Battle of Authion

Part of World War II

Date	10–12 April 1945
Location	Authion massif, France
Result	Allied victory

Belligerents

Axis:

Germany

Allies:

France

United Kingdom

Commanders and leaders

Ferdinand Hippel

Harold Alexander

Pierre Garbay

Units involved

34th Infantry Division
5th Gebirgsjäger

1st Free French Division
3e RIA
1st Brigade
2nd Brigade
4th Brigade

Strength

Germany:
14,000 men

France:
16,000 men
unknown number of planes, tanks and artillery
British Empire:
unknown number of men

Casualties and losses

Germany:
100 killed,
unknown number of wounded or missing

France:
280 killed
1,000 wounded
British Empire:
unknown number of men killed or wounded

The Battle of Authion was a military engagement that took place towards the end of World War II, shortly before the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945. Units of the British Army and Free French Army were sent to the French Alps to clear an important route from central France to Italy. A critical choke point was the 2,080 metre (6,820 feet) high Authion massif, held by determined but weakened German and Italian forces.

Field Marshal Harold Alexander authorised the assault on Authion on 10 April 1945.

The Authion massif has a height of 2,080 metre (6,820 feet), it dominates about 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) over the Alpine Valleys of Cairos, surrounded by steep slopes and deforested ravines. It is very difficult to access, only by a strategic path of switchbacks, containing mostly rocky ridges. This mountain range was crowned by important military works, namely Forca au Nord and Milles Fourches au Sud. These were strong, concrete protected forts topped with several meters of earth and locked by high gates and a deep ditch. There were also three towns in the North East and East of the forts.

Authion was therefore of decisive strategic importance in this part of the Alps. The German Command had this alpine area of this massif, the very basis of their defensive system. A Bavarian battalion of the 34th Mountain Division held the fortifications. The flanks of the massif were bombarded by enemy fire. German troop reserves were stationed in the Roya Valley and were ready to intervene at threatened points. These forts were also protected by important defensive works, namely trenches, dense networks of wires, barbed wire and anti-tank mines.

In the beginning of April 1945, the Command was informed that the Allies were to begin a general offensive on the Italian front. The offensive under the command of British Field Marshal Harold Alexander, was focused on capturing the highest point of the mountain. However, on that date the Germans were strongly established on all fronts and in particular on that of the Alps, so that no unit of the Axis could be beaten.

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Wikipedia