Assessing the Maginot Line's Interwar Protection Role

Thesis: How well did the Maginot line protect France and other European countries against Germany during the interwar period?

I will give insight to the history of the Maginot Line and its purpose for France, France and its neighboring allies, and France and Germany.

BIRTH OF THE MAGINOT LINE

World War I ended, the start of the interwar period, with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. After World War I, Allies wanted to create a treaty that would prevent another war from happening. Diplomats from England, France, and the United State met together at Versailles to discuss peace terms, but all three nations wanted different things. England and France particularly wanted revenge for what Germany had put them through. They eventually got the revenge that was sought after, and Germany was forced into signing the treaty; which in German eyes was deemed unfair. Germany was determined to do everything in its power to undermine the treaty.

After World War I, Germany left France in a drastic state. It was bled white, financially unstable, and the northern provinces were left vulnerable. In the 1920’s France suffered from a decline in birthrate as well as a loss in a substantial amount of men due to World War I, which was the cause of the lack of

The building of the line diverted resources that could have been used elsewhere in order to make France a more offensive nation. The Germans exploited every weakness the Maginot line had. Not only did the Germans recognize the flimsy protection that the Maginot line gave France, it showed that taking over France would be an easy job. The construction of the Maginot line was a symbol of fear and vulnerability in German eyes. It was a bold statement of France declaring hat it was nowhere near prepared as it should be to fight a defensive war. The Nazi Blitzkrieg was basically unimpeded by French forces for the majority of the