Picture 1 of 1
Gallery
Picture 1 of 1
The Maginot Line: The History of the Fortifications that Failed to Protect Fr-,
US $19.39
Approximately£14.58
Condition:
New
A new, unread, unused book in perfect condition with no missing or damaged pages. See the seller's listing for full details.
3 available
- Buy it nowThe Maginot Line: The History of the Fortifications that Failed to Protect Fr-,
Oops! Looks like we're having trouble connecting to our server.
Refresh your browser window to try again.
Postage:
Free USPS Media MailTM.
Located in: MD, United States
Delivery:
Estimated between Tue, 13 May and Mon, 19 May to 43230
Returns:
30 days return. Buyer pays for return postage. If you use an eBay delivery label, it will be deducted from your refund amount.
Payments:
Shop with confidence
Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing.
eBay item number:335215236009
Item specifics
- Condition
- PublishedOn
- 2017-01-26
- Title
- The Maginot Line: The History of the Fortifications that Failed
- Artist
- Not Specified
- Type
- Not Specified
- Publication Name
- Not Specified
- ISBN
- 9781542768795
About this product
Product Identifiers
Publisher
CreateSpace
ISBN-10
1542768799
ISBN-13
9781542768795
eBay Product ID (ePID)
235006533
Product Key Features
Book Title
Maginot Line: the History of the Fortifications That Failed to Protect France from Nazi Germany During World War II
Number of Pages
66 Pages
Language
English
Topic
Military / World War II
Publication Year
2017
Features
Large Type
Genre
History
Format
Trade Paperback
Dimensions
Item Height
0.1 in
Item Weight
8 Oz
Item Length
11 in
Item Width
8.5 in
Additional Product Features
Intended Audience
Trade
TitleLeading
The
Edition Description
Large Type / large print edition
Synopsis
*Includes pictures*Explains the origins of the Maginot Line, its construction, and the World War II fighting around it*Includes online resources and a bibliography for further reading*Includes a table of contents"We could hardly dream of building a kind of Great Wall of France, which would in any case be far too costly. Instead we have foreseen powerful but flexible means of organizing defense, based on the dual principle of taking full advantage of the terrain and establishing a continuous line of fire everywhere." - Andre MaginotAs the power of Nazi Germany grew alarmingly during the 1930s, the French sought means to defend their territory against the rising menace of the Thousand-Year Reich. As architects of the most punitive measures in the Treaty of Versailles following World War I, the French government made natural targets for Teutonic retribution, so the Maginot Line, a series of interconnected strongpoints and fortifications running along much of France's eastern border, helped allay French fears of invasion. The popular legend of the Maginot Line portrays the frontier defenses as a useless "white elephant" project that was prompted by a gross misapprehension of warfare's new realities in the mid-20th century and quickly overwhelmed by the forceful advance of the German blitzkrieg. English idiom today invokes this vision of the Maginot Line as a metaphor for any defensive measure strongly believed in but actually useless. Indeed, usages such as "Maginot Line mentality," describing an overly defensive, reactive mindset, perpetuate the legend. As a French author and military liaison with the British, Andre Maurois, wrote about his disillusionment with the defensive line he originally enthusiastically supported: "We know now that the Maginot line-complex was a dangerous disease of the mind; but I publish this as it was written in January, 1940." In reality, however, the actual Maginot Line proved considerably more functional than memory has served. The true flaw in French military strategy during the opening days of World War II lay not in reliance on the Maginot fortifications but in the army's neglect to exploit the military opportunities the Line created. In other words, the border defense performed as envisioned, but the other military arms supported it insufficiently to halt the Germans. The French Army squandered the opportunity not because the Maginot Line existed but because they failed to utilize their own defensive plan properly. Some French commentary contributed to the legend, but the bloviating of politicians altered nothing regarding the Maginot Line's actual purpose or history: "General Maurin, defended the status quo in these words: '[H]ow could one think that we are still thinking about an offensive when we have spent billions to establish a fortified barrier? Would we be mad enough to advance beyond this barrier to undertake some adventure?' [...] but the Maginot Line had never been conceived as a sort of Great Wall of China sealing France off from the outside world. Its purpose was to free manpower for offensive operations elsewhere." (Jackson, 2004, 27).In fact, a forgotten battle in the southeast of France, where four French divisions (later reduced to three by the redeployment of one northwards in a futile effort to stem the German tide) held off 32 Italian divisions thanks to the defensive power of the so-called "Little Maginot Line of the Alps," proved the soundness of both the concept and engineering. Though the Italians suffered from poor equipment and the meddling incompetence of Mussolini's personal "leadership," the fighting on the Alpine front brilliantly highlighted the Maginot Line's success as a "force multiplier." French soldiers held off brave but futile Italian attacks at odds of 8:1 or 10:1 in favor of the Italians for five days until an armistice with the Axis put an end to this undeniable display of the Maginot Line's effectiveness., *Includes pictures *Explains the origins of the Maginot Line, its construction, and the World War II fighting around it *Includes online resources and a bibliography for further reading *Includes a table of contents "We could hardly dream of building a kind of Great Wall of France, which would in any case be far too costly. Instead we have foreseen powerful but flexible means of organizing defense, based on the dual principle of taking full advantage of the terrain and establishing a continuous line of fire everywhere." - Andre