Ouvrage Rimplas
Encyclopedia
Ouvrage Rimplas is a work (gros ouvrage) of the Maginot Line
's Alpine extension, the Alpine Line
, known also as the Little Maginot Line. The ouvrage consists of one entry block, two infantry blocks and three artillery blocks at an altitude of 986 metres (3,234.9 ft). It was the first ouvrage of any portion of the Maginot Line to be completed, in 1928. The ouvrage features an aerial tram entrance.
Located on a height to the southwest of Rimplas
, the position was originally called Ouvrage de la Madeleine. While it was a prototype for later work, it is not entirely typical of Maginot fortifications, with large expanses of wall armored with 20 cm steel plate and other sections overlaid with stone masonry. The construction encountered problems with soil consistency and water infiltration. The underground portion of the ouvrage, containing the ammunition magazines, living quarters, command spaces, generating plant and communication galleries between the combat blocks covers three levels. Rimplas stands on a prominent height above the Tinée
and Valdeblore valleys before their streams join to form the river Var. It is supported by the petits ouvrages of Fressinéa and Valdeblore
, all planned to control the approaches to Nice
along the Var.
Work begain in November 1930 and was completed in April 1934, initially performed by a contractor named Faraut and completed by Contesso, at a cost of 34.2 million francs, including 1.7 million francs for the aerial tram. The final cost was four times the initial estimate, making Rimplas the second most expensive position (after Monte Grosso
) in the Alpine Line. Difficulties with the friable nature of the rock required that some rock faces be concreted or covered with masonry to stabilize them. The project went through three major design changes before completion. The ouvrage was fully equipped and operational in August 1937. In 1940 the position was commanded by Captain Toussaint.
Rimplas was accessed by a single-cable aerial tram with a length of 872 metres (2,860.9 ft) and a rise of 602 metres (1,975.1 ft), leading directly into its own entrance block. The underground galleries were unusually laid out on two levels, with ammunition on the lower level and accommodations on the upper.
Rimplas was associated with the following avant-postes:
Seven small observation posts reported to Rimplas, including Caire-Gros, Pinéa, Fraccia-Roure Haut and Fraccia-Roure Bas.
in June 1940 against the Italian Livorno Division, which crossed the frontier at Isola
. The Italians were stopped at Doanes, and Rimplas took no direct part in the fighting. Some of Rimplas' armament was confiscated by Italian forces following the armistice of 25 June 1940. It was partly re-armed in 1947 and maintained until 1972, when it was sold to the commune of Rimplas. It was then used to grow mushrooms, the resultant humidity causing moisture damage. Ownership was transferred to the General Council of the Alpes-Maritimes
with plans to make Rimplas a "place of memory." "Les Amis de l’Ouvrage Maginot de la Madeleine" undertook restoration work and the ouvrage is open during summer months,
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...
, known also as the Little Maginot Line. The ouvrage consists of one entry block, two infantry blocks and three artillery blocks at an altitude of 986 metres (3,234.9 ft). It was the first ouvrage of any portion of the Maginot Line to be completed, in 1928. The ouvrage features an aerial tram entrance.
Located on a height to the southwest of Rimplas
Rimplas
Rimplas is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France.-References:*...
, the position was originally called Ouvrage de la Madeleine. While it was a prototype for later work, it is not entirely typical of Maginot fortifications, with large expanses of wall armored with 20 cm steel plate and other sections overlaid with stone masonry. The construction encountered problems with soil consistency and water infiltration. The underground portion of the ouvrage, containing the ammunition magazines, living quarters, command spaces, generating plant and communication galleries between the combat blocks covers three levels. Rimplas stands on a prominent height above the Tinée
Tinée
The Tinée is a river that flows through the Alpes-Maritimes department of southeastern France. Its source is on the east side of the Col de la Bonette, in the Maritime Alps. It flows through Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée, Isola and Saint-Sauveur-sur-Tinée, and it flows into the Var near Utelle.-External...
and Valdeblore valleys before their streams join to form the river Var. It is supported by the petits ouvrages of Fressinéa and Valdeblore
Ouvrage Valdeblore
Ouvrage Valdeblore is a lesser work of the Maginot Line's Alpine extension, the Alpine Line. The ouvrage consists of one entry block, one infantry artillery block and one observation block at an altitude of...
, all planned to control the approaches to Nice
Nice
Nice is the fifth most populous city in France, after Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Toulouse, with a population of 348,721 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Nice extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of more than 955,000 on an area of...
along the Var.
Work begain in November 1930 and was completed in April 1934, initially performed by a contractor named Faraut and completed by Contesso, at a cost of 34.2 million francs, including 1.7 million francs for the aerial tram. The final cost was four times the initial estimate, making Rimplas the second most expensive position (after Monte Grosso
Ouvrage Monte Grosso
Ouvrage Monte Grosso is a 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, four artillery blocks and two observation blocks facing Italy...
) in the Alpine Line. Difficulties with the friable nature of the rock required that some rock faces be concreted or covered with masonry to stabilize them. The project went through three major design changes before completion. The ouvrage was fully equipped and operational in August 1937. In 1940 the position was commanded by Captain Toussaint.
Description
- Block 1 (artillery): 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 embrasures and one 81mm mortar embrasure. - Block 2 (infantry): one machine gun embrasure.
- Block 3 (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...
and one heavy twin machine gun embrasure. - Block 4 (artillery): 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...
, one heavy twin machine gun clocheJM 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 three 75mm gun embrasures, covering the Tinée valley. - Block 5 (artillery): 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...
, one machine gun cloche and three 75mm gun embrasures, covering the Valdeblore valley.
Rimplas was accessed by a single-cable aerial tram with a length of 872 metres (2,860.9 ft) and a rise of 602 metres (1,975.1 ft), leading directly into its own entrance block. The underground galleries were unusually laid out on two levels, with ammunition on the lower level and accommodations on the upper.
Rimplas was associated with the following avant-postes:
- Valabres Nord (Principal), built 1932 along the Tinée road beyond Fressinéa 44°07′48.78"N 07°05′57.22"E with three blocks and 20 men. Block 1, entry, Block 2, along the road with one Parmat cloche containing a machine gun, and Block 3, a machine gun casemate. Small galleries extend under the road, and a small, separate block called Valabres Sud covers what was once a side road (now the main road) with a garrison of 17 men and a machine gun.
Seven small observation posts reported to Rimplas, including Caire-Gros, Pinéa, Fraccia-Roure Haut and Fraccia-Roure Bas.
History
Rimplas took a small part in France's resistance to 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 against the Italian Livorno Division, which crossed the frontier at Isola
Isola, Alpes-Maritimes
Isola is a commune of the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France. By April 2010 Isola is officially twinned with Castiglione di Garfagnana....
. The Italians were stopped at Doanes, and Rimplas took no direct part in the fighting. Some of Rimplas' armament was confiscated by Italian forces following the armistice of 25 June 1940. It was partly re-armed in 1947 and maintained until 1972, when it was sold to the commune of Rimplas. It was then used to grow mushrooms, the resultant humidity causing moisture damage. Ownership was transferred to the General Council of the Alpes-Maritimes
Alpes-Maritimes
Alpes-Maritimes is a department in the extreme southeast corner of France.- History : was created by Octavian as a Roman military district in 14 BC, and became a full Roman province in the middle of the 1st century with its capital first at Cemenelum and subsequently at Embrun...
with plans to make Rimplas a "place of memory." "Les Amis de l’Ouvrage Maginot de la Madeleine" undertook restoration work and the ouvrage is open during summer months,