"What was it like as a French soldier to defend the Maginot Line when the Germans invaded in 1940, and was the line really a strategic and tactical disaster a massive waste of resources? Clayton Donnell's expert, finely detailed and graphic account of the role of the Maginot Line in the defence of France gives the reader an inside view of life in the bunkers, casemates and forts the sights, the sounds and the terror of the German attacks. And it questions common assumptions about the effectiveness of the resistance offered by the defenders and the impact the line had on the German assault. The layout of the line from Dunkirk to Switzerland, along the Alpine passes to the Riviera, and on the island of Corsica is described in expert detail, as is its history, construction and development. But the narrative concentrates on its performance in combat and the experience of the soldiers who manned it as the German offensive broke over them."--Publisher description.

Machine generated contents note:pt. I Pre-War -- Development and Initial Deployment, 1919 to May 1940 -- ch. 1 Development of What Became Known as the Maginot Line -- ch. 2 The Maginot Line Sectors as They Were in 1940 -- ch. 3 1936 to May 1940 -- pt. II The Initial German Attacks, 10 May to 12 June 1940 -- ch. 4 The Invasion of France -- ch. 5 Collapse of the Meuse and Sedan -- ch. 6 Breakthrough and the Battle of SF Maubeuge -- ch. 7 La Ferte -- 16 to 19 May -- ch. 8 Operations in late May and early June -- pt. III Abandonment and Breakthrough, 12 to 16 June 1940 -- ch. 9 The Maginot Line is Abandoned -- ch. 10 German Breakthrough on the Sarre -- ch. 11 The Remaining Sectors, 14 and 15 June 1940 -- Notre univers, c'est le beton -- ch. 12 The Rhine Offensive -- 15 June -- ch. 13 The End of the Armies of the East -- pt. IV The Alps -- French Victory, 10 -- 25 June 1940 -- ch. 14 Mussolini's Attack on the Southern Maginot Line -- pt. V The Final Battles, 17 to 25 June 1940 -- ch. 15 German Attacks on the Maginot Line -- 17 and 18 June -- ch. 16 Breakthrough in the Vosges -- ch. 17 Attacks in the West -- SF Faulquemont and SF Crusnes -- ch. 18 Attacks on Haut-Poirier and Welschoff, 19 to 23 June -- ch. 19 Michelsberg, Bitche, Haguenau, 21 to 23 June -- ch. 20 The Final Shots -- ch. 21 The Bitter End -- pt. VI Aftermath and Conclusions, July 1940 to the Present -- ch. 22 Aftermath -- ch. 23 Strengths and Weaknesses of the Maginot Line.