Ouvrage Le Lavoir
Encyclopedia
Ouvrage Le Lavoir Is a work (gros ouvrage) 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 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) south of Modane
, France
, guarding the Col de Fréjus. The surface barracks at Le Lavoir were connected to Charmaix by an aerial tram.
in 1940. On June 20, Le Lavoir and Ouvrage Sapey
fired on Italian forces in the vicinity of the advance post of La Roue, right on the border. The next day the Italian Superga Division
infiltrated the area around Ouvrage Pas du Roc
. Le Lavoir continued to fire on Italian forces through the day. On the 24th, Le Lavoir fired on Italian troops on the surface of Pas-du-Roc. An explosion in an 81mm mortar injured two of Lavoir's gunners. The armistice of June 25th put an end to action. Altogether, Le Lavoir fired 3818 shots, mostly on 24 June, the most of any ouvrage in the Marienne region.
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, Le Lavoir 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...
, also called the Little Maginot Line. The ouvrage consists of two entry blocks, one infantry block, three 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:...
, 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...
, guarding the Col de Fréjus. The surface barracks at Le Lavoir were connected to Charmaix by an aerial tram.
Description
- Block 1 (artillery): 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...
, one anti-tank gun embrasure and two 75mm gun embrasures. - Block 2 (artillery): two 75mm gun embrasures.
- Block 3 (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 4 (infantry): 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...
and two heavy twin machine gun embrasures. - Block 5 (artillery): one machine gun cloches, two 75mm gun embrasures and four 81mm mortar embrasures.
- Block 6 (ventilation): unarmed.
- Personnel entry: three machine gun embrasures.
- Supply entry: one machine gun cloche, one heavy twin machine gun cloche, one heavy twin machine gun embrasure and one anti-tank gun embrasure.
History
The mountains above Le Lavoir were the focus of an Italian invasion attempt 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. On June 20, Le Lavoir and Ouvrage Sapey
Ouvrage Sapey
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...
fired on Italian forces in the vicinity of the advance post of La Roue, right on the border. The next day 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....
infiltrated the area around Ouvrage Pas du Roc
Ouvrage Pas du Roc
Ouvrage Pas du Roc is a work 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 south of Modane and east of Ouvrage Le Lavoir in the vicinity of the Col de Fréjus...
. Le Lavoir continued to fire on Italian forces through the day. On the 24th, Le Lavoir fired on Italian troops on the surface of Pas-du-Roc. An explosion in an 81mm mortar injured two of Lavoir's gunners. The armistice of June 25th put an end to action. Altogether, Le Lavoir fired 3818 shots, mostly on 24 June, the most of any ouvrage in the Marienne region.
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, Le Lavoir 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.
External links
- Lavoir (gros ouvrage du) at fortiff.be