The Battle of Authion was a military engagement that took place towards the end of World War II, shortly before the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945.

A critical choke point was the 2,080 metre (6,820 feet) high Authion massif, held by determined but weakened German and Italian forces.

The Authion massif has a height of 2,080 metre (6,820 feet), it dominates about 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) above the Alpine Valleys of Cairos, surrounded by steep slopes and deforested ravines.

These were strong, concrete protected forts topped with several meters of earth and locked by high gates and a deep ditch.

Unfortunately, due to particularly unfavorable weather in the Alpine area, marked by heavy snowfall and a total lack of visibility, the attack would begin at the dawn of 10 April 1945.

The other company took advantage of the fierce fighting to infiltrate the mountain road towards Cabanes Vieilles, passing without getting caught in the fire of the Forts of Forca and Milles Fourches.

Further to the right, a company of BMIX whose objective was the head of Vaiercaout, met with strong resistance from the enemy, forcing them to remain clinging on a slope and not reaching the top of this spur.

Around 17 hours after the start of the battle the 4th Brigade from the Lower Camp Silver, allowed a company of the BM21 (reinforced with assault section) to remove the concrete structure of the Col de Rauss.

To the south, the work of the 2nd Brigade to cover the right slope of the main operation was almost complete, and a group of 2nd Battalion North Africans (Commander Bertrand) seized Mangiapo and held it himself.

The results of this first day were quite minor, the Allies could not bite significantly into the enemy's defensive system, and the casualties were quite severe: 66 killed and wounded.

The assault group was a relatively recent creation at the time, specialised in the attacks of fortifications was armed with special weapons, especially bazookas and flamethrowers to complete the operation.

12 April 1945 marked the final day and success of the operation conducted on the Authion, which ended the Second World War in France and made a clear path for the Allies to Italy.