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The Schuster Line (, ) was a line of barriers and barricades erected by the Luxembourg government along its borders with
The Schuster Line (, ) 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 lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...
and France
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
shortly before World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
. 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 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 – a contemporarydefense 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, s ...
in Belgium
* Maginot Line
The Maginot Line (; ), named after the Minister of War (France), French Minister of War André Maginot, is a line of concrete fortifications, obstacles and weapon installations built by French Third Republic, France in the 1930s to deter invas ...
– 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