Ouvrage Saint-Gobain

Last updated
Ouvrage Saint-Gobain
Part of Maginot Line, Alpine Line
Southeast France
Fort Saint-Gobain p1410059.jpg
Interior gallery, 60 cm rail line and blast door
France location map-Regions and departements-2016.svg
Red pog.svg
Ouvrage Saint-Gobain
Coordinates 45°12′29″N6°40′55″E / 45.20818°N 6.68186°E / 45.20818; 6.68186
Site information
Controlled byFrance
Open to
the public
Yes
Site history
Built1931
Built byCORF
In usePreserved
MaterialsConcrete, steel, rock excavation
Battles/wars Italian invasion of France
Ouvrage Saint-Gobain
Type of work:Large artillery work (Gros ouvrage)
sector
└─sub-sector
Fortified Sector of Savoy
└─Moyenne-Maurienne, Quartier de l'Arc
Regiment:71st Batailllon Alpin de Fortresse, 164th Régiment d'Artillerie de Position
Number of blocks:5
Strength:5 officers, 149 men

Ouvrage Saint-Gobain is a work (gros ouvrage) of the Maginot Line's Alpine extension, the Alpine Line. The ouvrage consists of one entry block, one infantry block, one artillery block, one observation block and one combination block. Located in Modane, France, it is just across the valley of the Arc from Ouvrage Saint-Antoine and somewhat to the east of Ouvrage Sapey.

Contents

The ouvrage covers the approach to the Fréjus Rail Tunnel and the N6 road. In 1940 it had a garrison of 154 under Captain Dutrey. [1] It cost 12.2 million francs. [2]

Description

History

Saint-Gobain participated in artillery fire directed at Italian troops in the Italian invasion of France in 1940 only indirectly, when one of its observation blocks spotted the fall of shot from Ouvrage Sapey in the morning hours of June 21 against an Italian observation post. [8]

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, Saint-Gobain was recaptured relatively easily on 13 September. [9] The Modane end of the Fréjus Tunnel was blown up by the retreating Germans, leaving a tilted blockhouse by the railway line, now known as the "Tilted House." [10] Saint-Gobain had suffered little damage during the war and by the end of 1944 was 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. [11]

Ouvrage Saint-Gobain is open for public visitation, maintained by the Association du Musée de la Traverse des Alpes. [10] [12]

See also

Related Research Articles

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Ouvrage Sapey 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, three artillery blocks and one observation block two kilometers west of Modane. The ouvrage was built beneath the older Fort du Sapey. The new work cost 12.8 million francs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ouvrage Saint-Antoine</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ouvrage Le Lavoir</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ouvrage Pas du Roc</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ouvrage Col du Granon</span>

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Ouvrage Roche-la-Croix 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, two infantry blocks, one artillery block and two observation blocks in the vicinity of the Col de Larche. An aerial tram was provided for better access. The position is located at the top of a sheer escarpment that dominates Meyronnes and the valley of the Ubayette.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ouvrage Saint Ours Haut</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ouvrage Restefond</span>

Ouvrage Restefond is a work of the Maginot Line's Alpine extension, the Alpine Line. The ouvrage consists of one artillery block and three observation blocks at the summit of the Col de la Bonette. The entry block and an artillery block were not completed, and a further block was never built. At 2,733 metres (8,967 ft), Restefond is the highest Maginot ouvrage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ouvrage Col de Restefond</span>

Ouvrage Col de Restefond is a lesser work of the Maginot Line's Alpine extension, the Alpine Line. The ouvrage consists of three infantry blocks. It is located directly adjacent to the Col de Restefond road at an altitude of 2,680 metres (8,790 ft). Construction work was completed in 1934, but the ouvrage was not armed until 1938.

Ouvrage Col du Caire Gros is a lesser work of the Maginot Line's Alpine extension, the Alpine Line. The ouvrage consists of two entry blocks at an altitude of 2,048 metres (6,719 ft). Additional blocks were planned but not built.

Ouvrage Col du Fort is a lesser work of the Maginot Line's Alpine extension, the Alpine Line. The ouvrage consists of one infantry block and one observation block at an elevation of 1,717 metres (5,633 ft). An additional block was planned but not built.

