User:Acroterion/SF Alpes Maritimes

The Fortified Sector of the Maritime Alps (Secteur Fortifié des Alpes-Maritimes) was the French military organization that in 1940 controlled the section of the Alpine Line portion of the Maginot Line facing Italy in the vicinity of Nice.

Concept and organization

Command

The Alpes-Maritimes sector was under the overall command of the French Army of the Alps, headquartered at Valence, under the command of General Olry. Subordinate to the Army of the Alps was the 15th Army Corps under General Montagne. The SF Alpes-Maritimes itself was commanded by General Magnien at Nice. The interval troops, the army formations that were to provide the mobile defense for the sector, to support and be supported by the fixed defenses, were the 65th Infantry Division, having succeeded the 29th Infantry Division in October 1939. Artillery support for the sector was provided by the 157th, 158th and 167th Position Artillery Regiments (Régiment d'Artillerie de Position (RAP)), which controlled both fixed and mobile artillery, commanded by Lt. Colonel Charnasson, Lt. Colonel Fournial and Colonel Carrour, respectively. The 29nd ID was made up of Class B reservists, not suited for sustained combat.^[1]

Description

The sector includes, in order from west to east, the following major fortified positions, together with the most significant casemates and infantry shelters in each sub-sector:^{[nb 1]}

The following subsectors were under the command of the 65th Infantry Division, General de Saint Julien, commander at Levens, and were considered an autonomous part of the Alpes-Maritimes sector.

Sub-Sector Mounier

Quartier Haut-Var

64th Alpine Fortress Batallion (64e Bataillon Alpin de Forteresse (BAF))

Ouvrage Col de Crous (C), incomplete petit ouvrage of four blocks
Avant-poste de Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage (SD), five connected blocks

CORF fortifications were planned but not built at the Col de Jallourges and the Col de Pal. The abri Peira-Grossa is located near the Col de Crous.^[1]

Quartier Beuil

Ouvrage Col de la Valette (V), incomplete petit ouvrage of four blocks
Avant-poste de Isola (IS), four connected blocks

Sub-sector Tinée-Vésubie

61st Alpine Fortress Demi-Brigade (61e Demi-Brigade Alpin de Forteresse (DBAF)), Lt. Colonel Marquilly, command post at Levens Sainte-Claire

Quartier Gaudissart

84th Alpine Fortress Batallion (84e Bataillon Alpin de Forteresse (BAF)),

Ouvrage Fressinéa (FA), petit ouvrage of three blocks
Ouvrage Rimplas (RS), gros ouvrage of five blocks and an entry block
Ouvrage Valdeblore (VE), petit ouvrage of three blocks
Avant-poste de Valbres Nord (VP), two connected blocks
Avant-poste de Valabres Sud (VA), one block
Casemate de Abelièra (O40)

Peacetime barracks and support:

Caserne Caussade
Caserne Leblanc

Additional positions include a casemate in the valley of the Tinée.

Quartier Tournairet-Vésubie

94th Alpine Fortress Batallion (94e Bataillon Alpin de Forteresse (BAF)),

Ouvrage La Séréna (LS), petit ouvrage of three blocks
Ouvrage Col du Caire Gros (CG), petit ouvrage of four blocks
Ouvrage Col du Fort (F), petit ouvrage of four blocks
Ouvrage Gordolon (GN), petit ouvrage of two blocks and an entry block
Ouvrage Flaut (FT), petit ouvrage of four blocks and an entry block

Avant-poste de Conchetas (OC), seven connected blocks
Avant-poste du Castel-Vieil (CV), four connected blocks
Avant-poste du Planet (LP), six connected blocks
Casemate de la Bollène Ouest (O33)
Casemate de la Bollène Est (O34)
Casemate de Chapelle Saint-Sauveur (O35)
Casemate de la Bolinette (O39)
Casemate de la Colletta Nord (O41)
Casemate de la Colletta Sud (O42)
Casemate de Berghin (O43)
Casemate du Collet (O44)

Peacetime barracks and support:

Casernement de Lantosque
Baraquement des Granges de la Brasque

Ouvrage Bas de Gordolon was planned but not built.

The following subsectors were considered the Alpes-Maritimes sector, proper, General Magnien, commander at Nice.

Sub-Sector Authion

75th Alpine Fortress Brigade (75e Demi-Brigade Alpin de Forteresse (DBAF)), Lt. Colonel Brun, command post at Peira-Cava

Quartier Forca

Ouvrage Baisse de Saint-Véran (BSV), petit ouvrage of three blocks, mostly incomplete
Avant-poste du Col-de-Raus (LP), five connected blocks
Blockhaus de la Pointe-des-Trois-Communes (PTC)

Blockhouses at La Forca and Mille-Fourches were never started.

