Ouvrage Les Rochilles
Encyclopedia
Ouvrage Les Rochilles is a lesser work (petit ouvrage) of the Maginot Line
's Alpine extension, the Alpine Line
, in the high Alps about 20 kilometres (12.4 mi) southwest of Modane
. The ouvrage consists of one entry block, two infantry blocks and one observation block. Unusually, it was built by the Main d'Oeuvre Militaire (MOM), rather than CORF (Commission pour l'Organisation des Régions Fortifiées), which built most of the larger positions. The design was by CORF.
Work began in 1931, but was not completed by 1940, when it was commanded by Lieutenant Curbaille.
The Camp des Rochilles is located nearby. Constructed 1902-1907, it is at an altitude of 2420 metres (7,939.6 ft). The barracks complex was connected to Plan-Lachat by an aerial tram. The advanced post of Aiguille Noire is a short distance to the south, with four machine gun embrasures.
Les Rochilles saw no significant action in 1940 or 1944.
Maginot Line
The Maginot Line , named after the French Minister of War André Maginot, was a line of concrete fortifications, tank obstacles, artillery casemates, machine gun posts, and other defences, which France constructed along its borders with Germany and Italy, in light of its experience in World War I,...
's Alpine extension, the Alpine Line
Alpine Line
The Alpine Line or Little Maginot Line was the component of the Maginot Line that defended the southeastern portion of France...
, in the high Alps about 20 kilometres (12.4 mi) southwest of Modane
Modane
Modane is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France.It was part of the Kingdom of Sardinia until 1860.-Transportation:...
. The ouvrage consists of one entry block, two infantry blocks and one observation block. Unusually, it was built by the Main d'Oeuvre Militaire (MOM), rather than CORF (Commission pour l'Organisation des Régions Fortifiées), which built most of the larger positions. The design was by CORF.
Work began in 1931, but was not completed by 1940, when it was commanded by Lieutenant Curbaille.
Description
- Block 1 (observation): One observation clocheVDP clocheThe VDP cloche was an element of the Maginot Line fortifications. A cloche was a fixed and non-retractable firing position made of a thick iron casting which shielded its occupant. By comparison, turrets could be rotated and sometimes lowered so that only the top shell was exposed. VDP cloches...
- Block 2 (infantry): one heavy twin machine gun embrasures covering the Col du FréjusCol du FréjusCol du Fréjus is a mountain pass in the Cottian Alps on the border between France and Italy. It connects Bardonecchia in Italy to Modane in France.The road over the pass is not paved, and most traffic was rerouted by the Fréjus Road Tunnel....
. - Block 3 (infantry): one heavy twin machine gun embrasures covering the Col du Fréjus.
- Entry: one machine gun embrasure.
- Emergency exit: one machine gun embrasure.
The Camp des Rochilles is located nearby. Constructed 1902-1907, it is at an altitude of 2420 metres (7,939.6 ft). The barracks complex was connected to Plan-Lachat by an aerial tram. The advanced post of Aiguille Noire is a short distance to the south, with four machine gun embrasures.
Les Rochilles saw no significant action in 1940 or 1944.