The Maginot Complex

Deromanticising the Second World War pillbox

The injurious effects of static defence and of excessive reliance on elaborate concrete defences on morale and initiative are well known and are quite often described as fostering a Maginot complex.

118/GEN/4002(M.T.2) DATED 19 JULY 1941 DRAFT – GENERAL STAFF DIRECTIVE ON THE CHOICE OF CONCRETE OF EARTHWORKS FOR DELIBERATE FIELD DEFENCES

Concrete works such as pillboxes are very blind and breed a sense of isolation in battle.

118/GEN/4002(M.T.2) DATED 19 JULY 1941 DRAFT – GENERAL STAFF DIRECTIVE ON THE CHOICE OF CONCRETE OF EARTHWORKS FOR DELIBERATE FIELD DEFENCES

I do not encourage the garrison of aerodromes to fight from pillboxes; my policy is to adopt the locality system of trenches which are easier to conceal and easier to fight from.

WO199/1779 CONSTRUCTION OF PILLBOXES ON AERODROMES, LETTER FROM SOUTHERN COMMAND TO G.H.Q. - 16 AUGUST 1941

I do not therefore consider that there is justification for proceeding further with the preliminary preparations for standard pillboxes.

WO199/1779 CONSTRUCTION OF PILLBOXES ON AERODROMES, LETTER FROM SOUTHERN COMMAND TO G.H.Q. - 16 AUGUST 1941

All experience of modern warfare since that date points most strongly to the fact that the pillbox is not a suitable type of fortification for either coastal defence or nodal point defences.

To prevent penetration by modern weapons demands great thickness of reinforced concrete; this makes concealment very difficult and either dangerously reduces the arc of fire of a weapon within the pillbox or entails a dangerously wide loophole embrasure.

The Command-in-Chief has, therefore, directed that in future, field defences will consist of well sited, well concealed, and well-constructed earth works capable of all round defence. A suitable alternative locality of the same type will also be prepared for each position.

QO199/36 CONSTRUCTION OF FIELD DEFENCES H.F.3533/OPS. FROM G.H.Q. HOME FORCES – 23 FEBRUARY 1942

"Don’t man them just because they are there."

Many road-blocks are protected by pill-boxes constructed at the same time as road-blocks. They should only be used now if:-

  • They can be completely concealed.
  • They are fire-proof against anything but heavy tank gun fire.
  • The loopholes give complete and all-round fields of fire.

    Even then they do not make for aggressive defence so can only form part of the squad defences. Communication from inside to those outside is difficult so that control is lost. Weigh carefully their advantages and disadvantages before you keep them in the defence plan. Don’t man them just because they are there.

    HOME GUARD INSTRUCTION, NO. 51, PART IV, THE ORGANIZATION OF HOME GUARD DEFENCE, 1943