Quartier Cabanes-Vielles

Ouvrage Plan Caval (PCV), petit ouvrage of five blocks and an entry, mostly incomplete
Ouvrage La Béole (BE), petit ouvrage of three blocks
Ouvrage La Déa (D), petit ouvrage of four blocks
Ouvrage Col d'Agnon (CA), petit ouvrage of four blocks
Casemate de la Baisse de Fighieras (O30)
Casemate de la Béole Est (O31)
Casemate de la Béole Ouest (O32)

Peacetime barracks and support:

Casernement de Peira-Cava (Caserne Crénant)
Baraquement du Camp d'Argent
Baraquement des Cabanes-Vielles
Baraquement du Plan-Caval
Baraquement de la Tête de l'Authion

Ouvrage Arbion was planned but not built.

Sub-sector of Sospel

40th Alpine Fortress Demi-Brigade (40e Régiment d'Infanterie de Forteresse (DBAF)), Lt. Colonel Sauvajon, command post at the Col de Braus

Quartier Brouis

Ouvrage Col de Brouis, petit ouvrage EO1
Ouvrage Monte Grosso, gros ouvrage EO2 of nineteen combat blocks
Avant-poste de la Croix-de-Cougoule (CC), four connected blocks

Quartier Braus

Ouvrage L'Agaisen, gros ouvrage (AN) EO3 of three combat blocks
Ouvrage Champ de Tir, petit ouvrage (CT) EO4
Ouvrage Saint-Roch, gros ouvrage (SRH) EO5 of three combat blocks and an entry
Ouvrage Barbonnet, gros ouvrage (BT) EO6 of nineteen combat blocks
Avant-poste des Castes-Ruines (CR), five connected blocks
Casemate du Golf-de-Sospel (GS)
Casemate de Barbonnet Sud (O20)
Casemate de Campaost (O21)
Casemate de Bévéra (O22)
Casemate de la Place Gianotti (O23)
Casemate de Saint-Christophe Sud (O24)
Casemate de Saint-Christophe Nord (O25)
Casemate d'Oréglia (O52)

The Ouvrage du Vallon de la Nieva was proposed but not built. Casemates Nieya Sud (O28), Cantamerle Nord (O27), Cantamerle Sud (O26) and La Lavina (O19) were not built..

Sub-sector of Corniches

40th Alpine Fortress Demi-Brigade (40e Demi-Brigade Alpin de Forteresse (DBAF)), Lt. Colonel Mercier de Sainte-Croix, command post at La Turbie

Quartier Castillon

76th Alpine Fortress Battallion (76e Bataillon Alpin de Forteresse (BAF))

Ouvrage Castillon, gros ouvrage (CN) EO8 of four combat blocks and an entry
Observatoire du Pic-de-Garuche (PG), two blocks
Avant-poste Baisse-de-Scuvion (BS), three blocks
Avant-poste de Pierre-Pontue (PP), five blocks

Casemate de Saint-Ouen Sud, O16
Casemate de Pistola Sud, O17
Casemate de Pistola Nord, O18
Casemate du Cote 942 Nord, O49
Casemate d'Avellan Sud, O50

^[1]

The Ouvrage Cote 902 was planned but not built to the eat of Pic-de-Garuche. A command post was established there instead.

Quartier Sainte-Agnès

86th Alpine Fortress Battalion (86e Bataillon Alpin de Forteresse (BAF))

Ouvrage Col des Banquettes, petit ouvrage EO7 (BQ)
Ouvrage Sainte-Agnès, gros ouvrage EO9 (SAG)
Ouvrage Col de Garde, petit ouvrage EO10 of two combat blocks (G)
Ouvrage Mont Agel, gros ouvrage EO11 of nineteen combat blocks (MAG)
Avant-poste de la Péna (PE), three blocks
Avant-poste de la Colletta (LC), five blocks

Casemate de Gorbio Sud, O12
Casemate de Gorbio Nord, O13
Casemate de Madone de Gorbio Sud, O45
Casemate de Madone de Gorbio Nord, O46
Observatoire Est de Mont-Agel
Point d'appui de Castellar

^[1]

Quartier Menton

96th Alpine Fortress Battallion (96e Bataillon Alpin de Forteresse (BAF))

Ouvrage Roquebrune, gros ouvrage EO13 (RQ)
Ouvrage Croupe du Réservoir, petit ouvrage EO14 of two combat blocks (CDR)
Ouvrage Cap Martin, gros ouvrage EO15 of nineteen combat blocks

Avant-poste du Collet-du-Pilon (CP),five blocks
Avant-poste du Pont-Saint-Louis (PSL)
Casemate du Tunnel du Cap-Martin, O1
Casemate de Vesqui Sud, O3
Casemate de Vesqui Nord, O4
Observatiore du Mont-Gros-de-Roquebrune (MGR)

^[1]

History

Battle of France

^[4]

Present status

Several ouvrages in the sector have been preserved. Cap Martin,^[5] Sainte-Agnès,^[6] Barbonnet,^[7] Saint-Roch,^[7] L'Agaisen,^[8] Fressinéa^[9] and Rimplas^[10] may all be visited or are in the process of preservation. The avant-post at Pont Saint Louis is open as well.^[5] Ouvrage Mont Agel is part of Nice Air Base, which provides military air traffic control and surveillance for southern France.^[11]

