The Maginot Line - WW2 on Location - France 1940

The Maginot Line - WW2 on Location - France 1940 - 01

Рет қаралды 444,148

Күн бұрын

The Maginot Line was not the failure many think - in fact it was quite a remarkable feat - find out more in this video.
Guest Experts in order of appearance:
Mark Halter - Fortress Schoenenbourg www.lignemaginot.com/accueil/i...
Richard Tucker - Maginot Line Tours maginotlinetours.co.uk orwww.tripadvisor.nl/Attraction...
Roland Müller - L'Abri de Hatten www.abrihatten.fr/index-en.html
Join us on Patreon: / timeghosthistory
Or join The TimeGhost Army directly at: timeghost.tv
Follow WW2 day by day on Instagram @World_war_two_realtime / world_war_two_realtime
Like us on Facebook: / timeghosthistory
Join our Discord Server: / discord .
Between 2 Wars: • Between 2 Wars
Source list: bit.ly/WW2sources
Hosted by: Indy Neidell
Written and Directed by: Spartacus Olsson
Produced by: Astrid Deinhard
Executive Producers: Bodo Rittenauer, Astrid Deinhard, Indy Neidell, Spartacus Olsson
Creative Producer: Joram Appel
Research by: Spartacus Olsson
Edited by: Wieke Kapteijns
Eastory's channel: / @eastory
Archive by Screenocean/Reuters www.screenocean.com.
A TimeGhost chronological documentary produced by OnLion Entertainment GmbH.

Пікірлер: 940

@WorldWarTwo 5 жыл бұрын

In April, with the help of many of you fantastic people we went to France to visit some of the sites of the German invasion in 1940. This is the first of a series of specials that we recorded there. More will follow in May and June as the war in France proceeds. On Saturday we will come out with a double length episode about the German breakthrough in the West - we are exceedingly proud of that episode and we hope that you will enjoy it as much as we do. This video gives you some great background to that event. For us it was a revelation to visit the sites and talk to the experts you will meet in the video. Mark Halter of the amazingly well preserved Schoenenburg Fortress, Richard Tucker who gives fantastic tours around the Sedan area, and Roland Müller who has worked for decades to keep alive the memory of the men who served on the front. If you happen to be in the Alsace or Ardennes area, you need to go visit these places. Most of the Maginot museums are private initiatives that depend on their visitor income and financial contributions to continue existing - links are in the description.

@adamwilliams1216 5 жыл бұрын

World War Two thank you

@alexamerling79 5 жыл бұрын

Hopefully you guys visit Wormhoudt.

@shawngilliland243 5 жыл бұрын

Your program is the next best thing to being there at the Maginot Line. Spectacular maps and illustrations; and even more valuable, the accurate presentation of post-Great War French military theory behind the Maginot Line. Twenty Days - a realistic expectation to hold the line. Great job, World War Two!

@NotDmitry 5 жыл бұрын

So interesting, I've never read (let alone seen) what Magionot Line forts actually were in reality! Thanks!

@marinanguish9928 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks a lot looking forward to it

@kamilszadkowski8864 5 жыл бұрын

When looking on the comments section after watching the video it is painfully obvious how many people comment before they watch.

@davidbrelu-brelu7118 5 жыл бұрын

it's all about the memes

@WorldWarTwo 5 жыл бұрын

While I certainly can appreciate a good meme, unfortunately they reinforce and uphold a false and harmful image of the French army in 1940 and history in general. We've had it with the 'French are cowards' jokes, which is not true in the slightest, as will become VERY clear in tomorrows episode - Joram

@kaczynskis5721 5 жыл бұрын

Yes, KZfaq. It's hell out there...

@neilwilson5785 5 жыл бұрын

I'm doing it right now. I did get to 08:15 before commenting. I am a ninja, though, and can listen still whilst typing.

@swietoslaw 5 жыл бұрын

Its very popular to laugh (and unfair) on french during WW2

@cherudium 5 жыл бұрын

It is funny how despite showing the Maginot line was along the whole french border, people still comment about somehow flanking the line or going around it. I don't recall the Germans performing naval landings in France.

@cherudium 5 жыл бұрын

@CommandoDude And you can flank the British fleet by invading Ireland, BRILLIANT!

@danteller8282 5 жыл бұрын

@@cherudium And flank Ireland by invading Iceland! Oh, wait. Somebody's there already.

