New Books in Sociology Kevin Passmore, "The Maginot Line: A New History of the Fall of France" (Yale UP, 2025)
Sep 13, 2025
Kevin Passmore, a historian specializing in fascism and the French right, dives deep into the ambitious yet ultimately flawed Maginot Line. He reveals intricate details about its impressive engineering, the lives of soldiers manning the forts, and the diverse roles of foreign labor in its construction. Passmore challenges misconceptions surrounding its purpose, emphasizing its historical impact on local communities and military strategy despite France's quick defeat during WWII. Join the discussion to unpack the myths and human stories behind this monumental project.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Maginot Line As Multidisciplinary Object
- The Maginot Line became an object for asking diverse historical questions beyond pure military history.
- Kevin Passmore framed it through social, environmental, managerial, and borderland lenses to reveal new meanings.
Not Just Postwar Trauma
- The Maginot Line was not an immediate post-WWI reflex or purely a 'trench mentality' response.
- Political shifts, economic limits, and changing strategy drove France toward defence in the late 1920s.
Divergent Lessons From WWI
- Interwar debates offered two conflicting lessons from WWI: defence-in-depth versus large permanent forts.
- Marshal Pétain championed defence in depth while others favored substantial concrete forts for command and durability.
