Editing Maginot Line (section)

== Manning ==
Maginot Line fortifications were manned by specialist units of fortress infantry, artillery and engineers. The infantry manned the lighter weapons of the fortresses and formed units with the mission of operating outside if necessary. Artillery troops operated the heavy guns, and the engineers were responsible for maintaining and operating other specialist equipment, including all communications systems. All these troops wore distinctive uniform insignia and considered themselves among the elite of the French Army. During peacetime, fortresses were only partly manned by full-time troops. They would be supplemented by reservists who lived in the local area and who could be quickly mobilised in an emergency.{{sfn|Allcorn|2003|p=43}}

Full-time Maginot Line troops were accommodated in [[barracks]] built close to the fortresses. They were also accommodated in complexes of wooden housing adjacent to each fortress, which were more comfortable than living inside, but were not expected to survive wartime bombardment.{{sfn|Allcorn|2003|p=44}} The training was carried out at a fortress near the town of [[Bitche]] in [[Moselle (department)|Moselle]] in [[Lorraine]], built in a military training area and so capable of live fire exercises. This was impossible elsewhere as the other parts of the line were located in civilian areas.{{sfn|Allcorn|2003|p=44}}