@fuckyshityfuckshit 5 жыл бұрын

Flank everyone and invaid Greenland first

@ee-fq2dj 5 жыл бұрын

flank em by declaring war on usa lmao

@turmunhkganba1705 5 жыл бұрын

fuckyshityfuckshit Do the ultimate flank and circumnavigate the globe by launching a surprise attack the USSR and then invading the U.S and Canada from the Bearing strait then island hop from Greenland, Iceland, mainland Britain and the channel islands to finally use primitive channel tunnels to take the French coast

@misterjag 5 жыл бұрын

In 1938, as commander of the French Second Army, General André-Gaston Prételat conducted war games which revealed that the Ardennes were impossible to defend. Prételat created a scenario whereby the German Army launched an assault with seven divisions, including four motorised infantry divisions and two tank brigades. The "French" side's defences collapsed. "The result was a defeat of so comprehensive a nature that the wisdom of publishing it was questioned lest morale be damaged." As late as March 1940, a French report to Gamelin named the defences at Sedan, the last "fortified" position on the Meuse, and the last before the open country of France, as "entirely inadequate." Prételat had correctly identified the landscape as relatively easy terrain for armour to cross. At most, he concluded, the Germans would take 60 hours to reach the Meuse and take one day to cross it.This estimate was to prove only three hours too late. The Germans achieved the Meuse crossing after just 57 hours. -- Wikipedia "Battle of Sedan (1940)"

@willkp50 4 жыл бұрын

Polish Hero Witold Pilecki mate polish nationalists really piss me off

@alexrennison8070 2 жыл бұрын

@@willkp50 eh?

@icecold1805 2 жыл бұрын

Ok so you say the failure was predictable. Why wasn't precautions taken?

@Talyrion 2 жыл бұрын

@@icecold1805 Unfortunately, human nature all too often pushes people to ignore inconvenient truths and hope for the best.

@mrsupremegascon 11 ай бұрын

@@icecold1805 What precautions you wanted them to take ? Make more fortification here ? It was difficult both diplomatically (Belgium didn't liked that too much) and strategically (fortification goes that the expense of offensive capabilities) Add more men to cover this area ? France was already over stretch from supporting allies from Norway to the Alps, they had no more men to cover it. Sure now we know that Prételat was right, and that the main German push was made in the Ardennes, but it wasn't so clear in 1940. In 1940 Germany was invading Netherlands and Belgium, it was vital for the war effort French to support them and avoid the same disaster Belgium had in 1914. French generals made many mistakes, but they were not stupid, they made the wrong conclusion from the informations they had.

@toxicity4818 5 жыл бұрын

One of the most educational channels on youtube right here ladies and gentlemen.

@alexamerling79 5 жыл бұрын

Preach!

@thegreatreddragon2105 3 жыл бұрын

@user-es3dr5xk8f 2 жыл бұрын

No shit

@groodey5714 5 жыл бұрын

He protecc He protecc.... Honestly he just protect

@jrk1666 5 жыл бұрын

He keeps the germans from coming bacc

@toastytoast9800 5 жыл бұрын

Most importantly, he lose to flac

@toastytoast9800 5 жыл бұрын

@Da Thuth then he break his bacc

@clamum 5 жыл бұрын

What in the shit is this meme about? Lol. I see it like "thicc" or something. I thought I was a pretty big meme encyclopedia but I'm always confused about this one.

@jorritvanderkooi939 4 жыл бұрын

jun raphael kariya he failed pretty miserably

@agactual2 5 жыл бұрын

I worry that the world doesn't deserve a channel as amazing as this.

@TheCimbrianBull 5 жыл бұрын

We don't deserve a hig quality channel like this but we need it badly, though.

@currahee1782 5 жыл бұрын

I mean the Great War started the same, now look at them now.

@AB8511 5 жыл бұрын

and do you? If I were you, I would not be so much worried about the whole world...

@HungVu-ev8el 5 жыл бұрын

I'm baffled by the fact that many people still think that the Maginot Line is pointless, and by extension, the whole "French always surrender" narrative. The point of the line was to force the Germans to not go through the Franco-German border, but instead to go through Belgium. The line did exactly what it was supposed to do: forcing Germany to invade Belgium to get to France. The only mistake the Allies made was to assume that this invasion would play out like the Schlieffen Plan in 1914. If not for Erich von Manstein's plan the German invasion would most likely fail.

@alexamerling79 5 жыл бұрын

Another factor was that although the French had better tanks than the Germans at this point, the Germans organized theirs better.

@WorldWarTwo 5 жыл бұрын

we'll deal with the 'the French are cowards' narrative for once and for all. Tomorrow.

@jamiengo2343 5 жыл бұрын

Hung Vu well eventually it was pointless since France lost.

@mennoltvanalten7260 5 жыл бұрын

And of course the German plan might still have failed if the French generals would have kept all their forts manned instead of making the men run away from the forts to avoid combat. That is not the point of a defensive structure guys!

