Ouvrage Gondran
Encyclopedia
Ouvrage Granon is a lesser work (petit ouvrage) of the Maginot Line
's Alpine extension, the Alpine Line
. The ouvrage consists of one entry block, one infantry block and one observation block. Gondran was commenced in June 1933, and was intended to cover the gap between Janus
and Les Aittes
. The site is close to two older forts, designated Gondran C and Gondran D. The Maginot fortification became known as Gondran E.
The fortified area is near the Les Gondrans portion of the Montgenèvre
ski area.
The ouvrage was never completed. As the emergency exit was on the same level as the main portion it was used during peacetime as the main entrance. It is sometimes called "Gondran-E."
.
Maginot Line
The Maginot Line , named after the French Minister of War André Maginot, was a line of concrete fortifications, tank obstacles, artillery casemates, machine gun posts, and other defences, which France constructed along its borders with Germany and Italy, in light of its experience in World War I,...
's Alpine extension, the Alpine Line
Alpine Line
The Alpine Line or Little Maginot Line was the component of the Maginot Line that defended the southeastern portion of France...
. The ouvrage consists of one entry block, one infantry block and one observation block. Gondran was commenced in June 1933, and was intended to cover the gap between Janus
Ouvrage Janus
Ouvrage Janus is a work of the Maginot Line's Alpine extension, the Alpine Line, located to the east of Briançon on near the Col de Montgenèvre. The ouvrage consists of one entry block, two infantry blocks, two artillery blocks, two observation blocks and one combination block at an altitude of ,...
and Les Aittes
Ouvrage Les Aittes
Ouvrage Les Aittes is a lesser work of the Maginot Line's Alpine extension, the Alpine Line. The ouvrage consists of one entry block, three infantry blocks and one observation block, about two kilometers east of Cervières, Hautes-Alpes at an altitude of ..-Description:Construction of Les Aittes...
. The site is close to two older forts, designated Gondran C and Gondran D. The Maginot fortification became known as Gondran E.
The fortified area is near the Les Gondrans portion of the Montgenèvre
Montgenèvre
Montgenèvre is a commune of the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France.-Geography:Montgenèvre is located in the French Cottian Alps. It is on the Franco-Italian border at the top of the Col de Montgenèvre....
ski area.
Description
- See Fortified Sector of the DauphinéFortified Sector of the DauphinéThe Fortified Sector of the 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...
for a broader discussion of the Dauphiné sector of the Alpine Line.
The ouvrage was never completed. As the emergency exit was on the same level as the main portion it was used during peacetime as the main entrance. It is sometimes called "Gondran-E."
- Block 1 (entry): one machine gun clocheGFM clocheThe GFM cloche was one of the most common defensive armaments on the Maginot Line. A cloche was a fixed and non-retractable firing position made of a thick iron casting which shielded its occupant...
and one heavy twin machine gun embrasure. - Block 2 (infantry): one machine gun embrasure.
- Block 3 (observation): one observation clocheVDP clocheThe VDP cloche was an element of the Maginot Line fortifications. A cloche was a fixed and non-retractable firing position made of a thick iron casting which shielded its occupant. By comparison, turrets could be rotated and sometimes lowered so that only the top shell was exposed. VDP cloches...
.
Fort Gondran
Fort Gondran is the center of a series of high-altitude fortifications in the area of Montgenevre, built between 1885 and 1910. The positions were anchored by the main fort, also known as Gondran C 44°53′30.58"N 06°42′49.73"E, with smaller positions designated Gondran A, B and D, extending in a line roughly 1800 metres (5,905.5 ft) long. The positions were occupied by 800 men, and were known as the "Gondran line."- Gondran A: small infantry position with a breastwork wall shielding the barracks.
- Gondran B: small infantry position similar to Gondran A.
- Gondran C: Stone fort at 2459 metres (8,067.6 ft) altitude, housing 288 men. Also known As Fort Gondran, built 1887-1890.
- Gondran D: Stone redoubt, built 1875 500 metres (1,640.4 ft) south of Gondran C.. The redoubt is presently used for telecommunications equipment.
Present condition
Gondran is managed by the Association de Vauban à Maginot, which opens it a few days each year, including Bastille DayBastille Day
Bastille Day is the name given in English-speaking countries to the French National Day, which is celebrated on 14 July of each year. In France, it is formally called La Fête Nationale and commonly le quatorze juillet...
.
External links
- Gondran (petit ouvrage de) at fortiff.be
- Gondran (ligne de) at fortiff.be
- Fort du Gondran at fortiffsere.fr