Maginot Line (English: Ligne Maginot, French)

A long fortified line along France's northeastern border, constructed between 1927 and 1936. It was named after André Maginot (1877-1932), Minister of War, who proposed it. Learning from the lessons of World War I, especially the Battle of Verdun, it was characterized by concentrating the main functions in a sturdy basement, complete with underground passageways. It was a symbol of security for the French people before the war. However, during World War II, Germany invaded the Belgian border, which only had lightly fortified fortifications, and attacks on the heavily fortified part of the Maginot Line were easily breached south of Saarbrücken, so it was of no practical use. It also became clear that such fortifications, while effective in anti-tank defense, were ineffective in anti-aircraft warfare.

[Yoko Yanagida]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

1927～36年構築のフランス北東国境に沿った長大な要塞(ようさい)線。提案者の陸相マジノAndré Maginot（1877―1932）に名をとる。第一次世界大戦、とくにベルダンの戦いに教訓を得、主要機能を堅牢(けんろう)な地下室に集約し、地下連絡通路を完備した点に特徴をもつ。戦前のフランス国民にとって安全保障上の象徴的存在となっていた。しかし第二次世界大戦では、ドイツが軽装堡塁(ほるい)のみのベルギー国境から突入したこと、マジノ線重装部分への攻撃もザールブリュッケンの南で容易に突破されたことから、実際の役にはたたなかった。またこのような要塞が対戦車防御には有効でも、対空戦に力をもたないことも露呈した。

［柳田陽子］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例