Notes

^ English-language sources use the French term ouvrage as the preferred term for the Maginot positions, in preference to "fort", a term usually reserved for older fortifications with passive defenses in the form of walls and ditches.^[2] The literal translation of ouvrage in the sense of a fortification in English is "work." A gros ouvrage is a large fortification with a significant artillery component, while a petit ouvrage is smaller, with lighter arms. ^[3]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Mary, Tome 5, pp. 45-46
^ Kauffmann, J.E. (2006). Fortress France: The Maginot Line and French Defenses in World War II. Westport, CT: Praeger Security International. p. 13. ISBN 0-275-98345-5. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
^ Kauffmann, p.20
^ Mary, Jean-Yves (2009). Hommes et Ouvrages de la Ligne Maginot, Tome 5 (in French). Histoire & Collections. pp. 136–137. ISBN 978-2-35250-127-5. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
^ ^a ^b "Ouvrage du Cap-Martin" (in French). Amicorf. 18 December 2006. Retrieved 14 July 2010. Cite error: The named reference "amicorf3" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
^ "Fort de Sainte-Agnès (06)" (in French). Chemins de mèmoire. Retrieved 18 January 2010.
^ ^a ^b "Fort du Barbonnet" (in French). Sospel Tourisme. 2006. Retrieved 26 January 2010. Cite error: The named reference "sospel1" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
^ "Visit". Mount Agaisen Fortress. Jean-Christian Aime. 2003. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
^ "Ouvrage de la Frassinea". Les Sentinelles des Alpes (in French). Association Grande Traversée des Alpes. 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
^ "Fermeture au Public" (in French). Les Amis de l'Ouvrage Maginot de la Madeleine. 2009. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
^ "Le Centre de Detection et de Controle 05.943: Missions" (in French). French Ministry of Defense. 2 April 2008. Retrieved 25 January 2010.

External links

[4] English-language sources use the French term ouvrage as the preferred term for the Maginot positions, in preference to "fort", a term usually reserved for older fortifications with passive defenses in the form of walls and ditches.^[2] The literal translation of ouvrage in the sense of a fortification in English is "work." A gros ouvrage is a large fortification with a significant artillery component, while a petit ouvrage is smaller, with lighter arms. ^[3]

[hetou5-2-1] Mary, Tome 5, pp. 45-46

[kauffmann1-2] Kauffmann, J.E. (2006). Fortress France: The Maginot Line and French Defenses in World War II. Westport, CT: Praeger Security International. p. 13. ISBN 0-275-98345-5. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)

[3] Kauffmann, p.20

[hetou5-1-5] Mary, Jean-Yves (2009). Hommes et Ouvrages de la Ligne Maginot, Tome 5 (in French). Histoire & Collections. pp. 136–137. ISBN 978-2-35250-127-5. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)

[amicorf3-6] "Ouvrage du Cap-Martin" (in French). Amicorf. 18 December 2006. Retrieved 14 July 2010. Cite error: The named reference "amicorf3" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).

[chemins-7] "Fort de Sainte-Agnès (06)" (in French). Chemins de mèmoire. Retrieved 18 January 2010.

[sospel1-8] "Fort du Barbonnet" (in French). Sospel Tourisme. 2006. Retrieved 26 January 2010. Cite error: The named reference "sospel1" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).

[agaisen0-9] "Visit". Mount Agaisen Fortress. Jean-Christian Aime. 2003. Retrieved 1 February 2010.

[agta1-10] "Ouvrage de la Frassinea". Les Sentinelles des Alpes (in French). Association Grande Traversée des Alpes. 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2010.

[amis1-11] "Fermeture au Public" (in French). Les Amis de l'Ouvrage Maginot de la Madeleine. 2009. Retrieved 1 February 2010.

[ba943-2-12] "Le Centre de Detection et de Controle 05.943: Missions" (in French). French Ministry of Defense. 2 April 2008. Retrieved 25 January 2010.

[1]

[nb 1]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[2]

[3]

v t e Alpine Line (Little Maginot Line)
Fortified Sector of Savoy (La Tarentaise)	Chatelard Cave-à-Canon Redoute Ruinée
Fortified Sector of Savoy (La Maurienne)	Sapey Saint-Gobain Saint-Antoine Le Lavoir Pas du Roc Arrondaz Les Rochilles
Fortified Sector of the Dauphiné	Janus Col de la Buffère Col du Granon Les Aittes Gondran Roche-la-Croix Saint Ours Haut Plate Lombard Fontvive Nord-ouest Saint Ours Nord-est Saint Ours Bas Restefond Col de Restefond Granges Communes La Moutière
Fortified Sector of the Maritime Alps	Col de Crous Col de la Valette Rimplas Fressinéa Valdeblore La Séréna Col du Caire Gros Col du Fort Gordolon Flaut Baisse de Saint-Véran Plan Caval La Béole Col d'Agnon La Déa Col de Brouis Monte Grosso Champ de Tir L'Agaisen Saint-Roch Barbonnet Castillon Col des Banquettes Saint-Agnès Col de Garde Mont Agel Roquebrune Croupe du Réservoir Cap Martin
Corsica	Defensive Organization of Corsica