@Sepharess 5 жыл бұрын

@@jamiengo2343 Well, it wasn't, as it forced Germany to attack two other nations, hindering the speed of their progress and losing more of the material. For example, you can look up the 'Battle for the Hague' (which unfortunately wasn't covered by the series too extensively). The Luftwaffe lost 182 of their aircraft This heavy loss was unforeseen, with Generalfeldmarschall Albert Kesselring stating after the war that the subsequent aircraft shortage directly contributed to the Luftwaffe's defeat in the Battle of Britain, and was the cause of heavy German casualties during the invasion of Crete.

@jollybritishchap485 5 жыл бұрын

500 million gallons of red wine is the most french thing I've ever heard :D

@IudiciumInfernalum 5 жыл бұрын

Amazing episode as always guys, i feel very fortunate i started WWII from the beginning with you guys and the community. I missed that chance for The Great War unfortunately, but i am happy i haven't for this series. Love your work. And love Indy as presenter/narrator. Good job, team!

@WorldWarTwo 5 жыл бұрын

We're grateful to have people as yourself in our community! Thanks for your kind words! Cheers!

@arisukak 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you for trying to dispel some of the myths of the Maginot Line! Another thing that is commonly ignored is the fact that the majority of France's coal and steel production was in the north east and near the German border. It's something that *has* to be defended!

@kaczynskis5721 5 жыл бұрын

During the Occupation many French civilians ran short of coal during the winter months as it was mainly sent to Germany and there were numerous deaths from hypothermia.

@WorldWarTwo 5 жыл бұрын

That's correct, and thats one of the reasons why, unlike the German Westwall, the French defenses couldnt make extensive use of its depth.

@dinosaurfilms 5 жыл бұрын

Just a small detail, but the transition at 12:10 is fantastic!

@WorldWarTwo 5 жыл бұрын

It is the EXACT same locations. Our editor Wieke was very excited when he found the matching footage ;)

@dminard1 5 жыл бұрын

I feel like the French and the Poles get labeled as cowards or at least incompetant for their quick defeats in WW2. I hope that the folks at Time Ghost dispel some of these myths and show the heroism of these nations' soldiers and citizens during the war.

@michealohaodha9351 5 жыл бұрын

Agreed - I really hope that French battles such as Hannut, Gembloux, Stonne, La Horgne, the Alps, Lille, Saumur and the defense of the Dunkirk perimeter get a mention. It'll ruin the trolls day of course but hey :)

@randomclouds4404 5 жыл бұрын

The general narrative I normally get from my perspective is that the Poles and French get destroyed (though I don't see the Poles talked about that much), the Brits bravely defend their island, the U.S.S.R push Germany back with human wave tactics and winter, while the U.S destroys Germany in D-Day as the Germans were killing Jews. Also, Japan attacked Pearl Harbour so Hiroshima and Nagasaki were nuked.

@WorldWarTwo 5 жыл бұрын

You'll see tomorrow that we won't roll with the myths of French cowardice. And we have some additional context on our Instagram page (@world_war_two_realtime)

@michealohaodha9351 5 жыл бұрын

@@WorldWarTwo Oh woe on us mere mortals for even doubting :D

@kaczynskis5721 5 жыл бұрын

@@randomclouds4404 The French and British were somewhat inclined to be condescending towards Poles in 1939 and early 1940, until they too had the experience of being unable to stem German attacks.

@Medafets 5 жыл бұрын

This has to be some of the best content on KZfaq at the moment. Great work team.

@WorldWarTwo 5 жыл бұрын

Cheers! Tell your friends ;)

@indianajones4321 5 жыл бұрын

The Maginot Line is an amazing site

@JeytzonFierro 5 жыл бұрын

Also, note how Indy and his crew really expand and elaborate on the Maginot line, frankly I felt as though I watched a documentary. Props to them!

@ddoumeche 4 жыл бұрын

One word : Maurice Gamelin

@rxy228 5 жыл бұрын

honestly the best interview episode you have ever done (on either channel). really liked the editing Edit: also, subtitles are great and you should use them more with non native speaking interview guests (these were fine but there were some hard to understand ones on TGW)

@victorbruant389 5 жыл бұрын

Why is it that when one man builds a wall, the next man immediately needs to know what's on the other side?

@jamestheotherone742 5 жыл бұрын

Because the grass might be greener?

@SuperLusername 5 жыл бұрын

@Badr eddin I'd break trough the Maginot line for a hot naked lady, to be perfectly honest

@jacksonlarson6099 5 жыл бұрын

@Prussian Union Perhaps he's wondering who would invade a neutral country, before attacking France.

@jonathanallard2128 5 жыл бұрын

Because the next man knows that people build walls to protect valuable stuff, and that the more expensive and expansive the wall, the more valuable the thing it protects. One doesn't protect a 100 dollar watch in a 20 foot vault.

@dd-579fletcherwillyd.9 3 жыл бұрын

I mean, man's curiosity, amirite?

