Fortress Corps, Maginot Extension, Northeast Front, Haut Poirier, Maritime Alps, North Sea, New Fronts, Mareth Line, West Wall, Fortress Division, Monte Grosso, Joseph Kaufmann, Great War, Phony War, Closing the Gaps, General Gamelin, Cap Martin, The March, Wrong Tune, Battery Cépet, Mont Agel, Army Air Element Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Surprise Me!
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