Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 4.3bsd-beta 6/6/85; site ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!ucbvax!space
From: Dale.Amon@FAS.RI.CMU.EDU
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Maginot line, Historical correction
Message-ID: <8512110125.AA00557@s1-b.arpa>
Date: Tue, 10-Dec-85 18:49:21 EST
Article-I.D.: s1-b.8512110125.AA00557
Posted: Tue Dec 10 18:49:21 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 12-Dec-85 04:41:57 EST
Sender: bloom@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The ARPA Internet
Lines: 13

Just thought I would note that the reason the maginot line didn't work is
that it was never attacked. The german armies came through Belgium and
Netherlands in a blitzkreig that caught the frence flat footed and cut off
their troops, quite a few of which were were the front was 'supposed' to be.
The French just did not expect the Nazis to attack through neutrals; they
expected an assault across the German/French border (near the Saar I
believe?)

It was not a defensive mentality that did the french in, it was a lack of
creative thinking, and an inabilibity to understand that their foe was not
at all gentlemanly. The lesson learned was that modern war has no rules.

I do not think SDI is quite the same unless we get fat and happy over it.