Defensive Sector of the Rhône
Encyclopedia
The Defensive Sector of the Rhône (Secteur Défensif du Rhône) was the French military organization that in 1940 controlled the section of the French border with Switzerland
and Italy
in the area of Geneva
. 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 Fort l'Écluse
, manned by a small force, which held its strategic position against a Panzerkorps for a week in June 1940.
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 ouvrages at strategic locations:
Four ouvrages were to be situated to the south of the lake, three armed with 75mm guns in casemates and one with a 75mm gun turret:
A final location in the upper Arve valley, armed with 75mm guns in casemates:
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 ouvrage Crêt Mourex with a fortified position at the bottom of the Col de la Faucille
, along with five blockhouses at Crêt Mourex, Riamont, Le Pailly
, 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, Morzine
- 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.
, under the command of General René Olry
. The SF Rhône was commanded by General Michal. The command post moved several times. It was first at Annecy
in the Hôtel Beau-Rivage, then the Hôtel Jeanne-d'Arc from 2 September 1939. The command post moved to Sevrier
, in the Hôtel de la Payde on 20 June 1940, then to Marthod
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, after the French surrender.
At a narrow point in the Rhône valley, the sector consists only of the Fort l'Écluse
, 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.
sub-sector covered the territory around Lac Léman with a series of blockhouses defending strategic routes. The sub-sector was further subdivided.
, two at Saint-Roch, and an abri at Vallorcine
.
in June 1940. However, German forces advanced along the Rhône valley from the north. In early June the 230th DBAF (a demi-brigade of fivebattalions) was placed to block the German advance along a front between Frangy
and Annecy. The German force was no less than Panzergruppe von Kleist, composed of the 3rd and 4th Panzer Divisions and the 13th Motorized Infantry Division
. The Fort l'Écluse blocked the German advance toward Albertville
, 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.
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 Charles Huntziger
, in charge of post-surrender French forces, ordered the unit to permit passage to the Germans, and to surrender.
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 bataillon de chasseurs de la Haute-Savoie.
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
in the area of Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
. 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 Fort l'Écluse
Fort l'Ecluse
The Fort l'Écluse is close to the village of Collonges, Ain in Eastern France. It commands the Rhone valley and is a natural entrance into France from Switzerland between the Vuache hills and the Jura Mountains....
, manned by a small force, which held its strategic position against a Panzerkorps for a week in June 1940.
Concept and organization
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 National RedoubtNational Redoubt (Switzerland)
The Swiss National Redoubt was a defensive plan developed by the Swiss government beginning in the 1880s to respond to foreign invasion. In the opening years of World War II the plan was expanded and refined to deal with a potential German invasion. The German plan, Operation Tannenbaum, was real,...
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 ouvrages at strategic locations:
- Ouvrage Crêt Mourex with a 75mm gun turret, located to the northeast of Lac Léman
Four ouvrages were to be situated to the south of the lake, three armed with 75mm guns in casemates and one with a 75mm gun turret:
- Ouvrage Boisy
- Ouvrage la Douceur
- Ouvrage Epinacher
- Ouvrage Est des Gets
A final location in the upper Arve valley, armed with 75mm guns in casemates:
- Ouvrage de l'Argentière, interdicting the road between Martigny and the Col des MontetsCol des MontetsCol des Montets is a mountain pass in the French Alps in the Haute-Savoie department of France. It is on the road between Chamonix and Martigny in the canton of Valais, Switzerland.It lies between the Swiss Col de la Forclaz and Chamonix....
.
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 ouvrage Crêt Mourex with a fortified position at the bottom of the Col de la Faucille
Col de la Faucille
Col de la Faucille is a high mountain pass in the department of Ain in the French Jura. It connects the town of Gex in Ain to the towns of Les Rousses and Saint-Claude in the department of Jura....
, along with five blockhouses at Crêt Mourex, Riamont, Le Pailly
Le Pailly
Le Pailly is a commune in the Haute-Marne department in north-eastern France....
, 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, Morzine
Morzine
Morzine is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in eastern France with panoramic mountain views, modern ski facilities and hotels and restaurants. The ski resort of Avoriaz is located on the territory of the commune...
- 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.
Command
The Rhône sector was under the overall command of the Army of the Alps, headquartered at ValenceValence, Drôme
Valence is a commune in southeastern France, the capital of the Drôme department, situated on the left bank of the Rhône, south of Lyon on the railway to Marseilles.Its inhabitants are called Valentinois...
, under the command of General René Olry
René Olry
René-Henri OlryCLH was a French general and commander of the Army of the Alps during the Battle of France of World War II.-Early life:Olry was born on 28 June 1880 in Lille in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France....
. The SF Rhône was commanded by General Michal. The command post moved several times. It was first at Annecy
Annecy
Annecy is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It lies on the northern tip of Lake Annecy , 35 kilometres south of Geneva.-Administration:...
in the Hôtel Beau-Rivage, then the Hôtel Jeanne-d'Arc from 2 September 1939. The command post moved to Sevrier
Sevrier
Sévrier is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It is located on the north-western banks of Lake Annecy...
, in the Hôtel de la Payde on 20 June 1940, then to Marthod
Marthod
Marthod is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France....
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, after the French surrender.
Description
The sector was manned by the 230th Demi-brigade Alpin de Forteresse 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:Sub-sector of Faucille - Fort-l'Écluse
Fort l'Ecluse
The Fort l'Écluse is close to the village of Collonges, Ain in Eastern France. It commands the Rhone valley and is a natural entrance into France from Switzerland between the Vuache hills and the Jura Mountains....
