The Maginot Line: None Shall Pass [Hardcover]

J. E. Kaufmann (Author), H. W. Kaufmann (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0275957195 | ISBN-13: 978-0275957193 | Publication Date: October 30, 1997

Tracing the development of the fortifications in Europe from the end of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 to the twentieth century, this is the first comprehensive book in English on the forts of the Maginot Line, German espionage, and the German sieges during the 1940 campaign. It analyzes the reasons why the French opted for this type of defensive system, and explains how the Maginot Line presented the French Army with opportunities (mostly wasted) to regroup and mount an effective defense. Shrouded in media myth for 40 years, this study demonstrates both how the media created the myth and the truth behind the myth of the Maginot Line. At the time reporters wildly speculated about these fortifications, German intelligence agents were busy collecting data. Finally, this book relates the heroic battles waged by the forts, large and small: the tragic fall of La Ferte, the surrender of other petits ouvrages after prolonged and fierce fighting, the triumphant resistance of the larger forts even in the face of the most savage artillery pounding, and the unqualified victory of the Little Maginot Line over invading Italian forces.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“This solid work should be included in any collection that devotes resources to the history of modern France, World War II, or the history of fortifications. It makes a solid contribution to an understanding of all three subjects.”–???

About the Author

J. E. KAUFMANN is an Adjunct Faculty member at Palo Alto Junior College and a public high school social studies teacher.

H. W. KAUFMANN is Lecturer in Foreign Languages at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Praeger Publishers (October 30, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0275957195
• ISBN-13: 978-0275957193
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,584,886 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars maginot line review, November 25, 2000

By 

Ed Mills (florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Maginot Line: None Shall Pass (Hardcover)

This book provides an excellent description of the Maginot Line. Unlike other books on the topic, this book does not bog the reader down in political and other matters leaving the actually Maginot Line as a secondary subject which is done in many other works. The authors describe how and why this system of fortifications was built and how it was used. They provide a good amount of detail on what the actual ouvrages (forts) and other positions of the Maginot Line were like. In some cases the material might be redundant and the text is written in an academic style, but a complete picture in English is presented of the Maginot Line from associated works near the English Channel to the Little Maginot Line in the Alps. In addition, an unusual section on media reporting and German intelligence in the 1930s is included which may be some of the first evidence of how detailed German knowledge actually was on these fortifications long before the war. The book covers the short battle history of the Maginot Line including the German use of super-heavy 420-mm weapons to bombard the ouvrages and the assault by Italian troops on part of the Little Maginot Line overlooking the Mediterranean. The greatest weakness is the lack of illustrations, only about 25, which makes the price for this small book seem overpriced. The book is not a tour guide, but it is an excellent history and description of the Maginot Line. This book should be of interest to anyone interested in the Maginot Line and/or the German blitzkrieg campaign of 1940.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Superb book, November 23, 2000

By 

ZVON - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Maginot Line: None Shall Pass (Hardcover)

This book provides the best English language description of the organization and technical details of the Maginot Line currently available. This is not a guidebook to the Maginot Line, but if you are lucky enough to visit, it will help you to understand alot of the things you will see. It is not a detailed account of the battles, there are other books in French that do that. If you are interested in Strategy and Tactics, it will help you to better understand the strengths and weaknesses of the Maginot Line and their influence on what actually happened.

4 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Perspectives on "The Maginot Line," by J.E. and H.W. Kaufman, November 18, 2000

By 

T.R. Phillips (Netherlands) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Maginot Line: None Shall Pass (Hardcover)

The book description is misleading in two respects: it gives an impression that the book devotes significant attention to strategic and policy issues, and provides a lively account of battles fought in and around the Maginot fortifications in 1940. In fact, this small volume is overloaded with repetitive organizational and technical detail, presented in a rigidly academic and uninteresting manner. The authors make a significant point about strategy; that the Maginot Line in itself was never intended to be an impenetrable barrier. Rather, it would provide strongpoints, between which French field armies would operate. The reasons for their failure to realize this strategy are briefly discussed, but needed further analysis. The account of actual battles and conditions is far too brief, doing little to increase the reader's understanding of tactics and performance during the fighting of 1940. The book is not designed to encourage visits by persons who have never visited a Maginot ouvrage. It is essentially an historical work, not intended to address the current condition of, or access to the various fortifications.