The Maginot Line held historical significance during World War II as a defensive fortification built by France along its eastern border with Germany. Completed in the 1930s, it aimed to deter German aggression following World War I, featuring bunkers, artillery, and tunnels. However, its effectiveness was undermined when German forces bypassed the line by invading France through Belgium in May 1940. The failure to defend against this maneuver demonstrated the limitations of static defenses in modern warfare, leading to the fall of France. The Maginot Line symbolizes the challenges of military strategy and the unpredictability of warfare.