@Mondo762 5 жыл бұрын

I enjoyed seeing the inner workings of the forts along the Maginot Line. Having lived in the Verdun area as an Army brat many years ago it has always fascinated me how industrialized warfare has affected that area and the whole border with Germany.

@D_D10 5 жыл бұрын

Simply loved the episode. Probably the best, detailed explanation of the French Maginot Line,explained lucidly and not to mention. the maps r awesome.

@WorldWarTwo 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks!!

@trippsmythoftheaurigancoal8155 5 жыл бұрын

OMG, Indy, you have become one of my favorite Historians on KZfaq... You provide good, in depth history to us. And, you know the guts in Sabaton. Major plus in my book.

@Sproudl 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you World War Two for this great episode. The Maginot Line is so badly known. I grew up mainly in Alsace and Lorraine near the Line, I played in a lot of old bunkers as a kid (Don't do it, it's dangerous even if it's also a lot of fun), they are part of the landscape for me. While growing up, I tried to understand more the fascinating history of the line and realised... all I knew or learned in school about it was wrong. Ironically, I guess that one reason the Maginot Line has such a bad reputation is that, after the war, France needed one scapegoat to explain the defeat in 1940 and found it in the line. Propaganda blamed the line for the defeat. I hope this kind of video will help people to learn the truth about this fortification system because many other youtube videos, history books, etc still contribute so spread misinformations about it. Again, thank you !

@yourlocalt72 5 жыл бұрын

France: We're gonna build a wall a huge wall and make Germany pay for that

@thegreatreddragon2105 3 жыл бұрын

like here ??? kzfaq.info/get/bejne/oOCVgKxju9fVj58.html

@ey6713 3 жыл бұрын

Trump ?

@gianlucaborg195 5 жыл бұрын

This adds significant depth when attacking/defending/observing the war both while reading books and dispelling misconceptions and during recreational activities! I cannot wait for the double length episode tomorrow!!

@ernst-udopeters1637 5 жыл бұрын

Wow, it's been 20 years since I last visited l'ouvrage Schoenenbourg. The restauration efforts are certainly very impressive to see. Thanks for putting up such an interesting episode. Next time I am back in Germany I think I'll have to include a visit at la casemate d'Hatten.

@ICULooking 5 жыл бұрын

magnificent work on this special

@TheMasterOfCornedy 5 жыл бұрын

Double length episode tomorrow? Hell yeah

@rat21965 5 жыл бұрын

I have taken this tour with Richard. It is an amazing journey and well worth your time.

@xxxnamkhaxxx 5 жыл бұрын

Sublime work! Love the research that has gone into this. Hats off!

@undolf4097 5 жыл бұрын

Filming on location was so cool!

@aronjanssonnordberg307 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this. I'm so tired of anti-French jokes and misinformation, about French being cowardly or incompetent. The French made some bad decisions, had some bad leadership, and just bad luck at times. They also had the memory of WW1 fresh in their minds, which happened on almost exclusively on their soil (western front).

@chrisholland7367 5 жыл бұрын

The French payed a huge price during ww1 especially during battles such as verdun. The French were subjugated by the germans and also by parts of their own government who collaborated with the nazi's the vichy government. However it mustn't be forgotten they had an effective resistance movement.

@remc70 4 жыл бұрын

Get "World at War" BBC 1975? French public just wanted to get it over with.

@Ricky-qp9kj 5 жыл бұрын

Every episode feels like christmas. Learning history AND doing so with such cool people. Only channel I have notifications for.

@WorldWarTwo 5 жыл бұрын

Awesome, thanks! But does that mean that you don't have notifications on for our TimeGhost History YT channel? :/ Just kidding:) A little.

@erikred8217 2 жыл бұрын

Nice touch doubling up on the measuring systems. You guys do fine work.

@patwiggins6969 5 жыл бұрын

In the movie Battle of Britain they mentioned that Sedan had fallen. Never knew how important that was until now

@11bravocrunchie22 5 жыл бұрын

Your flag patch is on the wrong side for the position of the field of stars. When worn, the field of stars should always be positioned so that it shows as advancing forward if hung on a pole.

@drewpamon 5 жыл бұрын

I'd agree if he was a soldier

@spartacus-olsson 5 жыл бұрын

@@drewpamon well... count the stars and look at what war we're covering here... the 'right way around' tradition started in the 1960s.

@11bravocrunchie22 5 жыл бұрын

I would agree with all of you except for one small thing: in the video, Indy is wearing a modern reverse flag patch (stars in the upper right) on his left arm. Even in WWII, that flag would be considered backwards.

@TheChieftainsHatch 5 жыл бұрын

Oh, that I don’t argue. It was your statement that it should always be forward which I was objecting to.

