SFAM - 65eDI. General information
SFAM, 65eDI or 29eDI?
All depends on the date on which one places oneself.
In times of peace, the SFAM covers all the zone extending from Restefond to the sea.
In September 1939, following the declaration of war of France in Germany and the massive contribution of mobilized personnel, one can say, to make simple, that the SFAM of the time of peace is transformed into XVeCA with two divisions of series A (well trained): the 29eDI north of Nice and the SFAM (new) in the East.
Other Divisions (of the Army of the Alps) are, obviously, on the left and on the backs of XVeCA. Among these last the 65eDI (series B) is on the backs of XVeCA, in the vicinity of Avignon.
A reinforcement of the device vis-a-vis in Germany is translated, at the end of October 1939, by the departure of the 29eDI replaced by the 65eDI.
65eDI
In the sector of the 65eDI (Northern of Nice), only the permeable points of passages are protected by a permanent fortification. This device is thus in conformity with the regulations of the Commission of Defense of the Borders.
In this zone, between Italy and Nice converge only two steepsided valleys (valleys of two affluents of the VAr), that of Tinée and that of Vésubie. These two valleys are locked by a powerful fortification CORF.
Click +: air sight (6000m) of the Northern zone of Nice, to the border (at the top of the photograph). Photograph generated by Google Earth.
Click +: even photo, large size.
The remainder of the ground is arranged with a device of infantry parallel with the border: a line of outposts to more close to Italy, then fortifications CORF “active shelters” and casemates on the “Position of Resistance”. Finally a last line “second position” protects the entry from the throats leading to Nice.
In June 1940, when Italy attacks, fortifications CORF “active shelters” are, in great majority, under development. Their state of completion allows to use them as shelters, but without comfort nor the whole of the supports of fire initially envisaged. The “position of resistance” will play, despite everything, effectively its part by blocking all the attacks.
SFAM of 1940
The SFAM (Is of Nice) is more permeable, with Italian, than the zone of the 65eDI. Two important road axes connect Nice to Italy: Nice-Torino (with several collars to be crossed) and Nice-Genova (by the seaside). The protection of these zones of passage leads the CORF has to build, east of Nice, a very powerful artillery stopping.
The remainder of the ground is arranged, as for the 65eDI, with a device of infantry parallel with the border: a line of outposts to more close to Italy, then fortifications CORF “active shelters” and “observatories” and casemates on the “Position of Resistance”. Finally a last line “second position” protects each of the three littoral roads (cornices) leading to Nice.
In June 1940, when Italy attacks, fortifications all CORF are functional and ensure a stopping of fire of a power and a homogeneity which one finds only on the level of the SF of Thionville.
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General information
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Legends
Front_: succession of the types of fortification on the face
Ouvrages_: name of strengthened works CORF
FL-I: light fortification of countryside without artillery.
FL-A: light fortification of countryside with artillery.
CORF-I: fortification CORF without artillery
CORF-A: fortification CORF with artillery
CORF-A++: fortification CORF with powerful artillery
Note: if it is not built in mountains of difficult access, a fortification (especially a light fortification of countryside) has value only if it is shouldered by a strong infantry of interval and, especially, by a powerful artillery.
All the artillery
One can easily note (especially if the value of the zoom were reduced) that the cover of the border, by artillery CORF, is ridiculously not very wide.
In the beginning the CORF had envisaged to protect, by artillery, only certain zones: Metz, the Vosges - Lauter-, Belfort, Collars of the Alps.
Budgetary restrictions reduced artillery of these zones (except in the Alps): adjournments in the south of Metz, in the center and on the wings of Lauter, and in Belfort.
Where there is no artillery, the Maginot Line is satisfied with fortifications of infantry, sometimes CORF but very often of light fortifications of countryside.
