Ouvrage La Béole is a lesser work (petit ouvrage) of the Maginot Line's Alpine extension, the Alpine Line. The ouvrage consists of one entry block and two observation blocks at an altitude of 1,548 metres (5,079 ft). The ouvrage consists of two entry blocks and one observation block facing Italy. The ouvrage was manned by 94 soldiers in 1940, under the command of Sub-Lieutenant Caillard.[1] Additional blocks were planned but not built. The ouvrage was never provided with electricity. Three more blocks were planned but not built.[2]
| Ouvrage La Beole | |
|---|---|
| Part of Maginot Line, Alpine Line | |
| Southeast France | |
  Ouvrage La Beole | |
| Coordinates | 43°59′29″N 7°28′11″E / 43.99125°N 7.46964°E |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | France |
| Site history | |
| Built by | CORF/MOM |
| In use | Abandoned |
| Materials | Concrete, steel, rock excavation |
| Battles/wars | Italian invasion of France, Operation Dragoon |
| Ouvrage La Béole | |
|---|---|
| Type of work: | Small artillery work (Petit ouvrage) |
| sector └─sub-sector | Fortified Sector of the Maritime Alps └─Authion, Quartier Cabanes-Vielles |
| Regiment: | 75th BAF |
| Number of blocks: | 3 |
| Strength: | 1 officer, 93 men |
Description
edit- Block 1 (entry): one light machine gun embrasure and one twin heavy machine gun embrasure.[3]
- Block 2 (entry): one light machine gun embrasure.[4]
- Block 3 (infantry): one observation/machine gun cloche.[5]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Puelinckx, Jean; Aublet, Jean-Louis; Mainguin, Sylvie (2010). "La Béole (po de la1)". Index de la Ligne Maginot (in French). fortiff.be. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
- ^ Mary, Tome 5, p. 54
- ^ Puelinckx, Jean; et al. (2010). "La Béole (po de la) Bloc 1". Index de la Ligne Maginot (in French). fortiff.be. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
- ^ Puelinckx, Jean; et al. (2010). "La Béole (po de la) Bloc 2". Index de la Ligne Maginot (in French). fortiff.be. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
- ^ Puelinckx, Jean; et al. (2010). "La Béole (po de la) Bloc 3". Index de la Ligne Maginot (in French). fortiff.be. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
Bibliography
edit- Allcorn, William. The Maginot Line 1928-45. Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2003. ISBN 1-84176-646-1
- Kaufmann, J.E. and Kaufmann, H.W. Fortress France: The Maginot Line and French Defenses in World War II, Stackpole Books, 2006. ISBN 0-275-98345-5
- Kaufmann, J.E., Kaufmann, H.W., Jancovič-Potočnik, A. and Lang, P. The Maginot Line: History and Guide, Pen and Sword, 2011. ISBN 978-1-84884-068-3
- Mary, Jean-Yves; Hohnadel, Alain; Sicard, Jacques. Hommes et Ouvrages de la Ligne Maginot, Tome 1. Paris, Histoire & Collections, 2001. ISBN 2-908182-88-2 (in French)
- Mary, Jean-Yves; Hohnadel, Alain; Sicard, Jacques. Hommes et Ouvrages de la Ligne Maginot, Tome 4 - La fortification alpine. Paris, Histoire & Collections, 2009. ISBN 978-2-915239-46-1 (in French)
- Mary, Jean-Yves; Hohnadel, Alain; Sicard, Jacques. Hommes et Ouvrages de la Ligne Maginot, Tome 5. Paris, Histoire & Collections, 2009. ISBN 978-2-35250-127-5 (in French)
External links
edit- La Béole (petit ouvrage) at fortiff.be (in French)
- Base Mérimée: Ouvrage La Béole, Ministère français de la Culture. (in French)