Fortified Sector of Savoy

The works combined a number of pre-1914 fortifications with Maginot-style ouvrages, with many forward-positioned cavern-style frontier stations or avant-postes that proved effective in holding invading forces near the order.

[3] Fortification of the Maurienne valley followed a similar pattern, with advanced posts supported by the 19th century Fort du Replaton, the petit ouvrage Arrondaz and the gros ouvrages Saint-Antoine, Pas du Roc, Le Lavoir and Sapey.

[4] Troop units for these fortifications were extensively customized to deal with the fragmented nature of the military positions.

In 1940 the sector was reinforced by the 66th Infantry Division, a class B reserve uni, under General Boucher, headquartered at St.-Jean-de-Maurienne.

[6] The sector includes the following major fortified positions, together with the most significant casemates and infantry shelters in each sub-sector: The Tarentaise was commanded by Colonel Michet de la Baume.

Colonel Vergezac, command post at Beaubois and Pla-de-la-Lai 215th Infantry Regiment (215e Régiment d'Infanterie (RI)), Lt.

Colonel Dusaud, command post at the Fort du Télégraphe Second Position Italy declared war on France on 10 June 1940.

The Italian Taurinense Alpine division moved over the Col de la Seigne, stopped by sustained fire from the avant-poste of Seloges.

The Trieste motorized division crossed the Little St. Bernard Pass after bombarding he Redoute-Ruinée post for eight hours.

Attacks continued over the next two days, then stopped until the armistice, but the avant-poste was isolated and bypassed, Italian troops moving close to Bourg-Saint-Maurice and Sainte-Foye.

Italian forces advanced on the Mont Cenis road and moved across the high plateau along the frontier.

Other elements of the Cagliari Division tried to advance on the Little Mont Cenis Pass and entered the valley of the Arc river, but were held there by the line of avant-postes.