Precise details
If it is not built in mountains, difficult access, a fortification has value only if it is shouldered by a strong infantry of interval and, especially, by a powerful artillery of position. Vis-a-vis in Germany it was thus until the Weygand general orders, on June 12th, 1940, evacuation of the troops of interval. After this date it is the surge of armies by the zones deprived of artillery and the attack of the backs of the fortifications.
Vis-a-vis in Italy the troops of interval were withdrawn only after the armistice of June 25th, 1940.
Case of SFAM/65eDI
All the valleys and the roads are protected by artillery.
In the plans of the CORF it was envisaged (in second cycle) to equip Flaut with a turret of 75/33 which would have reinforced the continuity of artillery fire in the mountainous region between Rimplas and Assembles-Grosso.
In 1940, in Plan Caval, a turret of 81mm was in way of installation. Its well was sealed as of the declaration of war.
Directions for use
On the large chart, the R_Z 
is the reference frame of zoom. The zoom (on 7 levels) as well as the posting of the list of the fortifications, are fixed on him. It can be moved at will while clicking above.
Scale of the chart. When one places the mouse on one of the icons of zoom 
, posting indicates to which length corresponds the diameter of the R_Z. R_Z=1250m means that between R and Z there is 1250m
The large chart can be moved while clicking above. A click on the small chart (in top on the left) allows a fast displacement of the large chart.
Location of the fortifications:
Their coordinates are in geographical system WGS84
CORF with artillery
CORF without artillery
Outposts
Not CORF of the “Position of Resistance”
Not CORF of the “second position”
The size of their name can be modified by 
The names of the chart are followed of (*) when they indicate tourist places, and are followed of (!) when a special document their is devoted.
Frontal action
Fortification with action of flanking
On the Maginot Line, except for the turrets which draw on 360°, and thus also towards the border, the fortifications with artillery under concrete (artillery which is not under turret) draw systematically only on the close fortifications. It is said that they are with action of flanking.
The flanking, imposed by the CORF, has primarily two advantages:
- It creates a stopping of fire while covering several fortifications.
- It protects the embrasures from the weapons, against the enemy blows being able to come from good beyond the border.
Fortification with frontal action
In the zone of the 65eDI one notes that the sinuous border, allied the relief whose valleys to be defended form “V” very closed, do not make it possible to protect the embrasures from the direct blows. It is said whereas the fortifications are with frontal action (action towards the border). It is a rare exemption from the rule enacted by the CORF.
A reinforced protection of the embrasures is then necessary. This is why one can observe, in the fortifications of the 65eDI, the existence of very reinforced casemates of 75mm, not only by one frontal shielding of 20cm (instead of the usual 10cm) but, moreover, by a shielding of 20cm of roof and the same side shielding. The 75mm is then literally enchased in an armor-plated cocoon.
Click +: diagrams of casemates. “Flanking” on the right and “frontal action” on the left
Click +: crenel of 75mm with frontal action. One sees, here, only the frontal shielding of 20cm thickness
Click +: crenel of 75mm with frontal action. Closed shutters of protection
Click +: crenel of 75mm with frontal action. Open shutters of protection. Since this photo was taken, the fortification was disarmed.
Case of the frontal action in the SFAM
Two very reduced frontier zones require a special artillery support because of their permeability: immediate vicinity of the Bridge Saint Louis, in Menton, and, with Sospel, the throat border of Bévéra. These two zones, boxed, can be beaten only by artillery of frontal action.
As it acts, here, to target only one very reduced zone of ground, by preoccupation with an economy the casemates of 75mm (Holy Roch and Cape Martin) are built without steel cocoon, on the model of the casemates of flanking. On the other hand, a very prominent concrete visor protects the weapons from the blows coming from Italy.
This visor, while protecting the 75mm, prohibits the shootings with long distance to them (thus shootings in Italian territory), which makes say, with certain detractors of the Maginot Line, which the policy of the time was, unfortunately, not to crease the susceptibility of Italian to the detriment of the effectiveness of the weapons; fallacious argument! The turret, they, could draw very well in Italian territory without causing the least state of heart!