[烛光生存狂]-[法国战役]1940年6月法国和德国在阿尔卑斯山的战斗

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http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=54&t=114973&p=1014868

Hello,

Here are notes I have compiles about the combats in June 1940 between the German and the French troops in the Alps and in the Rhône Valley.

BATTLE OF THE ALPS IN JUNE 1940 - German versus French forces -

1. GERMAN FORCES

On June 21, the German forces in the Alps (XIIth Army – General List, including General's Hoeppner XVI.AK) are split in 3 combat groups:

Combat group A: the main advance is towards Chambéry

---o 13.ID (mot.)

---o Elements of the 1. Gerbirgsdivision

---o Motorized detachment from IIIrd Army Corps

Combat group B (Colonel Baron von Funk): the main advance is towards Grenoble and Lyon

---o 3.PzD

---o Elements of the 1. Gerbirgsdivision

---o Motorized detachment from XIIIth Army Corps

Combat group C: the 4.PzD (reinforced by other elements like several troops apparently detached from 7.ID) is ordered to secure the southern flank and to advance in the Isère and Rhône valleys.

Once these objectives reached, the Germans plan to reach several passes (Saint-Bernard, Mont-Cenis and Mont-Genèvre) to try to join the Italian forces stuck on the French border and unable to reach the main line of resistance.

2. FRENCH FORCES

The French forces in the Alps totalize about 175,000 men at this date. Only about 60,000 of these men really face the 312,500 Italian troops set on the border, the others were deployed in other sectors. The numeric superiority of the Italians is very limited because of the mountainous area, which hampers the concentration of forces and the use of motorized elements. Only part of their troops really meets the French outposts. The Italian troops are also engaged unprepared and with equipment not adapted to the cold. Between June 21 and June 25, the Italians lost 642 KIAs; 2,691 WIAs; 2,151 frozen men and 616 POWs. The French Army lost only 20 KIAs, 84 WIAs and 152 WIAs/MIAs against them.

The French Army in the Alps has not only to fight on the borders but it is dispersed in the whole Savoie, Dauphiné and Alpes-Maritimes areas and it also had to stop the Germans in the Rhône and Isère valleys.

To complete the French troops already deployed on the northern flank of the Alps, General Olry forms a combat group (Groupement of General Cartier) to face the new German threats added to the Italian attack. The French troops facing the Germans will reach about 30,000 men in the Rhône and Isère valleys but all the units don’t arrive at the same moment. These forces consist roughly in:

INFANTRY:

- I/20e RIC

- II/20e RIC

- III/20e RIC

- IV/20e RIC

- V/27e RTNA

- VI/27e RTNA

- Bataillon de recrues X/341 (recruits)

- Bataillon de recrues XI/341 (recruits)

- V/28e RTT

- VI/28e RTT

- 17e BTM

- V/141e RIA

- IV/281e RI

- HQ and 1 battalion from 14e RTS

- III/25e RTS

- 2 companies from dépôt d'infanterie 142

- 3 companies from dépôt d'infanterie 143

- 1 battalion from dépôt d'infanterie 144

- 2 Moroccan tirailleurs battalions from Dépôt d'Infanterie 14

- 1 battalion from dépôt d'infanterie 147

- 1 company from 6e BCA

- About 14 engineer companies

- 614e RP (pioneer regiment)

- 3 signals companies

- 10 companies from the Air Force (1,200 men and 150 MGs)

- 1 Navy detachment

- 76e RR

- 1 half company from 143e RR (regional regiment)

- 1 battalion from 145e RR (regional regiment)

- I/142e RR (regional regiment)

- the 4th company from 343e RI

- CID n°66 (divisional training centre)

- 1 mobile guards platoon

- the "groupe forestier n°10" (probably a wood labor group)

ARTILLERY:

- 12 75mm guns ("portés" or on "trains rouleurs") (COA 314, Valence)

- 12 65mm Mle1906 mountain guns (94e RAM)

- 4 75mm Mle1897 field guns portés (Grpt de B.I. n°4)

- 2 75mm Mle1928 and 2 65mm Mle1906 mountain guns (Grpt de B.I. n°4)

- 1 platoon of 95mm guns (perhaps Mle1888)

- 1 anti-tank battery with 8 47mm Mle1937 AT guns (14e RM, Nîmes)

- 1 platoon of 75mm Mle1897 field guns (Dépôt n°97)

- 1 group of 75mm Mle1897 field guns portés

- 3 105mm field guns (20/113e RA)

- III/113e RA (COAH, Nîmes)

