207:
367:, manned by a company of the 179th Alpine Fortress Battalion along with personnel from several miscellaneous units of artillery and regional reserve forces. Contact was made between French and German forces at l'Écluse on 22 June. The French held off the Germans, destroying the railway viaduct in front of the fort on 24 June. The Germans did not press further action, with the armistice taking place on the 25th.
53:
222:, built in two stages in the first half of the nineteenth century. The fort was modernized with the Casemate du Tunnel, which guarded a road tunnel passing near the fort. The casemate was armed with two anti-tank gun, never installed, and automatic rifles. The upper portion of the fort mounted four 90mm guns.
148:, Petit-Montrond and Montets, and a demountable turret at Arbère. The positions in Haute-Savoie were replaced by a fortification at the Saint-Gingolph frontier with four demountable turrets, as well as a center of resistance with six blockhouses at Les Dranses covering the Les Epinches - Pont de la Douceur,
184:
on 24 June, then back to
Sevrier the next day. The field army unit assigned the sector was the First North African Infantry Division. From October 1939, some units were replaced by the 64th Infantry Division, then in turn by the 66th Infantry Division. The SD Rhône was disestablished on 15 July 1940,
39:. The area was not regarded as a likely point of invasion, owing to the neutrality of Switzerland and the extremely difficult terrain along the Italian portion of the border. It was therefore lightly fortified. Its chief fortified position was the 19th-century
298:, across the Fillère valley, a strategic rail passage. The line ended short of the Swiss border in accordance with treaty terms that forbade the construction of fortifications within a stipulated distance of the border. Other fortifications defended the
758:
197:
under the command of
Colonel Lanoyerie. Prior to mobilization in 1939, no active units were stationed in the sector. The sector includes, in order from north to south, the following sub-sectors and fortifications:
72:
in the high Alps that would bar most invasion routes, but the French command thought it prudent to undertake their own measures. An initial 1937 plan envisioned three areas of effort, building
Maginot-style
439:
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. The literal translation of
386:
and the 199th BCHM, as well as the attached II/440th
Pioneer battalion and the II/281st infantry battalion. Apart from the unit taken prisoner at the Fort l'Écluse, the remainder of the 230th moved to the
68:
The SD Rhône was largely ignored until 1939, when a belated program was initiated to deal with a potential invasion through Swiss territory. The French were aware that the Swiss were fortifying their
751:
152:- Les Cluses, and Martigney-Chamonix axes, each with two blockhouses. In the final event, even this program was considered unaffordable and unjustified, and was scaled back yet further.
744:
1340:
391:
area to regroup after the armistice. They ended up at Annecy on 17 July, and the regiment was dissolved on 31 July 1940. Active personnel were assigned to the Vichy French
370:
Since no orders had been given to the fort's garrison following the armistice, they remained in place, barring passage. The standoff continued until 30 June, when
General
136:
Since funding was more urgently needed on fronts that were obviously exposed, these proposals bore no fruit. A 1938 revision scaled the proposal back, replacing
967:
1335:
601:
704:
687:
656:
1062:
912:
855:
875:
719:
1314:
934:
670:
642:
1208:
360:
830:
815:
810:
356:
352:
306:) at Digny Saint-Clair, with another at La Balme de Thuy, as well as a blockhouse at the same location. A gallery was built at
917:
845:
820:
795:
69:
1150:
835:
1075:
880:
870:
865:
850:
840:
800:
785:
250:
1293:
1115:
1110:
805:
92:
were to be situated to the south of the lake, three armed with 75mm guns in casemates and one with a 75mm gun turret:
343:
in June 1940. However, German forces advanced along the Rhône valley from the north. In early June the 230th DBAF (a
960:
1268:
860:
825:
469:
in the main
Maginot Line often closely resembles a casemate, but is more lightly armed and can hold more occupants.
340:
374:, in charge of post-surrender French forces, ordered the unit to permit passage to the Germans, and to surrender.
1188:
1163:
987:
953:
907:
790:
1135:
1130:
1273:
1183:
1100:
1001:
277:
1223:
1140:
1120:
1095:
416:
1233:
1105:
1080:
1052:
1032:
388:
176:
in the Hôtel Beau-Rivage, then the Hôtel Jeanne-d'Arc from 2 September 1939. The command post moved to
172:. The SF Rhône was commanded by General Michal. The command post moved several times. It was first at
1278:
1248:
1243:
1238:
1173:
1158:
1027:
609:
27:) was the French military organization that in 1940 controlled the section of the French border with
245:: Interdiction of the road from Switzerland on the south side of the lake, with four blockhouses at
1218:
1193:
287:
219:
206:
56:
40:
1298:
1288:
1253:
1213:
1178:
1085:
1042:
141:
736:
238:
with a series of blockhouses defending strategic routes. The sub-sector was further subdivided.
