Ouvrage Gondran is a lesser work (''petit ouvrage'') of the
Maginot Line
The Maginot Line (french: Ligne Maginot, ), named after the French Minister of War André Maginot, is a line of concrete fortifications, obstacles and weapon installations built by France in the 1930s to deter invasion by Germany and force the ...
's Alpine extension, the
Alpine Line
The Alpine Line (french: Ligne Alpine) or Little Maginot Line (French: ''Petite Ligne Maginot'') was the component of the Maginot Line that defended the southeastern portion of France. In contrast to the main line in the northeastern portion of Fra ...
. The ouvrage consists of one entry block, one infantry block and one observation block. Gondran was commenced in June 1933, and was intended to cover the gap between
Janus
In ancient Roman religion and myth, Janus ( ; la, Ianvs ) is the god of beginnings, gates, transitions, time, duality, doorways, passages, frames, and endings. He is usually depicted as having two faces. The month of January is named for Janu ...
and
Les Aittes. The site is close to two older forts, designated Gondran C and Gondran D. The Maginot fortification became known as Gondran E.
[Mary, Tome 5, p. 28]
The fortified area is near the Les Gondrans portion of the
Montgenèvre
Montgenèvre (; oc, Montginebre; Italian: ''Monginevro'') is a commune on the Italian border in the Hautes-Alpes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in Southeastern France. In 2018, it had a population of 456.
Geography
Montgen ...
ski area.
Description
:''See
Fortified Sector of the Dauphiné The Fortified Sector of the Dauphiné (''Secteur Fortifié du 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. By compar ...
for a broader discussion of the Dauphiné sector of the Alpine Line.''
The ''ouvrage'' was never completed. As the emergency exit was on the same level as the main portion it was used during peacetime as the main entrance. It is sometimes called "Gondran E."
[Kaufmann 2011, p. 261]
*Block 1 (entry): one
machine gun cloche and one heavy twin machine gun embrasure.
*Block 2 (infantry): one machine gun embrasure.
*Block 3 (observation): one
observation cloche.
Fort Gondran
Fort Gondran is the center of a series of high-altitude fortifications in the area of Montgenevre, built between 1885 and 1910. The positions were anchored by the main fort, also known as Gondran C , with smaller positions designated Gondran A, B and D, extending in a line roughly long. The positions were occupied by 800 men, and were known as the "Gondran line."
*Gondran A: small infantry position with a breastwork wall shielding the barracks.
*Gondran B: small infantry position similar to Gondran A.
*Gondran C: Stone fort at altitude, housing 288 men. Also known as Fort Gondran, built 1887-1890.
*Gondran D: Stone redoubt, built 1875 south of Gondran C.
The redoubt is now used for telecommunications equipment.
Action
On 18 June 1940 the ''ouvrage'' was fired upon by the Italian Fort Chaberton.
[Kaufmann 2006, p. 177]
Present condition
Gondran is managed by the ''Association de Vauban à Maginot'', which opens it a few days each year, including
Bastille Day
Bastille Day is the common name given in English-speaking countries to the national day of France, which is celebrated on 14 July each year. In French, it is formally called the (; "French National Celebration"); legally it is known as (; "t ...
.
See also
*
List of Alpine Line ouvrages
This is the list of all ''ouvrages'' of the Alpine Line or Little Maginot Line along the Franco-Italian border, organized by sector and type of fortification. ''Ouvrage'' translates as "works" in English; publications in both English and French ...
References
Bibliography
*Allcorn, William. ''The Maginot Line 1928-45.'' Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2003.
*Kaufmann, J.E. and Kaufmann, H.W. ''Fortress France: The Maginot Line and French Defenses in World War II'', Stackpole Books, 2006.
*Kaufmann, J.E., Kaufmann, H.W., Jancovič-Potočnik, A. and Lang, P. ''The Maginot Line: History and Guide'', Pen and Sword, 2011.
*Mary, Jean-Yves; Hohnadel, Alain; Sicard, Jacques. ''Hommes et Ouvrages de la Ligne Maginot, Tome 4 - La fortification alpine.'' Paris, Histoire & Collections, 2009.
*Mary, Jean-Yves; Hohnadel, Alain; Sicard, Jacques. ''Hommes et Ouvrages de la Ligne Maginot, Tome 5.'' Paris, Histoire & Collections, 2009.
External links
Gondran (petit ouvrage de)at fortiff.be
Gondran (ligne de)at fortiff.be
at fortiffsere.fr
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gondran, Ouvrage
GOND
Maginot Line
Alpine Line
World War II museums in France
Fortifications of Briançon