- IV/113e RA (COAH, Nîmes)

- 5-6 75mm T Mle1915 trench mortars (329e RA)

- 5-6 75mm T Mle1915 trench mortars (302e RA)

- 3 105mm L Mle1936 field guns

- 8 155mm GPF field guns (COA, Nîmes)

- 3 47mm Mle1937 AT guns (COA, Nîmes)

- 5th battery from 374e RALVF with 194mm TAZ guns (rail road guns)

- 1 battery of 240mm guns of the ALFV (rail road guns) - eventually

- 1 platoon of 75mm guns mounted on half-armored trucks (COA, Nîmes)

- Elements of the 182e RAL (155mm GPF guns)

- 2 25mm AA guns from 405e RADCA

- Elements of the 404e RADCA

- DCA 59/403 group

- 1 battery of 2 25mm AA guns (Dépôt, 504e RCC)

- The French Navy adds 21 47mm Mle1902 naval guns and 17 65mm naval guns (Mle1888/91 or Mle1902 ?) with 250 sailors, led by Capitaine de vaisseau de Bernard de Tessier. These guns need 48 hours to be deployed since they are on fixed mounts which need a concrete basement. Their high muzzle velocity enables nonetheless to use them in AT role.

- II/104e RALT (105mm Mle1936 and 155mm GPF field guns). The II/104e RALT is led by Capitaine Azaïs de Vergeron and has then a strength of 14 officers and 175 men. This group is formed with the remnants of I/104e RALT and II/104e RALT, which fought in Belgium. On May 29 they retreated to Dunkirk and the guns had finally been scuttled. The men left Dunkirk for England. Beginning June the men are back in France (Brest harbor) and transported to Lyon, where the new II/104e RALT is equipped with 105mm L Mle1936 field guns. These guns were originally planned for export to Rumania but they have no sight and the gunners are devoid of firing tables. The missing sights are replaced by other models. They are equipped with the new guns while the German tanks are entering in Lyon! Retreating to the south they receive also 155mm GPF guns coming from a dump in Toulon. General Olry picks this group to fight the Germans in the Isère. From the troops evacuated from Dunkirk (about 123,000 French) about 52,000 men back in France in June 9. Most of them were regrouped in Normandy but from this example it seems that some were sent as far as south-eastern France.

CAVALRY:

- 1 horse mounted squadron (Dépôt n°15)

- 1 motorcyclist squadron (Dépôt n°15)

- 60e GRDI

- 1 motorized squadron

- 1 spahi squadron (Dépôt 10e Dragons)

- 2 infantry companies (Dépôt 504e RCC and 10e Dragons)

TANKS:

- Compagnie de marche du 10e BCC (8 Renault B1bis tanks)

- 145e section de chars FT (3 Renault FT17 tanks)

- 1 platoon with 5 Renault R35 tanks (Dépôt 504e RCC)

- 2 tank platoons (Renault R35 or FT17 ?)

The "compagnie de marche du 10e BCC" is equipped with 8 tanks from factories:

- 2 B1bis from the FAMH factory (June 21)

- 6 B1bis from the FCM factory (June 23)

Four of these tanks have no turret. Apparently these tanks were operated by workers from the factories. These 8 tanks were hidden at the armistice in a tunnel next to Baux-de-Provence. They have been discovered in February 1941 by German troops after a denunciation. A couple of them were given to Italy.

MAP: German attacks against the French troops in the Alps and Savoy in June 1940

Source: "La bataille des Alpes 10-25 juin 1940" (General E. Plan and Eric Lefèvre)

German attacks in the Alps

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3. THE BATTLE

The battle in the Alps against the German forces can be depicted in 3 stages:

- Stage 1: June 15-17. The French Army prepares to stop the Germans on the Rhône River, between Bellegarde and Lyon.

- Stage 2: June 18-21. Lyon has been declared as "open city" to avoid destructions. The French Army organizes a new deployment on the Isère River and on the western edge of the heights of La Grande-Chartreuse. A second line is planned in the Drôme River and on the heights of the Vercors, of La Grande-Chartreuse and of the Bauges.

- Stage 3: June 22-25. The Germans are stopped on the first line planned in stage 2 and the French troops are reinforced each day. Preventive destructions are operated on roads and bridges to block eventual German moves. A 3rd line is planned on the Durance River.

3.1 Stage 1: June 15-17

The French Army prepares to stop the Germans on the Rhône River, between Bellegarde and Lyon. The command of the front is shared on June 15 by the "Secteur Défensif du Rhône" and the "14e Région Militaire" (Lyon) with regional troops only. The area north of the River is abandoned and various destructions are organized to delay the German troops.

