What is Maginot Line?
1.
A wonderful example of how well-laid plans can be screwed up by something you thought was good luck.
Impressive line of military fortifications on the Franco-German border built in the years prior to 1940, designed to force the Germans to repeat the Schlieffen Plan of 1914 attack France through Belgium, if at all.
And, indeed, this is precisely what the Germans had planned to do, and the French had planned to stop. And all would have been well for the French, if a German idiot flying out to brief a forward commander hadn't essentially sent a copy of the invasion plans to French high command, forcing the Germans to come up with a new plan.
They did. It involved the Ardennes, which was the place the French hadn't bothered to seriously defend.
Ouch.
The Ardennes are impassable. This sector is not dangerous
(Of course, the French commanders weren't exactly blameless. In French army maneouvres, 1938, the attacking commander used Rundtstedt's plan almost exactly and managed to break through with a quarter of his forces).
2.
Another word for "Speed bump"
BUMP BUMP
Guy:What was that?
Guy2: The Maginot line
3.
Proof of the French's incompetence.
Frenchie#1: We must stop the Germans and show off to the pathetic USA!
Frenchie#2: Oui, let us build a huge defensive wall with cannons and guns that only face one direction!
Frenchie#1: Brilliant! uhh.. what is the German army doing behind our wall?
Frenchie#2: Damn cheaters, they went around! No fair! Time out! wahhhhhhhhhh!
GOD: hehehehe, silly french people...
See
4.
France's brilliant key to winning World War I, built due to clerical error over a decade after it ended.
A metaphor for man's ability to dream up brilliant solutions for exactly the wrong problems.
"Well, suppose we just built a big ol' fort?"
5.
Something to go around.
This traffic is such a Maginot line!
6.
Some place the Germans will revisit the next time they get a weekend barbeque rained out.
Gerta, looks like rain, put the bratwurst away, get the kids in the Benz, we're going frog hunting at the Maginot line.
7.
An example of why France will always get their asses kicked.
The Germans skipped the Maginot line, went right around the French Army, boy what a long march the French have to surrender.