@AK-hi7mg 5 жыл бұрын

@@TheChieftainsHatch nice. I love good historical sound advice like that.

@blakewilliams1959 5 жыл бұрын

I’ve seen nearly every episode. After having read Martin Gilbert. This I have not seen. Wow, if ever a story was told the trenches were filled but this massive understanding lives on to remind us the lessons learned which we can only imagine for the most part nowadays.

@onefastcyclist 5 жыл бұрын

Time ghost history at it's best! Excellent explanations of the social, political and economic factors that both built and sabotaged this fortification.

@rad666a 5 жыл бұрын

It's like the WWI Verdun forts written large.

@ImRezaF 5 жыл бұрын

Nobody: Not a single soul: Absolutely no one: People, skipping the video: wEnT aROuNd tHE mAGiNoT

@Kveeni 5 жыл бұрын

Sad but true

@williemherbert1456 5 жыл бұрын

The German was breaking through the Ardennes, led by Eric von Manstein, Army Group B.

@ImRezaF 5 жыл бұрын

@@williemherbert1456 Yeah we know that, that's not my point.

@williamtoner8674 5 жыл бұрын

what a tedious template this "Nobody: " joke is

@jonasmejerpedersen4847 4 жыл бұрын

@@AsukaLangleyS02 autism is not just somebody being annoying. its real and its fucking annoying to live with

@micahistory 5 жыл бұрын

You're the only channel where i can pay attention to 20 minute long videos

@HuesingProductions 5 жыл бұрын

Hats off to you for this video and this channel. Always on a high educational and professional level.

@WorldWarTwo 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks ! We couldn't do it without our community though, so thank YOU for being a part of this!

@kstreet7438 5 жыл бұрын

Been waiting on this.

@TheGasMaskGuy96 2 жыл бұрын

Incredibly good video! I'd like to address that I'm deeply thankful for the French people that fought so bravely against the Nazi regieme. I'm not obliged to feel this way because I'm German but rather because I'm an European. I'm so happy that after the second world war not only our two nations but many more found together. Even if the EU itself might not be perfect, the idea of a United Europe definitely is in my opinion. So I'm really happy that Le Pen didn't succeed in the voting progress in France. Even if Macron might not be your politician of choice, I'm happy that our french brothers and sisters decided this way. This is a desperate plea to all fellow Europeans: please let Europe live on and actively better it trough your help! I just cannot imagine any more bloodshed on European soil. Edit: spelling

@mrsupremegascon 11 ай бұрын

We had our share of low and high moments, but we always were brother.

@philipsearles7180 5 жыл бұрын

Love the patch! Mine came in this week, so happy to have it.

@WorldWarTwo 5 жыл бұрын

Awesome! If you're attaching it to something, please send us a picture!

@vacuumgaze5277 5 жыл бұрын

Great video Indy and friends!

@oOkenzoOo 5 жыл бұрын

Wow, you indeed delivered with this video. Impressive work, i take my hat off to all the crew ; and the best part is there will be more coming =) Can't wait for tomorrow's video. Gonna be filled with intense actions. By the way during your trip, did you happen to find a map with the exact location of all ouvrages of the line ?

@WorldWarTwo 5 жыл бұрын

Eastory has a map with not only the Ouvrages, but Casemates, Bunkers and all. We might publish it... have to ask him if the source allows it though.

@oOkenzoOo 5 жыл бұрын

@@WorldWarTwo That would be great indeed. And superposed with the map of the upcoming battles, it would give a clear understanding of what the Germans actually faced and what the "line" really accomplished (even more with the Italians ;) oops spoiler XD)

@TheCimbrianBull 5 жыл бұрын

@@oOkenzoOo That's a great idea! A picture says more than a thousand words.

@wasabyorechy1585 5 жыл бұрын

wikimaginot.eu The site is in french, but you can find there enormous amount of information including interactive map.

@oOkenzoOo 5 жыл бұрын

@@wasabyorechy1585 merci =)

@robertalaverdov8147 5 жыл бұрын

Guys I think the French got this! There is no way anyone can break through the Maginot line. It's an impenetrable fortress! And with the low countries undisputed neutrality there is nothing for the French to fear.

@rebecca4680 5 жыл бұрын

Watch the video. The Maginot Line was never designed to be impenetrable.

@robertalaverdov8147 5 жыл бұрын

@@rebecca4680 Whoosh!

@Edax_Royeaux 5 жыл бұрын

@Rebel_Scum Watch the video...

@Edax_Royeaux 5 жыл бұрын

@Badr eddin Capitalize your sentences.

@dariusniederer856 5 жыл бұрын

@Nick02111989 5 жыл бұрын

Really good video guys! Can't wait for Saturday's next instalment! :D

@WorldWarTwo 5 жыл бұрын

Our Patreon supporters can already watch it right now!

