maginot line








noun

  1. a zone of heavy defensive fortifications erected by France along its eastern border in the years preceding World War II, but outflanked in 1940 when the German army attacked through Belgium.
  2. any elaborate line of defense or set of barriers.

noun

  1. a line of fortifications built by France to defend its border with Germany prior to World War II; it proved ineffective against the German invasion
  2. any line of defence in which blind confidence is placed

fortifications built along the north and east borders of France before World War II, in which the French placed unreasonable confidence, named for André Maginot (1877-1932), French Minister of War in late 1920s, early 1930s. A chain of defensive fortifications built by France on its eastern border between World War I and World War II. The Maginot line was designed to stop any future invasion by Germany, but it was never completed. In World War II, the Germans conquered France by going around the Maginot line to the north.

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