General Cartier sends troops to reinforce this front on June 15-16 with:

- 25e RTS (from 8e DIC)

- II/20e RIC

- 2 artillery groups (75mm portés guns, 65mm moutain guns, 47mm AT guns)

- 1 motorcycle squadron from 55e GRDI (64e DI)

- 1 engineer company

Part of these troops is transferred under command of Army Group n°2 on June 17.

3.2 Stage 2: June 18-21

Lyon has been declared as "open city" by the political authorities (e.g. pressure of Edouard Herriot, the mayor of Lyon. Note: the government is at Bordeaux at this moment): no defense and no destructions can therefore be organized in the city. It becomes impossible to defend this front since the 10 bridges of Lyon cannot be defended.

Thousands of men from the regional troops as well as a lot of equipment will not be evacuated from this front due to lack of transport and will be captured because of this political decision.

General Olry will learn the lesson and later in the Isère, the mayors asking for their city to become "open cities" will be arrested.

The French Army organizes a new defensive line of 150 km in the Isère. The city of Voreppe is a key point in the valley. The regional troops from the "15e Région Militaire" (Marseile), from the "Secteur Défensif du Rhône" and the forces from XIVth Army Corps (Tarentaise and Maurienne) are reinforced on June 18 by the I/20e RIC, III/20e RIC and 1 75mm field guns battery. Several sources mention also 2 194mm GPF self-propelled tracked field guns but it seems to be a mistake, the guns are probably rather 194mm TAZ rail road guns.

On June 19, the German Army crosses the Rhône and Saône Rivers at Lyon. The Germans plan to attack the French lines in the Alps in the rears, while the Italians are attacking on the front. The meeting of German and Italian troops is planned at Chambéry but it will never occur.

The Germans are in front of the destroyed bridges on the Rhône River at Sault-Brénaz and Lagnieu. They try to cross on June 20 but they withdraw in front of the French resistance.

The "groupement Cartier" is still attached to the 2nd Army south of Lyon and cannot operate within the Army of the Alps. Fighting rear guard skirmishes, the "groupement Cartier" moves back on the Isère River during the June 20-21 night. The "groupement Cartier" moves to Voreppe, the Guiers River and the Montagne de l'Epine, where it is again attached to the XIVth Army Corps.

The Germans are stopped on the first line planned in stage 2 and the French troops are reinforced each day. Preventive destructions are operated on roads and bridges to block eventual German moves.

All the bridges covering the flank of the first line (on the Isère and on the Rhône Rivers) are destroyed in front of the enemy, except 1 or 2 passages enabling communication with the "groupement Cartier" and the planned retreat of these troops. The flow rate of the Isère River is increased from 600 to 1,100 cubic metres / second and its level climbs from 1 meter. In this condition it would be very difficult for the German engineers to cross it.

On June 21, a third line is also planned on the Durance River (General Gérin)

After reorganization, the defense of the Isère River (from the Rhône to Saint-Nazaire) is given to General Vichier-Guerre with only weak elements: 10 infantry battalions, 11 75mm field guns, 10 65mm mountain guns, several rail-road artillery batteries and a few Renault R35 tanks (park of the 504e RCC) coming from school units.

The "Secteur Défensif du Rhône" (S.D.R.) cannot fulfil its mission anymore since the French Army has lost the right to defend Lyon, the 3rd biggest French city, overlapping the Rhône River. The S.D.R. has anyway only 4 infantry battalions, 11 47mm AT guns and the 1st spahis brigade (north African light cavalry) has been sent south of Lyon.

The 4.PzD reaches the Isère River at Romans, where the 2 bridges have been blown on June 20. The areas facing the bridges are under the fire of 2 French 65mm naval guns used as AT guns (platoon commanded by Enseigne de Vaisseau Vassal). These guns are on fixed concrete emplacements, in the middle of the road, without protection! They welcome warmly the first German troops. The gun defending the first bridge is destroyed but the gun defending the second bridge manages to destroy 1 armored car and 1 truck. The Schützen-Regiment 12 (12th rifle regiment) leaves its KIAs in Romans and retreats on the heights.

A German tank platoon reaches Saint-Nazaire and the bridge, which has been blown at 12h30. The French naval gun defending this bridge manages to destroy 3 tanks from Panzer-Regiment 36. A second French gun is destroyed by German mortars and artillery.