@pauldehart744 3 жыл бұрын

Wow. Thanks for the tour of this line. This is the first time I have seen video of this. Very impressive and the engineering of it is quit impressive.

@WorldWarTwo 3 жыл бұрын

You're welcome ;-)

@u.h.forum. 5 жыл бұрын

The Maginot was a success

@johnvonshepard9373 5 жыл бұрын

Well the german did go around it. So yes.

@daskaninchen5416 5 жыл бұрын

John von Shepard i can’t recall that the germans naval invaded france in 1940 am i wrong?

@zach7372 5 жыл бұрын

@@johnvonshepard9373 the Germans didn't go around it. It literally spanned the whole eastern French border. They went through it.

@SuperLusername 5 жыл бұрын

Everyone: "We have a minister of defence" French: "We have a minister of war, because subtlety is famously British and we hate the British!"

@hannesbaumann8509 5 жыл бұрын

Back then almost nobdy called it Ministry of Defence. They had War and Navy Ministries, and sometimes seperate Air Ministries. The War portfolio is the army, if you did not know.

@Historyfan476AD 5 жыл бұрын

At least there honest, Minster of War is true even a defensive war still has offensives actions on it. Calling your ministry of Defence is just a PR move.

@ThrowawayModeller 5 жыл бұрын

Really nice video about the ML. I didn't know it extended to the Channel.

@micahistory 5 жыл бұрын

Wow, it was way more fortified and complicated than I thought

@MiVa_Neon 5 жыл бұрын

It will be told in the future about Molotov Line and Stalin Line?

@BlueVentricle 5 жыл бұрын

I will admit that I also thought the French army was more or less a joke after Napoleon, and that the French Resistance and French Foreign Legion had more pride and honor as troops. Discovering The Great War channel and watching it completely, i relized how wrong I was. The political leaders were the problem as far as I can tell. Thank you Indy and Sparticus for the series.

@freewal 4 жыл бұрын

Yeah at least your recognized it. France was heroic during the first World War and was just not prepared morally to do a second world war after so much pain during the first. France didn't want a war. Gamelin was incompetent.

@luciusvorenus9445 5 жыл бұрын

Lots of great and detailed information, a fantastic video.

@tyberfen5009 5 жыл бұрын

Man, Indy. That takes me back to your first trips in the Great war. I'm getting old... Anyway. As always, excellent video with very detailed informations. I'd say something like "keep up the good work", but that's not necessarily. By now it's obvious there is only one form of result to expect from you and your team. Excellence

@rakaman27 5 жыл бұрын

When you take Around Maginot in HOI4.

@acr2051 5 жыл бұрын

You're called Rommel and your avatar is Asuka. Perfect.

@xxnightdriverxx9576 5 жыл бұрын

well in HOI4 the Maginot Line is almost exklusivly on the French-German border. There are some Forts against Italy, but none behind Belgium. Wich is, as stated in this video, just wrong.

@scottscott8123 5 жыл бұрын

xXNightDriverXx Though in my experience the French AI builds level 2 forts after the invasion of Poland if you aren’t fast enough, so there’s that at least

@SelfProclaimedEmperor 4 жыл бұрын

When I play as France and extend the Maginot line...with lvl 10 forts to English channel, then Germany can never win.

@thegreatreddragon2105 3 жыл бұрын

or in blitzkrieg burning horizon :D kzfaq.info/get/bejne/oOCVgKxju9fVj58.html

@BamBamBigelow.. 5 жыл бұрын

Did I hear...500,000,000 gallons of red 🍷? Sign me up! #16:32

@TheCimbrianBull 5 жыл бұрын

Actually the underground part of the Maginot Line was just an excuse to have more wine cellars! 😀

@kaczynskis5721 5 жыл бұрын

Cheap red wine, often called 'pinard', was a staple of French army life in WW1. During the Phony War alcohol abuse was a common problem in both the French and British armies.

@cs0345 5 жыл бұрын

@@kaczynskis5721 Still a good morale booster

@darkravens1136 2 жыл бұрын

I have been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to run the raising and lowering mechanism on a similar turret, though German in origin, and it was very easy to raise the entire turret, incredible works of engineering they are

@hermannabt8361 5 жыл бұрын

The Maginot line technology was exported to Czechoslovakia. It was used to secure the boarder with Germany. When the French and British forced the Czechoslovakians to give the Suddetenland to Germany, they learned how to break through the Maginot line and did just that 15 June 1940.

@timothyhouse1622 5 жыл бұрын

Who will win: An expensive line of fortifications that took decades to build. A panzer boi.

@iBloodxHunter 5 жыл бұрын

Joke an all, but they concentrated pretty much all their tanks into one location. It's not as if any small number could break through.

