School of War Ep 260: Kevin Passmore on the Maginot Line and the Battle of France
Dec 26, 2025
Kevin Passmore, a history professor at Cardiff University and author specializing in modern French military history, delves into the intriguing story of the Maginot Line. He discusses why this extensive fortification failed despite its sophistication. Key topics include the conflicting French strategies post-WWI, the political implications of fortification decisions, and comparisons to contemporary Ukrainian defenses. Passmore also highlights the Maginot Line's legacy, emphasizing its stubborn defenses and the challenges faced by attackers.
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Belgium Was The Strategic Vulnerability
- France feared invasion through Belgium because its terrain offered direct river routes to Paris and was hard to defend.
- Fortifying Alsace-Lorraine made a Belgian invasion more likely by pushing German attack options north.
Maginot Was A Compromised Concept
- Post‑WWI debates split between Pétain's defence‑in‑depth and advocates of permanent frontier fortresses.
- The final Maginot system ended up neither pure depth nor purely frontier forts, creating critical gaps.
How Maginot Forts Actually Worked
- Maginot forts were deep underground complexes with combat blocks, turrets, and railway access, crewed up to battalion size.
- They offered strong protection but had vulnerabilities like exposed casemates and damp, unsuitable long‑term living conditions.