1283:
1263:
1258:
1228:
1125:
1037:
1006:
996:
700:
683:
666:
652:
638:
371:
286:: The area around and to the east of Annecy was further divided into east and west sectors at
165:
1198:
1047:
269:
215:
161:
1168:
1090:
129:
351:
and Annecy. The German force was no less than
Panzergruppe von Kleist, composed of the
258:
1329:
1203:
1070:
1022:
210:
The Défile de l'Écluse with the Rhône River, with the reconstructed railroad viaduct.
945:
776:
44:
235:
169:
347:
of five battalions) was placed to block the German advance along a front between
976:
893:
364:
28:
339:
No action was taken by
Italian forces directly against the SD Rhône during the
403:
The Fort l'Écluse was purchased by a syndicate of nineteen communities of the
328:
295:
117:
A final location in the upper Arve valley, armed with 75mm guns in casemates:
299:
246:
145:
727:
307:
52:
680:
Hommes et
Ouvrages de la Ligne Maginot, Tome 4 - La fortification alpine.
448:
is a large fortification with a significant artillery component, while a
273:
231:
125:
407:
and is operated as a museum. It has been open to the public since 1995.
489:
465:
is an infantry shelter, sometimes underground or under earth cover. An
382:
The 230th DBAF was made up of five battalions, the 179th and the 189th
320:
181:
177:
149:
43:, manned by a small force, which held its strategic position against a
635:
Fortress France: The Maginot Line and French Defenses in World War II
348:
291:
173:
36:
647:
Kaufmann, J.E., Kaufmann, H.W., Jancovič-Potočnik, A. and Lang, P.
205:
51:
32:
949:
740:
276:, with two blockhouses at Thonon, two at Les Gets, and one at
84:
with a 75mm gun turret, located to the northeast of Lac Léman
140:
Crêt Mourex with a fortified position at the bottom of the
494:
Quand la France Surveillait les Cols Suisses (1815-1914)
444:
in the sense of a fortification in English is "work." A
319:
The Arve sub-sector faced Italy with one blockhouse at
144:, along with five blockhouses at Crêt Mourex, Riamont,
363:. The Fort l'Écluse blocked the German advance toward
160:
The Rhône sector was under the overall command of the
496:(in French) (243). Revue Historique des Armées: 65–70
180:, in the Hôtel de la Payde on 20 June 1940, then to
1307:
1149:
1061:
1015:
986:
926:
889:
772:
695:Mary, Jean-Yves; Hohnadel, Alain; Sicard, Jacques.
678:Mary, Jean-Yves; Hohnadel, Alain; Sicard, Jacques.
661:Mary, Jean-Yves; Hohnadel, Alain; Sicard, Jacques.
280:, with prepared battery positions along the way.
697:Hommes et Ouvrages de la Ligne Maginot, Tome 5.
663:Hommes et Ouvrages de la Ligne Maginot, Tome 2.
262:: Three blockhouses at La Chapelle d'Abondance.
961:
767:Fortifications of the French frontier in 1940
752:
435:English-language sources use the French term
8:
1341:French border defenses before World War II
968:
954:
946:
759:
745:
737:
551:
549:
539:
537:
535:
533:
531:
529:
59:, the chief fortification in the SD Rhône.
699:Paris, Histoire & Collections, 2009.
682:Paris, Histoire & Collections, 2009.
665:Paris, Histoire & Collections, 2001.
393:bataillon de chasseurs de la Haute-Savoie
302:- Annecy axis, with an infantry shelter (
290:. A line of 19 blockhouses extended from
1016:Fortified Sector of Savoy (La Maurienne)
234:sub-sector covered the territory around
218:valley, the sector consists only of the
480:
428:
202:Sub-sector of Faucille - Fort-l'Écluse
1151:Fortified Sector of the Maritime Alps
7:
841:SF Rohrbach (Maginot New Frontiers)
811:SF Montmédy (Maginot New Frontiers)
801:SF Maubeuge (Maginot New Frontiers)
649:The Maginot Line: History and Guide
193:The sector was manned by the 230th
892:(includes the Little Maginot Line/
633:Kaufmann, J.E. and Kaufmann, H.W.