Maginot As the power of Nazi Germany grew alarmingly during the 1930s, the French sought means to defend their territory against the rising menace of the Thousand-Year Reich. As architects of the most punitive measures in the Treaty of Versailles following World War I, the French government made natural targets for Teutonic retribution, so the Maginot Line, a series of interconnected strongpoints and fortifications running along much of France's eastern border, helped allay French fears of invasion. The popular legend of the Maginot Line portrays the frontier defenses as a useless "white elephant" project that was prompted by a gross misapprehension of warfare's new realities in the mid-20th century and quickly overwhelmed by the forceful advance of the German blitzkrieg. English idiom today invokes this vision of the Maginot Line as a metaphor for any defensive measure strongly believed in but actually useless. Indeed, usages such as "Maginot Line mentality," describing an overly defensive, reactive mindset, perpetuate the legend. As a French author and military liaison with the British, Andre Maurois, wrote about his disillusionment with the defensive line he originally enthusiastically supported: "We know now that the Maginot line-complex was a dangerous disease of the mind; but I publish this as it was written in January, 1940." In reality, however, the actual Maginot Line proved considerably more functional than memory has served. The true flaw in French military strategy during the opening days of World War II lay not in reliance on the Maginot fortifications but in the army's neglect to exploit the military opportunities the Line created. In other words, the border defense performed as envisioned, but the other military arms supported it insufficiently to halt the Germans. The French Army squandered the opportunity not because the Maginot Line existed but because they failed to utilize their own defensive plan properly. Some French commentary contributed to the legend, but the bloviating of politicians altered nothing regarding the Maginot Line's actual purpose or history: "General Maurin, defended the status quo in these words: ' H]ow could one think that we are still thinking about an offensive when we have spent billions to establish a fortified barrier? Would we be mad enough to advance beyond this barrier to undertake some adventure?' ...] but the Maginot Line had never been conceived as a sort of Great Wall of China sealing France off from the outside world. Its purpose was to free manpower for offensive operations elsewhere." (Jackson, 2004, 27). In fact, a forgotten battle in the southeast of France, where four French divisions (later reduced to three by the redeployment of one northwards in a futile effort to stem the German tide) held off 32 Italian divisions thanks to the defensive power of the so-called "Little Maginot Line of the Alps," proved the soundness of both the concept and engineering. Though the Italians suffered from poor equipment and the meddling incompetence of Mussolini's personal "leadership," the fighting on the Alpine front brilliantly highlighted the Maginot Line's success as a "force multiplier." French soldiers held off brave but futile Italian attacks at odds of 8:1 or 10:1 in favor of the Italians for five days until an armistice with the Axis put an end to this undeniable display of the Maginot Line's effectiveness.
Item description from the seller
Seller business information
VAT number: GB 724498118
CRN: 03800600
Safety and accessibility information
About this seller
Awesomebooksusa
98% positive Feedback•1.3M items sold
Registered as a business seller
Popular categories from this shop
Seller Feedback (537,343)
- e***n (2195)- Feedback left by buyer.Past 6 monthsVerified purchaseExcellent seller. Great communication , fast delivery, extra care in packing for shipment 📦, great price 💰, Came as shown in photo📸, I would do repeat buys in 1 sec with this seller. AAAA ++++. 5 st🌟rs. <(•🪖•)>
- 7***e (2575)- Feedback left by buyer.Past 6 monthsVerified purchaseGreat Communication, fast service, well packed, low shipping, will buy again! Good value for the price and well described. When it arrived it was in excellent condition, high quality and super appearance. I was on a gunboat officer. Want to see what others had to say about that stinking war, I am also dealing with Agent Orange.Unheralded Victory: Who Won the Vietnam War? By MARK W. WOODRUFF (#314760975558)
- u***0 (229)- Feedback left by buyer.Past 6 monthsVerified purchaseItem exactly as described, great seller with no issues. Packaging was good. Shipping updates were well communicated. Very good value
More to explore:
- History Audiobooks,
- History Non-Fiction Local History Fiction & Books,
- History Non-Fiction Social History Fiction & Books,
- History Non-Fiction World History Fiction & Books,
- History World History School Textbooks & Study Guides,
- History Non-Fiction Cultural History Hardcover Books,
- History Non-Fiction Maritime History Hardcover Books,
- History Non-Fiction Family History Fiction & Books,
- Hamlyn History Non-Fiction Military History Fiction & Books,
- History Non-Fiction Military History Hardcover Signed Books
Popular categories from this shop
Seller Feedback (537,343)
- e***n (2195)- Feedback left by buyer.Past 6 monthsVerified purchaseExcellent seller. Great communication , fast delivery, extra care in packing for shipment 📦, great price 💰, Came as shown in photo📸, I would do repeat buys in 1 sec with this seller. AAAA ++++. 5 st🌟rs. <(•🪖•)>
- 7***e (2575)- Feedback left by buyer.Past 6 monthsVerified purchaseGreat Communication, fast service, well packed, low shipping, will buy again! Good value for the price and well described. When it arrived it was in excellent condition, high quality and super appearance. I was on a gunboat officer. Want to see what others had to say about that stinking war, I am also dealing with Agent Orange.Unheralded Victory: Who Won the Vietnam War? By MARK W. WOODRUFF (#314760975558)
- u***0 (229)- Feedback left by buyer.Past 6 monthsVerified purchaseItem exactly as described, great seller with no issues. Packaging was good. Shipping updates were well communicated. Very good value