The Maginot surrenders

The armistice signed on 22 June 1940 came into force on the 25th. The great works of the Maginot Line, for the most part unconquered, found themselves in an unprecedented situation: they were ordered to cease fighting and surrender, even though they were still holding out and had not been taken by assault. For garrisons that had fought with pride, the order to capitulate was a wrench.

The commanders of the works faced one last choice. To obey the order to capitulate arising from the armistice, and hand over intact forts to an enemy that had not defeated them. To refuse and continue the fight, out of honour, in defiance of the armistice and at the risk of reprisals against all the prisoners. Or to negotiate the terms of the surrender (military honours, treatment of the men).

The bitterness was immense: to surrender a fortress one had not lost. But to disobey the armistice would expose the men and break discipline. It was the last, paradoxical act of a defeated army, part of which had remained unbeaten in the field.