Army of the Alps (France)

Armée des Alpes (Army of the Alps)
ActiveMobilized 1939 – Dissolved June 1940
CountryFrance
BranchFrench Army
TypeArmy Group / Independent Army
RoleDefense of the Alpine Line against Italy
SizeApprox. 175,000 men
Part ofIndependent Territorial Command (TOSE)
EngagementsItalian invasion of France (1940)
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Général d'Armée René Olry

The Army of the Alps (Armée des Alpes) was a specialized French Army formation responsible for the defense of the frontier with Italy. Operating within the South-Eastern Theatre of Operations (Théâtre d'Opérations du Sud-Est, TOSE), it functioned as an independent command under Général d'Armée René Olry.[1][2]

The formation relied on mountain infantry (Chasseurs Alpins) and fortress units manning the alpine section of the Maginot Line (often called the Alpine Line). During the Italian invasion of France in June 1940, the army held its positions against the Italian 4th and 7th Armies until the signing of the Armistice of 24 June 1940.[1][2]

Order of battle (June 1940)

According to the official history of the French Army (GUF) and the South-Eastern Theatre (TOSE) records, the army was organized as follows at the start of the Italian offensive:[1]

  • Army Headquarters (General Olry)[1]
    • 8th Colonial Infantry Division (8e DIC): 4e RIC, 25e and 26e RTS.[2]
  • 15th Army Corps (Général Montagne)[1][2]
    • 615e Régiment Pionniers (RP)
    • 64th Infantry Division (64e DI): 299e RIA, 45e and 47e DBCA.
    • 65th Infantry Division (65e DI): 203e RIA, 42e and 46e DBCA.
    • Fortified Sector of the Maritime Alps (SF Alpes-Maritimes)
  • Corsica Defences Command (CSD Corse) (Général Mollard)[1]
    • 363e DBI, 373e DBA.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Service historique de l'armée de terre (1967). Les Grandes Unités Françaises: historiques succincts (GUF) (in French). Vol. 1. Paris: Imprimerie nationale.
  2. ^ a b c d e Sumner, Ian (1998). The French Army 1939-45 (1): The Army of 1939-40 & Vichy France. Men-at-Arms 315. Osprey Publishing. p. 7. ISBN 1-85532-666-3.

Bibliography

  • Les Grandes Unités Françaises: historiques succincts (GUF), Volume 1, Service historique de l'armée de terre (SHAT), Paris: Imprimerie nationale, 1967.
  • Sumner, Ian. The French Army 1939-45 (1), Osprey Publishing, 1998. ISBN 1855326663.
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