Ouvrage La Moutière 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 ...
at an altitude of 2440 meters. The ouvrage consists of one entry block, one infantry block and one observation block, with an unarmed exit block. The ''ouvrage'' supported the
Ouvrage Restefond
Ouvrage Restefond is a work (''gros ouvrage'') 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 artill ...
on the crest of the pass, guarding its southern flank. It also covered the Col de la Barcelonnette to the north. The position was built between 1931 and 1935.
[Mary, Tome 5, p. 44]
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.''
*Block 1 (entry): two machine gun embrasures. The block is equipped with a metal housing that functions as an access point when the winter snows cover the entrance.
*Block 2 (infantry block): one heavy twin machine gun embrasure.
*Block 3 (observation block): one
machine gun cloche.
*Block 4 (emergency exit/exhaust): no armament.
The underground section of the ''ouvrage'' consists of three parallel galleries linked by a smaller passage.
A fortified barracks for La Moutière's garrison was established at a lower altitude inside a semi-buried ''abri'' or shelter.
The area around the position retains the vestiges of firing positions constructed of dry stone masonry pierced by embrasures for guns. The fortification saw no action in either 1940 or 1944.
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 1.'' Paris, Histoire & Collections, 2001.
*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
La Moutière (petit ouvrage de)at fortiff.be
Map of the Col de la Bonette and La Moutiere
LAMO
Maginot Line
Alpine Line
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