, 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.
Sub-sector of Chablais
The ChablaisChablais
Chablais was a province of the Duchy of Savoy. Its capital was Thonon-les-Bains.This region is currently divided into three territories, the Chablais savoyard, the Chablais valaisan, and the Chablais vaudois, and is now split across two countries: France and Switzerland...
sub-sector covered the territory around Lac Léman with a series of blockhouses defending strategic routes. The sub-sector was further subdivided.
- Léman defenses: Interdiction of the road from Switzerland on the south side of the lake, with four blockhouses at MeillerieMeillerieMeillerie is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
, one at Le Locum and five at Saint-GingolphSaint-Gingolph, Haute-SavoieSaint-Gingolph is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-See also:* Saint-Gingolph* Saint-Gingolph, Switzerland*Communes of the Haute-Savoie department-References:*...
on the border. - Valley defenses of the Pas de MorginsPas de MorginsPas de Morgins is a high mountain pass in the Alps between the canton of Valais in Switzerland and France. It is located at the top of the Val de Morgins, which turns off the Val d'Illiez at Troistorrents....
: Three blockhouses at La Chapelle d'Abondance. - Arve valley defenses: Blockhouses on the road from Thonon-les-BainsThonon-les-BainsThonon-les-Bains is a town in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-History:...
to Les GetsLes GetsLes Gets is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.The village's first single person chair lift was opened in 1938 with the first chair lift on Mont Chery in 1954.-Geography:...
, with two blockhouses at Thonon, two at Les Gets, and one at Châtillon-sur-ClusesChâtillon-sur-ClusesChâtillon-sur-Cluses is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
, with prepared battery positions along the way. - Annecy defenses: The area around and to the east of Annecy was further divided into east and west sectors at Allonzier-la-CailleAllonzier-la-CailleAllonzier-la-Caille is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
. A line of 19 blockhouses extended from GroisyGroisyGroisy is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
to CharvonnexCharvonnexCharvonnex is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
, across the Fillère valley, a strategic rail passage. The line ended short of the Swiss border in accordance with teaty terms that forbade the cosntruction of fortifications within a stipulated distance of the border. Other fortifications defended the La ClusazLa ClusazLa Clusaz is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-Overview:It is a ski resort in the Alps near the Swiss border. The commune of La Clusaz is part of the Haute-Savoie département. An old village, La Clusaz has been hosting winter sports since 1907...
- Annecy axis, with an infantry shelter (abri) 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 ThônesThônesThônes is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-Geography:The Fier flows northwestward through the middle of the commune and crosses the village.-References:*...
.
Sub-sector of the Arve
The Arve sub-sector faced Italy with one blockhouse at MaglandMagland
Magland is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
, two at Saint-Roch, and an abri at Vallorcine
Vallorcine
Vallorcine is a municipality in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes State in south-eastern France.-Geography:Located at the foot of the Mont Blanc Vallorcine is a tiny and so far unspoilt little ski village located within the Chamonix Valley and forming part of the Domaine de Balme ski...
.
Battle of France
No action was taken by Italian forces directly against the SD Rhône during the Italian invasion of FranceItalian invasion of France
The Italian invasion of France in June 1940 was a small-scale invasion that started near the end of the Battle of France during World War II. The goal of the Italian offensive was to take control of the Alps mountain range and the region around Nice, and to win the colonies in North Africa...
in June 1940. However, German forces advanced along the Rhône valley from the north. In early June the 230th DBAF (a demi-brigade of fivebattalions) was placed to block the German advance along a front between Frangy
Frangy
Frangy is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-Culture and heritage:* :fr:Ferme de Bel-Air, heritage protection as Monument historique since December 7, 2010. région level importance, formerly called "Inventaire Supplémentaire des Monuments...
and Annecy. The German force was no less than Panzergruppe von Kleist, composed of the 3rd and 4th Panzer Divisions and the 13th Motorized Infantry Division
13th Panzer Division (Germany)
The 13th Panzer Division was originally created in 1934 under the cover name Infanterieführer IV; it was unveiled as the 13th Infantry Division in 1935 when the creation of the Wehrmacht was announced...
. The Fort l'Écluse blocked the German advance toward Albertville
Albertville
Albertville is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.The town is best known for hosting the 1992 Winter Olympics.-Geography:...
, 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.
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 Charles Huntziger
Charles Huntziger
Charles Huntziger was a French Army general during World War I and World War II.Born at Lesneven , he graduated from Saint-Cyr in 1900 and joined the colonial infantry. During World War I he served in the Middle Eastern theatre. He was chief of staff of operations of the Allied Expeditionary Force...
, in charge of post-surrender French forces, ordered the unit to permit passage to the Germans, and to surrender.
Units
The 230th DBAF was made up of five battalions, the 179th and the 189th batallions alpins de forteresse 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 RumillyRumilly, Haute-Savoie
Rumilly is a commune of over 12000 inhabitants in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-Geography:The Chéran forms part of the commune's eastern border, crosses the village, flows north-northwestward through the northern part of the commune, then flows into...
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 bataillon de chasseurs de la Haute-Savoie.
Present status
The Fort l'Écluse was purchased by a syndicate of nineteen communities of the Pays de Gex and is operated as a museum. It has been open to the public since 1995.External links
- Fort l'Écluse
- Fort l'Écluse at Tempête sur les Alpes