Facing a stiff French resistance, the 4.PzD is then ordered to limit its action to patrols. Downstream of Voreppe, the XVI.AK is preparing the crossing of the Isère River at Pont-de-l’Isère, planned for June 23-24 at night.

The objectives of Grenoble and Chambéry are the more important ones. The Germans would like to reach them quickly in order to attack the French troops facing the Italians in the back.

The Italians have started their offensive on June 21. The aim of the Italians is to have as much French territory as possible to be able to negotiate something during the Armistice. General Halder, at this moment commander of staff of the German Army HQ wrote: “On June 24, the Italians are stopped in front of the Army of the Alps, without hope of success. They propose then to the Germans to airlift battalions to Lyon. These battalions would be deployed behind the German troops in the Alps in order to seize the southern area of France.” Facing a German refusal, the Italians will sign the Armistice agreement as such on June 24 at 19h30.

On June 21, the "groupement Cartier" has evacuated the position of the Rhône to be deployed on the first line in the area of the XIVth Army Corps. With 10 infantry battalions and 35 guns it has the task to cover the rear of the XIVth Army Corps (engaged against the Italians) in front of the Germans, by blocking the accesses to Grenoble and Chambéry. The "groupement Cartier" consists then in:

- "Sous-groupement" from General Clarion is deployed on the Rhône River downstream from Culoz. It blocks the road from Yenne to the Bourget by the pass and tunnel of the Mont du Chat. It has 1 battalion from Dépôt d'Infanterie 147 and the 142e groupe regional du train (logistics/transport unit). They are reinforced by miscellaneous troops with the manpower of 1 battalion on June 22.

- "Sous-groupement" from Colonel de Bissy holds the Guiers River and controls the accesses to Chambéry by the passes of l'Epine and of Couz. It has the III/25e

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特别提示：本帖子在 2010-3-14 0:33:20 由用户 412886049 编辑过

The French guns destroy at first 4 German tanks. For example, sailor Savin destroys 1 German tank and kills several motorcyclists during this first German attack against Voreppe. Surprised by the resistance, the Germans move back to Moirans and wait for daybreak.

The 3.PzD launches then about 50 AFVs against Voreppe[沃雷普]. Once again, the French guns block the German advance. The Germans begin then to deploy their artillery batteries at Charnècles-Creil, on the heights of Parménie, at Le-Grand-Lemps and at Rives.

A new assault is planned for 17h00 with the II/Schützen-Regiment 3 supported by 6 tanks and artillery. This 3rd German attack fails like the previous ones because of the action of the French artillery. 3 tanks are destroyed by the French artillery and the German infantry looses 11 KIAs and 40+ WIAs. The Germans ask for a strong artillery barrage to be able to retreat in good conditions but the French counter-battery fire neutralizes the action of the enemy batteries. The fire is very well directed by the forward observer (Capitaine Lambert) deployed on the Bec-de-l’Echaillon (height of 628 meters with a panoramic view 20 km around). According to the war diary of the 3rd PzD, “the French artillery is admirably camouflaged and impossible to locate”.

The Germans plan then a 4th assault with a strong artillery support for June 24. This renewed attack is combined with an outflanking attack coming from La Placette pass, supposed to seize Saint-Julien-de-Ratz and to cut the communications between the "Sous-groupement" from Colonel de Héricourt and the "Sous-groupement" from Colonel Brillat-Savarin.

The battle remains long indecisive, until the arrival of the II/104e RALT with its 105mm Mle1936 and 155mm GPF field guns. The batteries moved on mountain roads during the night, all lights off and under a heavy rain in order to reach their new positions.

Commandant Dutrou (staff from XIVth Army Corps) worked all night long to prepare a detailed map for each battery and to deploy telephone cables for all the planned artillery positions and observatories.

Capitaine Azaïs de Vergeron moves himself to the Bec-de-l’Echaillon. The guns will have to fire at ranges of 8-12 km for the 4th battery of Capitaine Leguay (105mm L Mle1936), 9-13 km for the 5th battery of Capitaine Ghika (105mm L Mle1936) and 11-17 km for the 8th battery of Capitaine de Sérigny (155mm GPF).

All the enemy movements and positions can be seen from the observation post. Overconfident, thinking that they have only several 75mm and 47mm guns used in AT role to face, the Germans don’t try to hide seriously.

At 11h00 the German artillery starts opening the way to the Panzer-Regiment 5. The bulk of the 3.PzD is following in column on the road, thinking that the spearhead will easily pierce the French lines.

