Die Festung von Authion

Glory and exaltation, but also suffering and death. L'Authion has seen the tragic end of many a life.In April 1794, the Italian army, commanded by Generals Bonaparte and Masséna, fought against Austro-Sardinian troops: after extremely violent battles, L’Authion was taken. The Piedmont road was open to the French!Then spring 1945 also saw L'Authion’s destiny being determined by more modern weapons. Despite the Operation Dragoon Provence landings in August 1944, the Alpine front, including the advanced post of L'Authion, was solidly held by the German army. On 1st March, General de Gaulle created the Alps Army detachment, which was responsible for defending communication lines.

Authion is a natural fortress which is virtually unconquerable, protected by its immense and steep slopes which "tower 1500m above the valleys of Caïros, Roya and Bévéra". The relief provides no refuge, no hiding place for attackers who are extremely vulnerable.  “You only need a very few men in a dominant position to completely close off access”. (Général Y. Gras). At the very top, the summits which tower over the 2000m mark are equipped with fortifications which the “the gigantic field work and network of mines” make impregnable. Just one weak spot: the south!

The order is received “to look into the possibilities of attacking the fortified mountain of L’Authion”. It would be “a powerful frontal attack on L'Authion that two columns, approaching from either side, would take it from behind, one via Col de Raus and the other via Ortighea Giagiabella ". On 9th April, a general offensive by the Allies was launched on the Italian front. The enemy was to be pinned onto L'Authion. The weather played its part: snow and mist enveloped L’Authion, forcing everyone to go through the anxiety caused by silence and expectation. On 10th April, the bombing of the forts by military aircraft formed a brutal wakeup call, France launched an offensive and too the Forca ridge.

At 0300 hours, the Germans counter-attacked and tried, unsuccessfully, to retake the ridge of La Forca and Col de Raus. At 0800 hours, the French took Cabanes Vieilles and Tête de Vaiercaout and then at 2000 hours the fort of Mille Fourches. “The fort, lit up by the fire coming out of every opening, has a terrifying appearance... Losses are mounting up, an impression of indecision… We crawl through the mud... The flames shoot out, converging on the caponier which catches fire... We climb onto the roof of the fort...throwing our phosphorus grenades into every ventilation hole. Soon, the whole garrison lines up impeccably”. (Lieutenant-Colonel Lichwitz).

L’Authion falls. At 1330 hours, the Fort of La Forca, attacked from Les Mille Fourches is taken with no losses. At 1900 hours the surrounded Fort of Plan Caval surrendered.La Redoute de la Pointe des Trois Communes remains to be taken: “Barely had the order been given to attack when a tank of naval fusiliers breaks ranks with the others and heads alone and with no infantry towards La Redoute... on its own initiative”. It “slowly climbed up along the hairpin bends. It stopped in front of the drawbridge. A white flag emerged from an arrow slit”.At 2030 hours, “the conquest of thus came to an end with the bizarre sight of a tank driven by naval fusiliers taking a stronghold at the top of a mountain at 2000m altitude!” (General Y. Gras).In the Escarène cemetery, a mausoleum was built in memory of the soldiers who fell during the conquest of the fortress of L'Authion.

La Redoute des Trois Communes is a French fort which was built in 1898, in the Authion mountain chain under the command of Général Séré de Rivières. In the 1870s, relations between France and Italy were conflictual. When the Comté de Nice became part of France (24th March 1860), it made Authion even more important as it had become a border chain, the keystone of defending the Maritime Alps. Huge fortification works began to make any possibility of the Italians breaking through impossible. Access to the chain was facilitated by several strategic roads being opened, leading to La Redoute des Trois Communes (1898) and to the forts of La Forca (1883-1890) and Mille Fourches (1883-1890).