Girish Mahajan (Editor)

Ouvrage Les Rochilles

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Controlled by
  
France

In use
  
Abandoned

Built by
  
MOM

Battles/wars
  
Battle of France

Ouvrage Les Rochilles

Materials
  
Concrete, steel, rock excavation

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 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.

Description

  • Block 1 (observation): One observation cloche
  • Block 2 (infantry): one heavy twin machine gun embrasures covering the Col du Fréjus.
  • 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 2,420 metres (7,940 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.

    References

    Ouvrage Les Rochilles Wikipedia