Maginot Line - post

As we went through the village of Marckolsheim, we noticed a sign to a Maginot Line Memorial so we drove a couple of miles east to find it. Here is a bust of Maginot. Appropriate, I suppose since the Maginot Line was a bust.

They definitely put a lot of effort into building these bunkers and no doubt they thought they were secure. If you ever have a chance, go to Verdun and you will understand why they built the Maginot Line in the hope that it would prevent a repeat of what happened in WWI.

In the center of the picture is the crater that resulted from a bomb delivered by a Stuka. No doubt it got their attention inside, just a few feet away.

The entrance. Click on the picture to count the locks on the door.

Guarding the entrance. It reminded me of the entrance to Haut Koenigsbourg Castle. Same principle.

This was the weapon inside.

The rooms were filled with articles of war from both sides.

A 500 pound bomb.

I believe this is where the soldiers slept. Curiously the beds were sloped from back to front.

The telephone console. All the switches were perfectly lined up so I moved one, in the centre. I wonder how long before it is noticed and reset. Damn tourists, can't leave anything alone!

Looking up into one of the cupolas.

German soldier.

Small and large mines.

It's a map case where the map scrolls.

It really was a potent red.

Sundry German machine pistols, rifles and hand guns.

This provided power to the bunker.

A sink. I suspect life was pretty unpleasant in the bunker.

On the right in the case is the famous 88 shell, originally used in antiaircraft battery guns as well as anti tank guns and finally in the famed Tiger tanks.

Photos of the damage done to the bunker and the area.

If I could choose where I lived in Europe, it would never be on a border. Much too dangerous.

Hitler paid a visit. He's on the right. With the mustache.

Outside are some US Army items. Here part of a Bailey bridge.

What looks like a Sherman tank.

An so it all sits in fields of corn, a reminder that what worked in the past does not necessarily work well in the future. On that philosophical note, I better stop. Immediately.