Ep 260: Kevin Passmore on the Maginot Line and the Battle of France

School of War · Dec 26, 2025 · 39m

Kevin Passmore, professor of History at Cardiff University and author of The Maginot Line: A New History, joins the show to talk about the most elaborate fortification system of the 20th century and why it failed.

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Times

02:03 Attacking the Maginot Line

05:53 Fortifications and Warfare

11:48 Flexibility vs Depth

15:38 A Total Commitment to War

19:49 French Defensive Concepts

22:42 Living in the Line

27:31 Decision in Belgium

36:22 Breaking the Enemy’s Will

39:36 Ukrainian Fortifications

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