@Realkeepa-et9vo 5 жыл бұрын

@Aizaz Aziz Maybe that you watch the fucking video and see that the Maginot covered the entire eastern Border from the Channel to the Mediterran...

@auguststorm2037 5 жыл бұрын

Well , an expensive defensive line I guess, since the panzer avoid the battle with it...

@fulcrum2951 4 жыл бұрын

@Aizaz Aziz the point of the maginot line was to force the germans to attack via Belgium The issue was with the french is that they are extremely incompetent considering they just sent much of their strategic reserve north in an attempt to "save" the Netherlands whilst ignoring intelligence of German units moving through the ardennes

@troelschristensen8562 5 жыл бұрын

"...The french were determined to not fight another war on open ground in France..." Well, they got what they paid for...

@jonathanallard2128 5 жыл бұрын

You can't have to fight on open ground if you don't fight at all! *insert meme of smart black guy pointing his head*

@mrboatface4023 5 жыл бұрын

This "memes" are so boring, could you please fucking stop please?

@sehgfx 5 жыл бұрын

Really nice video and information on the line. was not aware of the scale it was

@mihaelvulchev7003 4 жыл бұрын

Love your team work and what you are doing is great .

@WorldWarTwo 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@LetsTakeWalk 5 жыл бұрын

Who would win: Thousands of fortified turrets, or one flanky boi.

@alexamerling79 5 жыл бұрын

They didn't flank the Maginot line. It was designed to make the Germans go through the Ardennes like they had done in 1914.

@LetsTakeWalk 5 жыл бұрын

Alex Amerling Which is still a flank. Basically, the designers of the Maginot line played themselves.

@Realkeepa-et9vo 5 жыл бұрын

@@LetsTakeWalk Did you even watch the Video? The Maginot went from the Channel to the Mediterran and covered the entire eastern Border of France. The only way to flank it was a naval invasion or going through Spain...

@LetsTakeWalk 5 жыл бұрын

@@Realkeepa-et9vo Dude, it's a joke.

@harryfuentos5503 5 жыл бұрын

Never leave a Belgium-sized hole in your fortification line. Wish I can go tell that to the French military back then...

@colingibson8018 5 жыл бұрын

Dear Indy. I have to thank you and your team in exposing so many misleading bits of information that I had been fed from all the way back to my first history lesson in school. I have to admit that this is not my main area of interest but as your whole series is showing everyone, it is all connected at some level. So thank you again and stay well this is a long term project don't over do it .still a long way to go.!!!

@WorldWarTwo 5 жыл бұрын

You're welcome! I'm glad you like it!

@stephencurry5728 4 жыл бұрын

Objetives The Maginot Line was built to fulfill several purposes: To prevent a German surprise attack To deter a cross-border assault. To protect Alsace and Lorraine (returned to France in 1918) and their industrial basin To save manpower (France counted 39 million inhabitants, Germany 70 million) To cover the mobilization of the French Army (which took between two and three weeks) To push Germany into an effort to circumvent via Switzerland or Belgium, and allow France to fight the next war off French soil to avoid a repeat of 1914-1918. To be used as a basis for a counter-offensive en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maginot_Line#/media/File:Maginot_Line_ln-en.svg

@Duke_of_Lorraine 5 жыл бұрын

Building a wall was only half of the strategy. To make it complete, they should have made Germany pay for it.

@IudiciumInfernalum 5 жыл бұрын

Oh they did. Remember in the treaty of Versailles there was a clause that said Germany was to take full responsibility for the war and all the accompanying damages. Therefore Germany was also compelled to pay an extraordinary amount of war reparations to the allied countries including France.

@BaddaBingBaddaBom 5 жыл бұрын

They kind of didn't pay most of the reparations, almost nothing between 31-45

@TheCimbrianBull 5 жыл бұрын

It wasn't a wall, though. It was a line of fortifications.

@auguststorm2037 5 жыл бұрын

They somewhat did what with reparations then by simply occupy the Ruhr and size it's production when Germany stopped pay

@kaczynskis5721 5 жыл бұрын

@@IudiciumInfernalum Much of the reparations that were extracted were coal - trains leaving Germany for France with coal and French troops standing guard on them, often literally standing on the coal in the wagons, were a familiar sight in the early 1920s, with Germans muttering 'Ententenkohlen' as the trains went past.

@Armorius2199 5 жыл бұрын

He protecc He counter-attacc But most importantly He doesn't hold the Germans Bacc

@mikiroony 5 жыл бұрын

I am absolutely craving the Timeghost jacket!! :D

@ousooners5193 4 жыл бұрын

My great grandfather was injured on the Maginot Line, saved him from a PoW camp.

@enveenva5584 5 жыл бұрын

#mentionluxembourg

@Biker_Gremling 5 жыл бұрын

#3rdbeneluxcountry

@WorldWarTwo 5 жыл бұрын

Luxemwhere?

