Ouvrage Pas du Roc
Encyclopedia
Ouvrage Pas du Roc is a work (gros ouvrage) of the Maginot Line
's Alpine extension, the Alpine Line
. The ouvrage consists of one entry blocks, one infantry block, two artillery blocks and one observation block 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) south of Modane
and 1.6 kilometre (0.994196378639691 mi) east of Ouvrage Le Lavoir
in the vicinity of the Col de Fréjus. The position was incomplete at the outbreak of war in 1940.
in 1940, Pas du Roc was the focus of an advance over the Italian border by the Italian Superga Division
. On 21 June the cable of the aerial tram was cut by the Italians. Pas-du-Roc opened fire with machine guns and mortars, while the advanced post of Fréjus directed the fire of the ouvrage. On 24 June 1940 the ouvrage was attacked. Supported by its neighbor, petit ouvrage Arrondaz
and others, the fort repelled the attack
After the 1940 armistice, Italian forces occupied the Alpine ouvrages and disarmed them. In August 1943, southern France was occupied by the German 19th Army
, which took over many of the Alpine positions that had been occupied by the Italians until Italy's withdrawal from the war in September 1943.
In 1944, Pas du Roc was recaptured relatively easily on 13 September, along with the other strongpoints around Modane. The Maurienne positions had suffered little damage during the war and by the end of 1944 were partly repaired and placed into service. Immediately after the war, the Maurienne region was regarded as an area of medium priority for restoration and reuse by the military. By the 1950s the positions in the Southeast of France were restored and operational again. However, by 1960, with France's acquisition of nuclear weapons, the cost and effectiveness of the Maginot system was called into question. Between 1964 and 1971 nearly all of the Maginot fortifications were deactivated.
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...
. The ouvrage consists of one entry blocks, one infantry block, two artillery blocks and one observation block 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) south 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:...
and 1.6 kilometre (0.994196378639691 mi) east of Ouvrage Le Lavoir
Ouvrage Le Lavoir
Ouvrage Le Lavoir Is a work of the Maginot Line's Alpine extension, the Alpine Line, also called the Little Maginot Line. The ouvrage consists of two entry blocks, one infantry block, three artillery blocks and one observation block south of Modane, France, guarding the Col de Fréjus...
in the vicinity of the Col de Fréjus. The position was incomplete at the outbreak of war in 1940.
Description
- Block 1 (infantry): One machine gun clocheGFM clocheThe GFM cloche was one of the most common defensive armaments on the Maginot Line. A cloche was a fixed and non-retractable firing position made of a thick iron casting which shielded its occupant...
, one grenade launcher clocheLG clocheThe LG cloche was a defensive element common to many Maginot Line ouvrages. The fixed cupola was deeply embedded into the concrete on top of a combat block, with only the top surface visible. The opening permitted the ejection of grenades from the interior of the cloche, providing a means of...
, two heavy twin machine gun clochesJM clocheThe JM cloche is an element of the Maginot Line. It is a non-retractable non-rotating cupola of steel alloy like GFM cloches, but are armed with twin heavy machine guns, as opposed to the lighter automatic rifles associated with the GFM. There are 179 JM cloches on the Maginot Line.JM is an acronym...
and one heavy twin machine gun embrasure. - Block 2 (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 3 (artillery): Two 75mm gun embrasures.
- Block 4 (artillery): One machine gun cloche, four 81mm mortar embrasures and one additional embrasure.
- Entrance block: One machine gun cloche (uncompleted), two of four machine gun embrasures completed.
- Aerial tram entry: An additional entry served the position by aerial tram from Pont Nua, not completed.
History
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 1940, Pas du Roc was the focus of an advance over the Italian border by the Italian Superga Division
1 Mountain Infantry Division Superga
1 Mountain Infantry Division Superga was an Infantry Division of the Italian Army during World War II. The Division was formed in 1940, and was part of the Italian I Corps during the Italian invasion of France....
. On 21 June the cable of the aerial tram was cut by the Italians. Pas-du-Roc opened fire with machine guns and mortars, while the advanced post of Fréjus directed the fire of the ouvrage. On 24 June 1940 the ouvrage was attacked. Supported by its neighbor, petit ouvrage Arrondaz
Ouvrage Arrondaz
Ouvrage Arrondaz is a lesser work of the Maginot Line's Alpine extension, the Alpine Line, also known as the Little Maginot Line. The ouvrage consists of one entry block, one infantry block, and one observation block fin the vicinity of the Col de Fréjus to the south of Modane at an altitude of...
and others, the fort repelled the attack
After the 1940 armistice, Italian forces occupied the Alpine ouvrages and disarmed them. In August 1943, southern France was occupied by the German 19th Army
19th Army (Germany)
The 19th Army was a World War II field army of the German Army .-History:Formed in August 1943 in occupied southern France from Armeegruppe Felber The 19th Army (German: 19. Armee) was a World War II field army of the German Army (Wehrmacht Heer).-History:Formed in August 1943 in occupied southern...
, which took over many of the Alpine positions that had been occupied by the Italians until Italy's withdrawal from the war in September 1943.
In 1944, Pas du Roc was recaptured relatively easily on 13 September, along with the other strongpoints around Modane. The Maurienne positions had suffered little damage during the war and by the end of 1944 were partly repaired and placed into service. Immediately after the war, the Maurienne region was regarded as an area of medium priority for restoration and reuse by the military. By the 1950s the positions in the Southeast of France were restored and operational again. However, by 1960, with France's acquisition of nuclear weapons, the cost and effectiveness of the Maginot system was called into question. Between 1964 and 1971 nearly all of the Maginot fortifications were deactivated.