419:, barring the Rhône in Switzerland
14:
1315:Defensive Organization of Corsica
796:SF Escaut (Maginot New Frontiers)
1063:Fortified Sector of the Dauphiné
773:Northern and northeastern France
361:13th Motorized Infantry Division
195:Demi-brigade Alpin de Forteresse
124:, interdicting the road between
488:Barros, Martin (15 June 2006).
384:batallions alpins de forteresse
268:: Blockhouses on the road from
168:, under the command of General
452:is smaller, with lighter arms.
249:, one at Le Locum and five at
1:
1336:Defensive Sector of the Rhône
490:"La Suisse sous surveillance"
21:Defensive Sector of the Rhône
323:, two at Saint-Roch, and an
185:after the French surrender.
16:French military organization
1357:
341:Italian invasion of France
988:Fortified Sector of Savoy
730:at Tempête sur les Alpes
637:, Stackpole Books, 2006.
582:Mary, Tome 5, pp. 115-116
359:Panzer Divisions and the
214:At a narrow point in the
49:for a week in June 1940.
25:Secteur Défensif du Rhône
831:SF Faulquemont (Maginot)
77:at strategic locations:
64:Concept and organization
651:, Pen and Sword, 2011.
257:Valley defenses of the
122:Ouvrage de l'Argentière
417:Fortress Saint-Maurice
315:Sub-sector of the Arve
226:Sub-sector of Chablais
211:
60:
1209:Baisse de Saint-Véran
980:(Little Maginot Line)
851:SF Haguenau (Maginot)
543:Mary, Tome 5, pp. 6-7
209:
55:
821:Thionville (Maginot)
816:SF Crusnes (Maginot)
591:Mary, Tome 5, p. 116
555:Mary, Tome 4, p. 123
278:Châtillon-sur-Cluses
266:Arve valley defenses
201:
112:Ouvrage Est des Gets
1294:Croupe du Réservoir
1116:Saint Ours Nord-est
1111:Fontvive Nord-ouest
890:Southeastern France
846:SF Vosges (Maginot)
826:SF Boulay (Maginot)
573:Mary, Tome 5, p. 91
288:Allonzier-la-Caille
164:, headquartered at
82:Ouvrage Crêt Mourex
1269:Col des Banquettes
918:SF Alpes-Maritimes
836:SF Sarre (Maginot)
212:
142:Col de la Faucille
102:Ouvrage la Douceur
61:
1323:
1322:
1189:Col du Caire Gros
1164:Col de la Valette
1076:Col de la Buffère
943:
942:
705:978-2-35250-127-5
688:978-2-915239-46-1
657:978-1-84884-068-3
372:Charles Huntziger
107:Ouvrage Epinacher
1348:
1136:Granges Communes
1131:Col de Restefond
970:
963:
956:
947:
761:
754:
747:
738:
733:
724:
709:
692:
675:
622:
621:
619:
617:
608:. Archived from
598:
592:
589:
583:
580:
574:
571:
565:
564:Kauffmann, p. 14
562:
556:
553:
544:
541:
524:
521:
515:
514:Kauffmann, p. 13
512:
506:
505:
503:
501:
485:
470:
459:
453:
433:
335:Battle of France
270:Thonon-les-Bains
162:Army of the Alps
70:National Redoubt
1356:
1355:
1351:
1350:
1349:
1347:
1346:
1345:
1326:
1325:
1324:
1319:
1303:
1145:
1101:Saint Ours Haut
1057:
1011:
990:(La Tarentaise)
982:
974:
944:
939:
928:
922:
891:
885:
774:
768:
765:
731:
722:
716:
707:
690:
673:
630:
625:
615:
613:
612:on 20 July 2011
600:
599:
595:
590:
586:
581:
577:
572:
568:
563:
559:
554:
547:
542:
527:
523:Kauffmann, p.20
522:
518:
513:
509:
499:
497:
487:
486:
482:
478:
473:
460:
456:
434:
430:
426:
413:
401:
380:
337:
317:
284:Annecy defenses
228:
204:
191:
158:
130:Col des Montets
66:
35:in the area of
17:
12:
11:
5:
1354:
1352:
1344:
1343:
1338:
1328:
1327:
1321:
1320:
1318:
1317:
1311:
1309:
1305:
1304:
1302:
1301:
1296:
1291:
1286:
1281:
1276:
1271:
1266:
1261:
1256:
1251:
1246:
1241:
1236:
1231:
1226:
1221:
1216:
1211:
1206:
1201:
1196:
1191:
1186:
1181:
1176:
1171:
1166:
1161:
1155:
1153:
1147:
1146:
1144:
1143:
1138:
1133:
1128:
1123:
1121:Saint Ours Bas
1118:
1113:
1108:
1103:
1098:
1096:Roche-la-Croix
1093:
1088:
1083:
1078:
1073:
1067:
1065:
1059:
1058:
1056:
1055:
1050:
1045:
1040:
1035:
1030:
1025:
1019:
1017:
1013:
1012:
1010:
1009:
1007:Redoute Ruinée
1004:
999:
993:
991:
984:
983:
975:
973:
972:
965:
958:
950:
941:
940:
938:
937:
931:
929:
924:
923:
921:
920:
915:
910:
905:
899:
897:
887:
886:
884:
883:
878:
876:SF Montbéliard
873:
868:
863:
858:
856:SF Lower Rhine
853:
848:
843:
838:
833:
828:
823:
818:
813:
808:
803:
798:
793:
788:
782:
780:
775:(includes the
770:
769:
766:
764:
763:
756:
749:
741:
735:
734:
725:
715:
714:External links
712:
711:
710:
693:
676:
659:
645:
629:
626:
624:
623:
602:"De nos jours"
593:
584:
575:
566:
557:
545:
525:
516:
507:
479:
477:
474:
472:
471:
454:
427:
425:
422:
421:
420:
412:
409:
400:
399:Present status
397:
379:
376:
336:
333:
316:
313:
312:
311:
281:
263:
259:Pas de Morgins
254:
253:on the border.
251:Saint-Gingolph
243:Léman defenses
227:
224:
203:
200:
190:
187:
157:
154:
134:
133:
115:
114:
109:
104:
99:
86:
85:
65:
62:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1353:
1342:
1339:
1337:
1334:
1333:
1331:
1316:
1313:
1312:
1310:
1306:
1300:
1297:
1295:
1292:
1290:
1287:
1285:
1282:
1280:
1277:
1275:
1272:
1270:
1267:
1265:
1262:
1260:
1257:
1255:
1252:
1250:
1247:
1245:
1242:
1240:
1237:
1235:
1234:Col de Brouis
1232:
1230:
1227:
1225:
1222:
1220:
1217:
1215:
1212:
1210:
1207:
1205:
1202:
1200:
1197:
1195:
1192:
1190:
1187:
1185:
1182:
1180:
1177:
1175:
1172:
1170:
1167:
1165:
1162:
1160:
1157:
1156:
1154:
1152:
1148:
1142:
1139:
1137:
1134:
1132:
1129:
1127:
1124:
1122:
1119:
1117:
1114:
1112:
1109:
1107:
1106:Plate Lombard
1104:
1102:
1099:
1097:
1094:
1092:
1089:
1087:
1084:
1082:
1081:Col du Granon
1079:
1077:
1074:
1072:
1069:
1068:
1066:
1064:
1060:
1054:
1053:Les Rochilles
1051:
1049:
1046:
1044:
1041:
1039:
1036:
1034:
1033:Saint-Antoine
1031:
1029:
1026:
1024:
1021:
1020:
1018:
1014:
1008:
1005:
1003:
1000:
998:
995:
994:
992:
989:
985:
981:
978:
971:
966:
964:
959:
957:
952:
951:
948:
936:
933:
932:
930:
925:
919:
916:
914:
911:
909:
906:
904:
901:
900:
898:
895:
888:
882:
879:
877:
874:
872:
869:
867:
864:
862:
859:
857:
854:
852:
849:
847:
844:
842:
839:
837:
834:
832:
829:
827:
824:
822:
819:
817:
814:
812:
809:
807:
804:
802:
799:
797:
794:
792:
789:
787:
784:
783:
781:
778:
771:
762:
757:
755:
750:
748:
743:
742:
739:
729:
728:Fort l'Écluse
726:
721:
720:Fort l'Écluse
718:
717:
713:
706:
702:
698:
694:
689:
685:
681:
677:
672:
671:2-908182-97-1
668:
664:
660:
658:
654:
650:
646:
644:
643:0-275-98345-5
640:
636:
632:
631:
627:
611:
607:
606:Fort l'Ecluse
603:
597:
594:
588:
585:
579:
576:
570:
567:
561:
558:
552:
550:
546:
540:
538:
536:
534:
532:
530:
526:
520:
517:
511:
508:
495:
491:
484:
481:
475:
468:
464:
458:
455:
451:
450:petit ouvrage
447:
443:
438:
432:
429:
423:
418:
415:
414:
410:
408:
406:
398:
396:
394:
390:
385:
377:
375:
373:
368:
366:
362:
358:
354:
350:
346:
342:
334:
332:
330:
326:
322:
314:
309:
305:
301:
297:
293:
289:
285:
282:
279:
275:
271:
267:
264:
261:
260:
255:
252:
248:
244:
241:
240:
239:
237:
233:
225:
223:
221:
220:Fort l'Écluse
217:
208:
199:
196:
188:
186:
183:
179:
175:
171:
167:
163:
155:
153:
151:
147:
143:
139:
131:
127:
123:
120:
119:
118:
113:
110:
108:
105:
103:
100:
98:
97:Ouvrage Boisy
95:
94:
93:
91:
83:
80:
79:
78:
76:
71:
63:
58:
57:Fort l'Écluse
54:
50:
48:
47:
42:
41:Fort l'Écluse
38:
34:
30:
26:
22:
1279:Col de Garde
1244:Champ de Tir
1239:Monte Grosso
1159:Col de Crous
1028:Saint-Gobain
1002:Cave-à-Canon
979:
902:
777:Maginot Line
696:
679:
662:
648:
634:
628:Bibliography
614:. Retrieved
610:the original
605:
596:
587:
578:
569:
560:
519:
510:
498:. Retrieved
493:
483:
466:
462:
457:
449:
446:gros ouvrage
445:
441:
436:
431:
404:
402:
392:
383:
381:
369:
345:demi-brigade
344:
338:
324:
318:
303:
283:
265:
256:
242:
229:
213:
194:
192:
159:
137:
135:
121:
116:
111:
106:
101:
96:
89:
87:
81:
74:
67:
45:
24:
20:
18:
1274:Saint-Agnès
1224:Col d'Agnon
1194:Col du Fort
1141:La Moutière
977:Alpine Line
913:SF Dauphiné
894:Alpine Line
871:SF Altkirch
866:SF Mulhouse
806:SD Ardennes
786:SF Flanders
732:(in French)
723:(in French)
708:(in French)
691:(in French)
674:(in French)
405:Pays de Gex
365:Albertville
189:Description
46:Panzerkorps
29:Switzerland
1330:Categories
1299:Cap Martin
1289:Roquebrune
1254:Saint-Roch
1214:Plan Caval
1179:Valdeblore
1086:Les Aittes
1043:Pas du Roc
935:OD Corsica
476:References
329:Vallorcine
296:Charvonnex
1284:Mont Agel
1264:Castillon
1259:Barbonnet
1249:L'Agaisen
1184:La Séréna
1174:Fressinéa
1126:Restefond
1038:Le Lavoir
997:Chatelard
861:SF Colmar
500:6 January
300:La Clusaz
247:Meillerie
236:Lac Léman
170:René Olry
146:Le Pailly
1219:La Béole
1199:Gordolon
1048:Arrondaz
908:SF Savoy
903:SD Rhône
791:SF Lille
411:See also
274:Les Gets
232:Chablais
128:and the
126:Martigny
90:ouvrages
75:ouvrages
1308:Corsica
1169:Rimplas
1091:Gondran
927:Corsica
881:SF Jura
616:1 March
442:ouvrage
437:ouvrage
389:Rumilly
321:Magland
182:Marthod
178:Sevrier
166:Valence
156:Command
150:Morzine
138:ouvrage
1229:La Déa
703:
686:
669:
655:
641:
349:Frangy
308:Thônes
292:Groisy
174:Annecy
37:Geneva
1204:Flaut
1071:Janus
1023:Sapey
424:Notes
378:Units
216:Rhône
88:Four
33:Italy
701:ISBN
684:ISBN
667:ISBN
653:ISBN
639:ISBN
618:2011
502:2011
467:abri
463:abri
355:and
325:abri
304:abri
230:The
31:and
19:The
461:An
357:4th
353:3rd
327:at
294:to
272:to
1332::
604:.
548:^
528:^
492:.
395:.
331:.
969:e
962:t
955:v
896:)
779:)
760:e
753:t
746:v
620:.
504:.
310:.
132:.
23:(
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