Ouvrage Gordolon 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 and two infantry blocks at an altitude of 728 metres (2,388 ft). Gordolon was built by Borie contractors at a cost of 21.4 million francs. Work started in November 1931 and was completed in April 1934.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ouvrage Flaut</span>

Ouvrage Flaut is a work of the Maginot Line's Alpine extension, the Alpine Line, also called the Little Maginot Line. The ouvrage consists of one entry block, one infantry block and one artillery block at an altitude of 771 metres (2,530 ft). The position was intended, acting with Ouvrage Gordolon, to stop an approach by Italian forces from the north towards Nice through the Vésibie Valley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ouvrage Plan Caval</span>

Ouvrage Plan Caval 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 two infantry blocks and one observation block facing Italy. The ouvrage is located on the heights of L'Authion, surrounded by older fortifications. Three additional blocks were planned to make it a gros ouvrage but were not built. Cost for the full ensemble was estimated at 23 million francs.

Ouvrage La Béole is a lesser work of the Maginot Line's Alpine extension, the Alpine Line. The ouvrage consists of one entry block and two observation blocks at an altitude of 1,548 metres (5,079 ft). The ouvrage consists of two entry blocks and one observation block facing Italy. The ouvrage was manned by 94 soldiers in 1940, under the command of Sub-Lieutenant Caillard. Additional blocks were planned but not built. The ouvrage was never provided with electricity. Three more blocks were planned but not built.

Ouvrage Col de Brouis 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 and two artillery blocks facing Italy at an altitude of 871 metres (2,858 ft). The ouvrage is located about one kilometer north of Monte Grosso. It was placed to control the Col de Brouis and the D 2204 road between the Breil and Sospel.

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. It was the largest ouvrage in the Alps It is part of the fortifications surrounding Sospel, which protect the approaches to Nice from the north.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ouvrage Saint-Roch</span>

Ouvrage Saint-Roch is a work of the Maginot Line's Alpine extension, the Alpine Line, also known as the Little Maginot Line. Small for a gros ouvrages, the ouvrage consists of one entry block, one artillery block and two observation blocks overlooking Sospel at an altitude of 426 metres (1,398 ft). The position is located just to the southwest of Sospel, its entrance block in a narrow valley and the artillery block on the other side of the ridge overlooking Sospel. The ouvrage is laid out along a single line, with the entry block to the rear, immediately followed by the usine, with barracks farther along and Blocks 2 and 3 at intervals. The position's main armament is concentrated in Block 4, a massive blockhouse designed to protect against rockfalls from higher up the mountain.

References

  1. Mary, Tome 5, pp. 16–17
  2. Mary, Tome 4, p. 29
  3. Puelinckx, Jean; Aublet, Jean-Louis; Mainguin, Sylvie (2010). "Saint-Gobain (go de) Bloc 1". Index de la Ligne Maginot (in French). fortiff.be. Retrieved 11 February 2010.
  4. Puelinckx, Jean; et al. (2010). "Saint-Gobain (go de) Bloc 2". Index de la Ligne Maginot (in French). fortiff.be. Retrieved 11 February 2010.
  5. Puelinckx, Jean; et al. (2010). "Saint-Gobain (go de) Bloc 3". Index de la Ligne Maginot (in French). fortiff.be. Retrieved 11 February 2010.
  6. Puelinckx, Jean; et al. (2010). "Saint-Gobain (go de) Bloc 4". Index de la Ligne Maginot (in French). fortiff.be. Retrieved 11 February 2010.
  7. Puelinckx, Jean; et al. (2010). "Saint-Gobain (go de) Bloc 5". Index de la Ligne Maginot (in French). fortiff.be. Retrieved 11 February 2010.
  8. Mary, Tome 5, p. 98
  9. Mary, Tome 5, p.147
  10. 1 2 Kaufmann 2011, p. 258
  11. Mary, Tome 5, pp.164-175
  12. "Monuments" (in French). Mairie de Modane. Archived from the original on 27 March 2010. Retrieved 11 February 2010.

Bibliography