this post was submitted on 03 May 2026
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Wasn't it the "impenetrable" forest that did them in?
It was more the incompetence and possible treason of Marshall Maurice Gamelin.
The Maginot Line was only intended to delay an attacking army. It wasn't going to stop them on its own. So, when it was attacked the army needed to gather its forces and counter-attack before the Maginot Line fell. When the Germans attacked, there was plenty of time to do that, but Gamelin waffled and decided not to counter-attack in case the attack was a feint.
It's hard to believe that Gamelin was that incompetent. So much so that some historians think that he was actually a Nazi sympethizer and intentionally caused the French collapse.
TIL! Thanks.