Fort de l'Olive
Encyclopedia
The Fort de l'Olive is a fortification in the vicinity of Briançon
in the Dauphiné region of southeastern France
. Initially called the Ouvrage du Bois des Gasquets, it was the third and final fort built near Briançon as part of the Séré de Rivières system
of fortifications in the 1870s and 1880s. Located at an altitude of 2239 metres (7,345.8 ft), the fort overlooked the valley of the Clarée above the village of Plampinet from a height of 800 metres (2,624.7 ft) with a view of the Italian frontier. It specifically controlled the Col de l'Echelle
, the Col des Thures and the Col des Acles. The rectangular walled fort extends over an area of about 2.5 hectares (6.2 acre). The construction of Fort Chaberton
on an even higher peak on the Italian side of the frontier rendered the Fort de l'Olive vulnerable to artillery from Chaberton, which was 900 metres (2,952.8 ft) higher. The position was used by the French Army in the defense of Briançon until 1940, when it was part of the Fortified Sector of the Dauphiné
. The fort took artillery fire from Chaberton during the Italian invasion of France
in 1940.
The Fort de l'Olive was armed with in the 1880s with 14 120mm guns. It was initially linked to the Fort de l'Infernet
by optical telegraph, and later by telephone. A cableway provided a means of resupply from the valley below, particularly in the winter when road access was difficult. The Batterie du Lenlon was a subsidiary position, as was the Batterie du Sapey.
The fort was modernized in the 1930s with an infantry shelter or abri, known derisively as the Fort des Nuages (fort of shadows), which was equipped with two casemates for guns. While being fired on by Chaberton in June 1940, the Fort de l'Olive in turn fired on the Italian fort Jaffereau in Bardonecchia
.
The site is presently abandoned but in good condition, and is freely accessible.
Briançon
Briançon a commune in the Hautes-Alpes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department....
in the Dauphiné region of southeastern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Initially called the Ouvrage du Bois des Gasquets, it was the third and final fort built near Briançon as part of the Séré de Rivières system
Séré de Rivières system
The Séré de Rivières system was an ensemble of fortifications built from 1874 and first used at the beginning of the First World War along the frontiers and coasts of France...
of fortifications in the 1870s and 1880s. Located at an altitude of 2239 metres (7,345.8 ft), the fort overlooked the valley of the Clarée above the village of Plampinet from a height of 800 metres (2,624.7 ft) with a view of the Italian frontier. It specifically controlled the Col de l'Echelle
Col de l'Échelle
Col de l'Échelle is a mountain pass in the Alps in the department of Hautes-Alpes in France. It is the lower mountain pass between France and Italy and connects Vallée de la Clarée and Vallée Étroite, commune of Névache....
, the Col des Thures and the Col des Acles. The rectangular walled fort extends over an area of about 2.5 hectares (6.2 acre). The construction of Fort Chaberton
Mont Chaberton
Mont Chaberton is a peak in the French Alps in the group known as the Massif des Cerces in the département of Hautes-Alpes.Chaberton is in the municipality of Montgenèvre in the Briançonnais region...
on an even higher peak on the Italian side of the frontier rendered the Fort de l'Olive vulnerable to artillery from Chaberton, which was 900 metres (2,952.8 ft) higher. The position was used by the French Army in the defense of Briançon until 1940, when it was part of the Fortified Sector of the Dauphiné
Fortified Sector of the Dauphiné
The Fortified Sector of the Dauphiné was the French military organization that in 1940 controlled the section of the Alpine Line portion of the Maginot Line facing Italy in the vicinity of Briançon...
. The fort took artillery fire from Chaberton during the Italian invasion of France
Italian 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.
The Fort de l'Olive was armed with in the 1880s with 14 120mm guns. It was initially linked to the Fort de l'Infernet
Fort de l'Infernet
The Fort de l'Infernet is a fortification complex near Briançon in the French Alps. It was built as part of the Séré de Rivières system of fortifications in 1876-78 to defend France against invasion from Italy. It specifically overlooks the valley of the Durance behind and the Fort du Gondran,...
by optical telegraph, and later by telephone. A cableway provided a means of resupply from the valley below, particularly in the winter when road access was difficult. The Batterie du Lenlon was a subsidiary position, as was the Batterie du Sapey.
The fort was modernized in the 1930s with an infantry shelter or abri, known derisively as the Fort des Nuages (fort of shadows), which was equipped with two casemates for guns. While being fired on by Chaberton in June 1940, the Fort de l'Olive in turn fired on the Italian fort Jaffereau in Bardonecchia
Bardonecchia
Bardonecchia is an Italian town and comune located in the Province of Turin, in the Piedmont region, in the western part of Susa Valley....
.
The site is presently abandoned but in good condition, and is freely accessible.
External links
Le fort de l'Olive http://fortiffsere.fr/briancon/index_fichiers/Page358.htm- Fort de l'Olive at fortiff.be