Ouvrage Pas du Roc


Ouvrage Pas du Roc is a work of the Maginot Line's Alpine extension, the Alpine Line. The ouvrage consists of one entry blocks, one infantry block, two artillery blocks and one observation block south of Modane and east of Ouvrage Le Lavoir in the vicinity of the Col de Fréjus. The position was incomplete at the outbreak of war in 1940.

Description

During the Italian invasion of France in 1940, Pas du Roc was the focus of an advance over the Italian border by the Italian Superga Division. On 21 June the cable of the aerial tram was cut by the Italians. Pas-du-Roc opened fire with machine guns and mortars, while the advanced post of Fréjus directed the fire of the ouvrage. On 24 June 1940 the ouvrage was attacked. Supported by its neighbor, petit ouvrage Arrondaz and others, the fort repelled the attack
After the 1940 armistice, Italian forces occupied the Alpine ouvrages and disarmed them. In August 1943, southern France was occupied by the German 19th Army, which took over many of the Alpine positions that had been occupied by the Italians until Italy's withdrawal from the war in September 1943.
In 1944, Pas du Roc was recaptured relatively easily on 13 September, along with the other strongpoints around Modane. The Maurienne positions had suffered little damage during the war and by the end of 1944 were partly repaired and placed into service. Immediately after the war, the Maurienne region was regarded as an area of medium priority for restoration and reuse by the military. By the 1950s the positions in the Southeast of France were restored and operational again. However, by 1960, with France's acquisition of nuclear weapons, the cost and effectiveness of the Maginot system was called into question. Between 1964 and 1971 nearly all of the Maginot fortifications were deactivated.