The document discusses the Maginot Line, a series of fortifications along France's border with Germany built between 1929 and 1940. It was intended to deter a German invasion but failed to stop Germany when they invaded through Belgium in 1940. The Maginot Line was heavily fortified with artillery, troops, and underground tunnels, but Germany was able to flank it by invading through the Ardennes forest. This led to France's rapid defeat in June 1940 and showed the limitations of the Maginot Line's defensive strategy.

2. The line of mini forts, containing artillery and/or machine guns, was linked by tunnels with living quarters for the regiments of soldiers manning the forts 5

3. There were also store rooms to stock up weapons and supplies 6

4. Defenses included: 108 Overages (fortifications of various sizes); 410 Casemates (shelters and observation posts); 152 revolving gun turrets and 1,536 fixed cupolas; 339 heavy artillery pieces 7 It cost a total of about 3 billion francs to build 8<br />The Maginot Line was deemed to be an impregnable defense 9<br />It was built to defend France from Germany or Italy, two enemies who were France’s neighbors 10<br />It was to be run from the Swiss border to the English Channel 11<br />Construction on the Maginot Line started in the year 1929 12<br />It was built from the year 1929-1940 13<br />Andre Maginot, France’s minister of war from 1928-1931, convinced the French government to construct this line of defense 14<br />An extension was added to the Strait of Dover after the year 1934 15 <br />It was completed in the year 1940 16<br />The German invasion plan of 1940, Operation Sichelschnitt, was designed to deal with the Line 17 <br />The German offensive against France began on May 10, 1940 18<br />In May 1940, Germany invaded Belgium, and flanked the Maginot Line 19<br />German armed forces invaded France through the heavily wooded and semi-mountainous area of the Ardennes 20<br />The Ardennes were located north of the Maginot Line 21<br />Seven panzer divisions reached the Meuse River at Dinant on 12th May 1940 22 <br />During June 1940 the French government was forced to abandon Paris 23<br />France had invested much of its military strategy on the defenses of the Line 24<br />In June 14, 1940, the French government and Germany sign an armistice much to France’s humiliation 25<br />Germany violated Belgium’s neutral status by invading Belgium’s border 26 <br />In June 1944 Germany executed Operation Tiger and Operation Small Bear 27 <br />These two operations were used to break through the Maginot Line 28<br />Germany controlled the Maginot Line when the Allies invaded France in 1944 29<br /> (Word count: 440)<br />