@MinecraftWithPAPike 5 жыл бұрын

A R O U N D T H E MAGINOT

@alexamerling79 5 жыл бұрын

Through the Ardennes which was penetrating the line.

@Edax_Royeaux 5 жыл бұрын

You mean from Spain? I'm not sure Franco would be down with that.

@andrehenrique2093 5 жыл бұрын

Very nice video. Congratulations for this nice channel.

@katfrog98 5 жыл бұрын

You have outdone yourselves. Thank you.

@Batmax192 5 жыл бұрын

Investing even fraction of that money into armament of Poland would have been much more beneficial to France...

@mangalores-x_x 5 жыл бұрын

no, it would not have. Even with Russia it was not enough in ww1 so Poland would have been lucky to hang on and keep fighting whatever the western Allies send their way.

@navarro4238 4 жыл бұрын

Poland let me laugh! You suffered huge losses throughout the war inflicting small losses to the armies of the axis and it comes to make the conquerors after.

@googleenshitified 5 жыл бұрын

Fuckin Spartacus: Sehr schlau!

@HuesingProductions 5 жыл бұрын

Gewieft!

@frankwhite3406 5 жыл бұрын

Great Episode most Enjoyable!

@LordOfDaCyborgMOOSE 5 жыл бұрын

I love Indy's customized adventure jacket!

@emmetoconnor5105 5 жыл бұрын

Anglophones always forget that the line was built because Britain and the US did not support France in occupying the Ruhr in 1923.

@videodistro 5 жыл бұрын

They did not build a wall. They built fortifications. Very different.

@buckeyeranger6438 2 жыл бұрын

Outstanding! Love the channel.

@WorldWarTwo 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Buckeye Ranger! We love you too!

@rexharrison400 4 жыл бұрын

I was fortunate enough to visit Fort Feremont in northern France. It was fascinating to see just how well built it was, there was a spot marked on the concrete wall next to a gun position where the Germans fired an 88mm gun at the same point. Apparently the inner wall was just begining to crack when the Germans stopped. Only one french soldier died in the attacks and you can see a memorial marked on the tunnel wall where his body was initially placed before removal for burial. Also in what was the canteen or bar there is some graffiti left by GI's that has been preserved. Even if you are not a military history buff it is well worth a visit.

@ironstarofmordian7098 5 жыл бұрын

It's cause they are are the Panzer elite Born to compete never retreat Ghost Division living or dead always ahead fed by your dread

@alexamerling79 5 жыл бұрын

Wehrmacht's pride, Ghost Division!

@kaczynskis5721 5 жыл бұрын

@@alexamerling79 SPOILER 265 tanks in the Ghost Division in June 1941, on eve of Barbarossa, many of them Czech-built Panzer 38(t)s. Early the following year there were just nine left. About 9,000 casualties during this period, many of them veterans of the French campaign. It was withdrawn to France for a rest and some very necessary reinforcement.

@ironstarofmordian7098 5 жыл бұрын

@@kaczynskis5721 ha rip!

@ironstarofmordian7098 5 жыл бұрын

@@gg829 no Sabaton fans! The Wehrmacht ain't bad (as a military force combat wise). Strategically they are inept. The Brits, US, and the Soviets were all better in that regard.

@blueband8114 5 жыл бұрын

Visited the forts on here marked with a 10, in April last year. Very interesting, if you haven't been i recommend doing so.

@luciuspaullus1948 5 жыл бұрын

This series is awesome.

@Centrodemasa 2 жыл бұрын

Nice contribution!!!!....congratulation from Chile.

@knockshinnoch1950 5 жыл бұрын

Just discovered this channel today and what a fantastic episode to stumble upon! I have long been fascinated by the 1940 western campaign, the quick defeat of France & the Low Countries and the subsequent occupation/Vichy period. The Maginot Line has become almost mythical and a metaphor for all that was wrong about French military doctrine- a massive white elephant. What a lazy overly simplified inaccurate misrepresentation. This is an excellent video, one of the most informative I've seen about the Maginot Line. My only complaint? It's too short! Would love this to be a full hour long ep! Great job guys!

@agactual2 5 жыл бұрын

At first when Indy talks about the line I thought "wow, that seems formidable" but as the episode progresses all I could think is "god, what a logistical nightmare; no wonder it didn't work."

@Rousseau4469 4 жыл бұрын

It would be marvellous to visit the equivalent line of Defence in Northern Greece the Metaxa Lines. It has many still functioning bunkers in which actually you can see the action by a simulation fire. When the fortifications where delivered to Joint Chief of Stuff of the army by the constructor the first was amazed by the quality of the concrete and the man told him that he preferred to spent more in order his grandson fight in safety.