A wonderful example of how well-laid plans can be screwed up by something you thought was good luck.
Impressive line of military fortifications on the Franco-German border built in the years prior to 1940, designed to force the Germans to repeat the Schlieffen Plan of 1914 attack France through Belgium, if at all.
And, indeed, this is precisely what the Germans had planned to do, and the French had planned to stop. And all would have been well for the French, if a German idiot flying out to brief a forward commander hadn't essentially sent a copy of the invasion plans to French high command, forcing the Germans to come up with a new plan.
They did. It involved the Ardennes, which was the place the French hadn't bothered to seriously defend.
Ouch.
Impressive line of military fortifications on the Franco-German border built in the years prior to 1940, designed to force the Germans to repeat the Schlieffen Plan of 1914 attack France through Belgium, if at all.
And, indeed, this is precisely what the Germans had planned to do, and the French had planned to stop. And all would have been well for the French, if a German idiot flying out to brief a forward commander hadn't essentially sent a copy of the invasion plans to French high command, forcing the Germans to come up with a new plan.
They did. It involved the Ardennes, which was the place the French hadn't bothered to seriously defend.
Ouch.
The Ardennes are impassable. This sector is not dangerous
(Of course, the French commanders weren't exactly blameless. In French army maneouvres, 1938, the attacking commander used Rundtstedt's plan almost exactly and managed to break through with a quarter of his forces).
(Of course, the French commanders weren't exactly blameless. In French army maneouvres, 1938, the attacking commander used Rundtstedt's plan almost exactly and managed to break through with a quarter of his forces).
by Stuart Fraser November 20, 2003
Another word for "Speed bump"
by Blitz December 2, 2003
Frenchie#1: We must stop the Germans and show off to the pathetic USA!
Frenchie#2: Oui, let us build a huge defensive wall with cannons and guns that only face one direction!
Frenchie#1: Brilliant! uhh.. what is the German army doing behind our wall?
Frenchie#2: Damn cheaters, they went around! No fair! Time out! wahhhhhhhhhh!
GOD: hehehehe, silly french people...
Frenchie#2: Oui, let us build a huge defensive wall with cannons and guns that only face one direction!
Frenchie#1: Brilliant! uhh.. what is the German army doing behind our wall?
Frenchie#2: Damn cheaters, they went around! No fair! Time out! wahhhhhhhhhh!
GOD: hehehehe, silly french people...
by Alexei March 21, 2003
by YashaBot November 9, 2003
The Germans skipped the Maginot line, went right around the French Army, boy what a long march the French have to surrender.
by Tbone July 4, 2003
A highly ineffective line of artillery built in northern france. This defense would have been effective in WWII however, it was not like WWI so the Germans just went around.
by ShoesRBad March 21, 2003
An extremely impressive wall that streched from the southern, Italian border of France, to the cross-section of the borders of Belgium, France, and Germany.
Impressive though it was, the Germans bypassed it by passing through neutral Belgium. While the rest of the world was warning them, the French wanted proof. (Much like they wanted proof of Saddam's Weapons of Mass Destruction.) Unfortunately, their version of proof was several hundreds of tanks rolling through France waving the Nazi flag.
Impressive though it was, the Germans bypassed it by passing through neutral Belgium. While the rest of the world was warning them, the French wanted proof. (Much like they wanted proof of Saddam's Weapons of Mass Destruction.) Unfortunately, their version of proof was several hundreds of tanks rolling through France waving the Nazi flag.
The Maginot Line was named after an architect whose name just happened to be Maginot.
The French were stupid enough to think that they had the full backing of Belgium, and that Erwin Rommel had forgotten his World Geography.
The French were stupid enough to think that they had the full backing of Belgium, and that Erwin Rommel had forgotten his World Geography.
by Unknown June 6, 2003