Frenchmen work to preserve these sties as historic museums, guiding visitors.
These forts are mostly underground. An entrance is guarded by barbed wire and ditches. Doors have openings for firing at the enemy.
The first fort, pictured above, is Fort Immerhof. The second fort is much larger. It is Fort Hackenberg. It is known as the largest fort and was the most powerful, with 23 separate combat blocks.
It has a large network of tunnels connected by a tram system that goes on for miles and miles.
It also has several museums within the underground structure. It houses various uniforms, arms, and instruments used by all the countries that fought in WWII.
The largest collections were French. The guys got a big kick out of some medals that included the chicken for a French war medal.
Our guide demonstrated cashes of weapons.
A team showed us the precision of great big weapons that still turn efficiently. Our guides seemed pleased the weapons weren't needed much!
The Maginot Line bunkers included kitchens, sleeping quarters, hospital quarters, and even a movie theatre. Of course wine cellars were included too! After all, they were French!
Our guides felt the Maginot line did what it intended. It made the Germans have to find a new way to invade France and detained them for about 2 weeks. The Germans ended up taking over Belgium and came into France from the North.
