Collar of Raus: before station of the SFAM (7° 24' 46''E ; 44° 01' 26''N)
Before station consists of a shelter to 5 blocks, connected to each other by underground buildings and, as for very before station, certain site of weapons are isolated from the shelter, with open sky or under concrete. Here we have: a block concreted for FM, a site for mortar and “a sheet subway” shelter used apart from alarms.
Drop by Véran Saint: fortification CORF of infantry (7° 25' 23''E ; 44° 00' 59''N)
This fortification was in construction in 1940 and forever finished. Completed, it would have comprised 3 blocks: B1 of entry, B2 (another entry) armed with two FM and a JM under concrete, B3 of observation with a GFM.
Only B2 is built.
These two fortifications CORF were carried out by the MOM (Military Labour) and not by a civil company, after invitation to tender.
Tourism
The path of high excursion GR52 is ideal for the visit of the places. One parks his vehicle on the park of Aution (while coming from Nice or Chin) then one follows the GR52 on 3 kilometers, in an unforgettable landscape.
Be wary and take your precautions. We seldom had very a long time the beautiful blue sky of the photographs presented in this document and, in this area, time can pass to the storm, without preventing, in a few tens of minutes.
History. 1940
Not history (1940)
June 14, 1940
S.E.S (Section of Scouts Skiers) of 75e BAF (Alpine Battalion of Fortress) is ordered by sergeant TSCHANN. It depends on before station on the Collar on Raus. Its mission is to control the two kilometers located between before station and the border: Higher Capelet (altitude 2637m) and Summit of the Devil (altitude 2685m).
On June 14, while trying to climb at the observatory of the “higher Capelet”, it is taken with part by an Italian machine-gun installed on the Macruera mount. Assessment: 1 dead (Alpine RIGOT) and a missing (Alpine LAGIER).
June 20
The Italian heavy artillery was installed on the peaks border, on both sides of the Summit of the Devil. With guns and mortars it carries out “shootings of preparation” on the two fortifications (Collar of Raus and Baisse by Véran Saint) for launching an attack by infantry. The destruction, inter alia shelters “subway”, is currently still quite visible but no victim has to regret.
Then, the French artillery of mountain, by its well adjusted shootings of “counter-preparation”, blocks the Italian attempt.
22-23- June 24
Italian appears still somewhat, vis-a-vis the Collar of Raus, but without insisting in addition to measurement; their bearing principal effort on the East of the Maritime Alps.
Collar of Raus
Collar of Raus
Overall pictures
Overall pictures
From right to left one observes successively: block 1, block 3, block 2, block 4 (observatory with strong current of the ground), the isolated concreted block (behind block 4) and finally block 5 (on the same level as block 1).
Photo steering collar of the border (in North). One notices, on the left, a possibility of retreat under cover, in the event of need.
Blocks
Blocks of the underground fortification
Block 1 (Northern entry). A Southern entry is with block 2.
Block 3.
From left to right: block 5 (in bottom on the left photograph), block 4 (with the strong current of the ground behind B2), block 2.
From left to right: block 5 (in bottom on the left photograph), block 4 (with the strong current of the ground), isolated block (behind B4), block 2.
Interior of B5.
Bell of observation of B4.
Outsides
External sites
Isolated block, for FM.
Site for mortar.
Three “sheet subway” shelters used as quartering in times of peace and apart from alarms. They were abused by the Italian artillery shootings.
Véran saint
Drop by Véran Saint
Environment
Environment
General sight. One can see: block 2 (in the center), the quartering of the time of peace out of sheet subway (on the left), Philippe Cuny (with the extreme left) and, all with far, the Collar of Raus.
Let us recall that this fortification is unfinished. Only one of its three blocks was built, work having been stopped in June 1940 with the declaration of war of Italy.
Details
Details of the block
Entry and crenel for FM.
Crenel for FM.
Crenel for JM.
Quartering of time of peace and except alarms, destroyed by Italian artillery.