The Maginot-Line in Alsace France

The experiences of the First World War prompted France to build its largest defense structure from 1929. Planning for this began as early as 1919, immediately after the First World War. The goal was to hold a surprisingly attacking enemy at the border for 20 days, to have time for mobilization. Originally, it was therefore called fortification to cover (mobilization). The name of the then Minister of War, André Maginot (1877-1932), was only given to her by the press in 1934.

The Maginot line reaches over 1000 km from the Belgian border to the Mediterranean Sea, on Corsica and Tunisia. It consisted of single bunkers (casemates), tank and barb wire barriers, mine fields, artillery and infantry work as well as small battle facilities and dugouts, lined up with a distance of 5-10 km along the French border. All in all, the cost came up to around 2 billion Euros – almost 2000 building alone in Alsace.

However, they still could hardly counter the approaching troops at all, as they marched in further North via Belgium and faster via the Ardennes to France. Many facilities were conquered after a short battle or given to German occupants after the truce. Nevertheless, there were still some commanders of independent forts who refused unwaveringly to acknowledge the surrender of France. They were unsuccessful in the end too.

When alleys moved forward against Germany in 1944, parts of the Maginot Line were used by German and allied troops to support their strategies. Especially in Alsace in the area of Wissembourg this caused bad battles.

After the end of World War II, the Maginot Line was used again by the French military. They built bigger facilities and communication intercept stations as well as command centres. With the beginning of the French nuclear weapons program and the exit of France from the NATO Armed Forces in 1966, allied troops were expelled from France and many locations on the Maginot Line were closed. Many facilities were privatised or abandoned.

Active associations like the Friends of the Maginot Line in Alsace are the reason for buildings like Fort Schoenenbourg to be well-preserved until today and being publicly open as memorials and monuments.

The Maginot Line is an elongated defence line from several distinctive single buildings and facilities which complete each other’s defence functions. From barb wire fields to detailed artillery works there are all imaginable defence mechanism of this time.

An innovation was the rotating and retractable gun turrets. Even the almost independent supply of air, water, sewage and electricity of the bigger buildings was an innovation.

Alsace is known for its rich natural offer. Hilly landscapes, deep forests, cultivated plateaus or vineyards, parks, gardens and nature reserves alternate with if you're on foot, by bike or car. This leaves nothing to be desired for the nature lover, as he moves along the often hidden Maginot line through Alsace.

The wide range of hiking and biking trails in the region touch in many places the Maginot Line, also at Fort Schoenenbourg, in Hatten and the Casemate Esch.