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The Schuster Line ( lb, Schuster-Linn) was a line of barriers and barricades erected by the Luxembourg government along its borders with
The Schuster Line ( lb, Schuster-Linn) was a line of barriers and barricades erected by the Luxembourg government along its borders with Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
and France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...
shortly before World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
. The line was named after Joseph Schuster, Luxembourg's chief engineer of bridges and highways, who was responsible for its construction.
The Schuster Line consisted of 41 sets of concrete blocks and iron gates; 18 bridgeblocks on the German border, and five roadblocks on the French border. The roadblocks were set up a mile inland in a zigzag pattern, covered by barbed wire entanglements on either side. Nine radio outposts were erected along the German border, with a central receiving station in the St Espirit barracks in the capital.
The line failed significantly to slow the German advance during the invasion of Luxembourg
Luxembourg ( ; lb, Lëtzebuerg ; french: link=no, Luxembourg; german: link=no, Luxemburg), officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, ; french: link=no, Grand-Duché de Luxembourg ; german: link=no, Großherzogtum Luxemburg is a small land ...
on 10 May 1940. The iron gates were knocked down and ramps were built over the concrete blockades to drive over them; some were blown up.Jean Milmeister: ''Sturm auf die "Schusterlinie.".'' In: ''Letzeburger Sonndesblad.'' Band 113, Nr. 19, 1980, S. 6.
See also
*K-W Line
The Koningshooikt—Wavre Line, abbreviated to KW Line (french: Ligne KW; nl, KW-stelling) and often known as the Dyle Line after the Dijle (Dyle) river, was a -long fortified line of defence prepared by the Belgian Army between Koningshooikt ...
– a contemporary defense line
A defense line or fortification line is a geographically-recognizable line of troops and armament, fortified and set up to protect a high-value location or defend territory.
A defense line may be based on natural difficult terrain features, su ...
in Belgium
* Maginot Line – a contemporary defense line in France
References
Further reading
* Nilles, Léon N.: "Die Schusterlinie: Ein Betonklotz gegen die Wehrmacht." In: ''Lëtzebuerger Journal'' 53 (2000), Nr. 88 (9. May), pp. 10–11. OCLC 54517360 * Milmeister, Jean: "Sturm auf die "Schusterlinie." In: ''Letzeburger Sonndesblad'' 113 (1980), Nr.19, p. 6. {{Authority control Luxembourg in World War II World War II defensive lines Germany–Luxembourg border