Originally posted by kobayashi:
The Maginot line stretches from Switzerland to Belgium but I read somewhere that there was a northern section continuing after the Ardennes gap.
This was planned, but not achieved.
Was it half completed or just planned?
The line was from the Swiss border to the Belgian frontier.
Was it in Belgium or in France?
France only
The other fortifications I know of are Monte Casino and Eben whatever??? in Belgium. What other are fortresses were there in Western Europe?
Eben Emal. It was considered a modern fortress in Belgium. A handful of German glider-born troops took it in a few hours, so it wasn't much. Even the Maginot line was overrated. There were gaps in the coverage. After the Germans broke through at Sedan, they also attacked the line in June of 1940, and easily broke through, but it must be remembered that the French were totally demorilzed at this time.
Were there any in North Africa?
At the start of the war, there were French fortifacations along the border of Tunisa/Libya. They ended up being used by the Germans in 1943 against the British. All others in North Africa were built after the start of hostlities. The Italians built some when they advanced into Eygpt at Sidi Barani, but the British broke them easily. The Brits built them around Tobruk, and they held in 1941, but fell in 1942. The British also had a line in Eygpt at El Alamein, but all of these were field forts, not pre-war affairs.
Supposedly the giant rail cannons firing 1 meter AP shells were used to smash the fortifications at Sevastapol. Were there other Russian fortresses (like Leningrad which was under seige)?
The rail guns were also used at Leningrad, but not for long. Both leningrad and Sevastapol built their defenses after the german attack began.
