BORDER

In the years between the two World Wars, France built the fortified 'Maginot Line' along the border with Germany. This was a chain of modern concrete forts with artillery and underground living space for the soldiers manning them. As it became obvious that a second conflict was looming it was realized that the border with Belgium was poorly defended and a chain of smaller independent bunkers was built to control this part of the border. This was supplemented in 1939-40 by British forces building further bunkers, such as that shown at Deulemont. While it is often overlooked just how hard the French defended these positions, they were easily bypassed by the mobile German forces. The time of the fortress seemed to have passed.