Fortified Sector of Montbéliard
Encyclopedia
The Fortified Sector of Montbéliard (Secteur Fortifié de Montbéliard) was the French military organization that in 1940 controlled the section of the French border with Switzerland
in the vicinity of Montbéliard
. The Montbéliard sector stands in the vicinity of the Belfort Gap
, a traditional invasion route into eastern France. However, the area was lightly defended, as the Swiss border was not regarded as an area with a high risk of invasion, and because the left bank of the Rhine was firmly in French hands.
fortifications constructed to defend the Belfort Gap. The main positions were the Fort du Mont Bart
and the Fort du Lomont.
until 16 March 1940, when the Belfort region became the 44th Army Fortress Corps (44e Corps d'Armée de Forteresse), retaining the Montbéliard sector under its command.The sector's commanding general was General de Bizemont until 19 May 1940, then Colonel Gard, with a command post at the Fort de Lomont. The sector was known as the Defensive Sector of Montbéliard until 16 March 1940. No field army forces were assigned to the sector. At the mid-point of the Battle of France on 1 June 1940, the troops of the SF Montbéliard amounted to a chasseurs pyrénéens regiment in two battalions, comprising 235 officers and 7,390 men.
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
in the vicinity of Montbéliard
Montbéliard
Montbéliard is a city in the Doubs department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France. It is one of the two subprefectures of the department.-History:...
. The Montbéliard sector stands in the vicinity of the Belfort Gap
Belfort Gap
The Belfort Gap is a plateau located between the northern end of the Jura Mountains and the southernmost part of the Vosges mountains. Its altitude varies between 345 meters at its lowest and a little more than 400 meters in the area of the watershed between the catchment areas of the Rhine and...
, a traditional invasion route into eastern France. However, the area was lightly defended, as the Swiss border was not regarded as an area with a high risk of invasion, and because the left bank of the Rhine was firmly in French hands.
Concept and organization
The Montbéliard sector was chiefly composed of old Séré de Rivières systemSéré de Rivières system
The Séré de Rivières system was an ensemble of fortifications built from 1874 and first used at the beginning of the First World War along the frontiers and coasts of France...
fortifications constructed to defend the Belfort Gap. The main positions were the Fort du Mont Bart
Fort du Mont Bart
Fort du Mont Bart is located to the south of Montbéliard, France. It was built between November 1874 and July 1877 as part of the Séré de Rivières system of fortifications. The fort overlooks the valleys of the Doubs and the Allan at an elevation of , standing to the south and rear of the fortified...
and the Fort du Lomont.
Command
The Montbéliard sector was under the command of the Fortified Region of BelfortFortified region of Belfort
The fortified region of Belfort formed the first line of defense in the Séré de Rivières system of fortifications in the Belfort Gap...
until 16 March 1940, when the Belfort region became the 44th Army Fortress Corps (44e Corps d'Armée de Forteresse), retaining the Montbéliard sector under its command.The sector's commanding general was General de Bizemont until 19 May 1940, then Colonel Gard, with a command post at the Fort de Lomont. The sector was known as the Defensive Sector of Montbéliard until 16 March 1940. No field army forces were assigned to the sector. At the mid-point of the Battle of France on 1 June 1940, the troops of the SF Montbéliard amounted to a chasseurs pyrénéens regiment in two battalions, comprising 235 officers and 7,390 men.