Ouvrage Fressinéa, also known as Fraisinéa or Frassinéa 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 at an altitude of 482 metres (1,581 ft).[1] It is associated with the gros ouvrage of Rimplas, the first Maginot fortification to be constructed anywhere. Fressinéa was built between November 1930 and April 1934, accommodating 30 soldiers under a lieutenant with two months of provisions.[2] The initial contractor was Pioljeux. Construction was finished by Thorrand et Cie for 1.7 million francs.[3]
| Ouvrage Fressinéa | |
|---|---|
| Part of Maginot Line, Alpine Line | |
| Southeast France | |
 | |
  Ouvrage Fressinéa | |
| Coordinates | 44°03′47″N 7°07′02″E / 44.06314°N 7.11731°E |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | France |
| Open to the public | Yes |
| Site history | |
| Built by | CORF |
| In use | Preserved |
| Materials | Concrete, steel, rock excavation |
| Battles/wars | Italian invasion of France |
| Ouvrage Fressinéa | |
|---|---|
| Type of work: | Small artillery work (Petit ouvrage) |
| sector └─sub-sector | Fortified Sector of the Maritime Alps └─tinée-Vésubie, Quartier Gaudissart |
| Regiment: | 84th BAF |
| Number of blocks: | 3 |
| Strength: | 3 non-commissioned officers, 33 men |
Description
edit- Block 1 (entry): one machine gun embrasure.[4]
- Block 2 (observation): one machine gun embrasure.[5]
- Block 3 (infantry): one heavy twin machine gun embrasure and one heavy machine gun/47mm anti-tank gun embrasure.[6]
Fressinéa is located on the D2205 road along the Tinée river. The post controls movement along the road and valley towards Nice.[1][7]
Fressinéa was held by the French Army until 1970 when it was sold to the commune of Rimplas. The fort is under the care of Les amis de l'ouvrage Maginot de la Frassiné. It is open to the public in spring, summer and fall months.[2][8]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Puelinckx, Jean; Aublet, Jean-Louis; Mainguin, Sylvie (2010). "Fressinéa (po de)". Index de la Ligne Maginot (in French). fortiff.be. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
- ^ a b "Ouvrage de la Frassinea". Les Sentinelles des Alpes (in French). Association Grande Traversée des Alpes. 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
- ^ Mary|, Tome 4, p. 29
- ^ Puelinckx, Jean; et al. (2010). "Fressinéa (po de) Bloc 1". Index de la Ligne Maginot (in French). fortiff.be. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
- ^ Puelinckx, Jean; et al. (2010). "Fressinéa (po de) Bloc 2". Index de la Ligne Maginot (in French). fortiff.be. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
- ^ Puelinckx, Jean; et al. (2010). "Fressinéa (po de) Bloc 3". Index de la Ligne Maginot (in French). fortiff.be. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
- ^ Mary, Tome 4, pp. 34-37
- ^ Kaufmann 2011, pp. 267-268
Bibliography
edit- Allcorn, William. The Maginot Line 1928-45. Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2003. ISBN 1-84176-646-1
- Kaufmann, J.E. and Kaufmann, H.W. Fortress France: The Maginot Line and French Defenses in World War II, Stackpole Books, 2006. ISBN 0-275-98345-5
- Kaufmann, J.E., Kaufmann, H.W., Jancovič-Potočnik, A. and Lang, P. The Maginot Line: History and Guide, Pen and Sword, 2011. ISBN 978-1-84884-068-3
- Mary, Jean-Yves; Hohnadel, Alain; Sicard, Jacques. Hommes et Ouvrages de la Ligne Maginot, Tome 1. Paris, Histoire & Collections, 2001. ISBN 2-908182-88-2 (in French)
- Mary, Jean-Yves; Hohnadel, Alain; Sicard, Jacques. Hommes et Ouvrages de la Ligne Maginot, Tome 4 - La fortification alpine. Paris, Histoire & Collections, 2009. ISBN 978-2-915239-46-1 (in French)
- Mary, Jean-Yves; Hohnadel, Alain; Sicard, Jacques. Hommes et Ouvrages de la Ligne Maginot, Tome 5. Paris, Histoire & Collections, 2009. ISBN 978-2-35250-127-5 (in French)
External links
edit- Amis de l'Ouvrage Maginot de la Frassninéa
- Fressinéa (petit ouvrage de) at fortiff.be (in French)
- Ouvrage de la Frassinea at Les Sentinelles des Alpes (in French)
- Informations, location and photos of Ouvrage de Frassinea at wikimaginot.eu (in French)
- Base Mérimée: Ouvrage Fressinea, Ministère français de la Culture. (in French)