Maginot Line bunkers

[Sturm78]

Hi all,

I am not an expert on fortifications and much less on the Maginot Line, but it seems an interesting topic.
Here, some images I've been finding on eBay:

Any comments or information about the images will be welcome

Sturm78

[Sturm78]

Hi all,

Another two images from Ebay:

Sturm78

[MLW]

Hello.

All but two of the photos are of blockhouses built in the Maubeuge region along the Belgium border. The photo with he turreted artillery is of ex-German fort either in the Metz-Thionville area or at Feste Wilhem II near Strasbourg. The photo of the blockhouse with the small gauge rail line int he foreground probably an STG blockhouse that was built as part of a CZEF defensive line, perhaps near Le Cateau or between Sedan and Longuyon. Note, that it's construction was incomplete.

That is my quick impression of the photos, but I could be wrong. Identifying these small fortification are not my strong suit.

Regards,
Marc

[Sturm78]

Hi all,

armoured turret:

Image from Ebay
Sturm78

[Sturm78]

Hi all,

Another image from Ebay. Near Sedan

Sturm78

[MLW]

The photo above - the one with the German soldier looking at the blockhouse over his left shoulder - is of Blockhouse Bellevue, located west of Sedan.

Regards,
Marc

[Sturm78]

Hi all,

An image from Ebay:

Sturm78

[MLW]

Hi,

The photograph in the post above is Casemate d'Artillerie de Villy Est, one of two STG blockhouses built to provide artillery support to Petit Ouvrage La Ferte which did not have organic artillery. Casemate Villy Est was equipped with a single 75mm field gun. It was abandoned by its crew during the attack of the 71. Infanterie-Division, which was one of a series of command and control mistakes made by French forces during the battle for PO La Ferte. By the way, PO La Ferte was known to the Germans as PW 505.

Regards,
Marc

[Sturm78]

Thank you very much for your help, Marc.

Regards Sturm78

[Sturm78]

Hi all,

Another one:

Image from Ebay
Sturm78

[MLW]

The photo is of Casemate Champs-des-Courses located south of Strasbourg on the Rhine River.

[Sturm78]

Thank you, once more time, MLW.

Which is the best book about Maginot Line?

Sturm78

[MLW]

As is always the case, the answer is not easy. By far the most comprehensive books on the Maginot Line are "La Ligne Maginot" Volumes 1-5 by Mary and Hohnadel. However, for many people the biggest drawback is the cost of the books and the French-language text. For me, the combat sections of the books are wanting, especially in maps. Yet, in sum, the five volumes are the standard reference work about the Maginot Line. For combat, I must recommended my own book - Osprey's "Maginot Line 1940: Battles on the French Frontier" which I co-authored with Martin Rupp. It has very detailed maps and text, and the cost is very reasonable. It is written in English. As for German-language books, there are none that stand out. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend any of the books by Roger Bruge, which as the first series of works about combat on the Maginot Line did much to bring attention to the role of the Line and the soldiers who manned it. However, the text is full of mistakes.

Regards, Marc

[Pavel Novak]

Greetings
Does anybody here know about a map of Maginot line where are marked all heavy objects? I mean not just "line" but dot for every heavy object.

[MLW]

Hi Pavel, As far as I know there is no one single map of the Maginot Line fortifications that is detailed as you are looking for. After all, the Maginot Line spanned the frontier from the North Sea to Switzerland. The best source for a listing of ouvrages and casemates (I assume that is what you mean by "heavy objects"), is "La Ligne Maginot" Volumes 1-5 by Mary and Hohnadel. Regards, Marc