Suddenly the first French 105mm shells explode at the crossing of Moirans, next to German tanks. These are only adjustment fire since the firing tables are missing and the available shells are not the standard ones for this gun. At 12h00, the 105mm L Mle1936 batteries fire for effect. On its side, the 155mm GPF battery will only be ready to fire at 16h30.

The rain stops and the clouds are replaced by a clear sky. 2 German columns are stopped on the RN85 between Moirans and Charnècles (armored cars, tanks, artillery, trucks, motorcycles etc.).

The 4th and 5th batteries from II/104e RALT fire 32 shells and spread havoc amongst the first column which is dispersed in disorder. The road is blocked by destroyed vehicles.

The 2nd German column is following the 1st one on the same road. It is unable to make a U turn and is targeted at its turn. 24 shells are exploding among the German troops in movement, disorganizing them.

The commander of the II/104e RALT sees a castle in the plain he is observing, the castle of Vergeron… his own castle, explaining his perfect knowledge of the area. On the roads, the cars of the German high ranked officers are recognized thanks to the escorting motorcycles around them. They are chased by the French 105mm shells.

The civilian airfield of the Dauphiné is located at 2 km from Moirans. It is full of supply tractors, trucks and German planes taking off or landing. 40 shells reach the airfield, triggering a panic and a big fire.

Along the railroad, at the Grand Verger, there is a park with stopped German tanks. This time the 155mm GPF battery is ready. This objective is treated with 40 105mm shells and 20 155mm shells. Many German tanks are put on fire. Another tank concentration is shelled by 54 105mm shells and 20 155mm shells for the same result.

At 18h00, the German batteries deployed north and north-east of Moirans are targeted. They are firing against Grenoble. One battery after the other is silenced by the French artillery.

A German heavy battery is spotted at Saint-Jean-de-Moirans and receives 80 105mm shells and 20 155mm shells. Grenoble will not be shelled again by the Germans. At 18h30 all the German batteries are neutralized.

Around Voiron, a big vehicle park is forming. It is targeted with 94 105mm shells and 20 155mm shells. High flames can now be seen over the park. Capitaine Leguay is now targeting German mortar emplacements as well as troops concentrations.

All the German attacks and movements have been blocked by the French artillery. The enemy is simply unable to locate the origin of the shelling. The German planes don’t manage to spot the French batteries and observatories positions.

The outflanking German attack is a failure too. Everywhere the French troops defeat the German attacks. The few guns of the II/104e RALT and the crew evacuated from Dunkirk played a major role in this success.

9 German artillery batteries have been neutralized, various guns have been destroyed on the field, 2 tank parks contains now many wrecks, ammunition dumps and fuel supplies are on fire, an airfield is out of use and the 3.PzD sustained more than 1,000 KIAs and WIAs.

Capitaine de Vergeron receives a note from XIVth Army Corps’ HQ. Due to the close Armistice he is ordered to stop the combats at 0h35 and to retreat.

Grenoble, the city that General Beynet wanted to declare as “open city” (but General Olry always refused) is finally saved. Voreppe remains French like Grenoble when the cease-fire occurred.

3.3.2 The battle of Les Echelles

The town is between the Guiers and the Guiers-Mort Rivers. It is controlling a crossroads between RN6 and RN524, leading to Chambéry and Grenoble. It is therefore a main objective for the Germans.

The French have prepared the defense: the bridges have been blown, the town has been fortified, the roads and streets are blocked, firing holes have been prepared in the houses, the naval AT guns are controlling the access roads etc.

Les Echelles is in the area hold by the "Sous-groupement" from Colonel de Bissy. The French troops in the town consist in:

- 1 company from III/25e RTS (Capitaine Tournier)

- 1 company from 215e RI (Capitaine Viane)

- 1 engineer platoon

- 2 47mm Mle1902 naval guns manned by sailors

- 2 75mm Mle1897 field gun batteries

The first troops arrived on June 18. The concrete basement for the naval guns is still wet when the combats start.

On June 24, 3 German columns are directed by reconnaissance planes, which spot the single bridge in the area that has not been destroyed at Saint-Albin-de-Vaulserre. The bridge had been kept intact by the engineers to enable troops to retreat. It is only defended by several men from 145e RR (Régiment Régional = 3rd line troops), who flee at the arrival of the German armored forces.

The Germans from Kampfgruppe Kleeman use this bridge to move towards La Bridoire and Les Echelles.

At 7h00, the spearheads from 3.PzD arrive at Les Echelles. A 47mm naval gun opens fire at 50 meters and hits 2 tanks. The concrete, which was not dry enough, is crac

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4.1 June 20

On June 20, the 1e BS is attached to XVIIIth Army Corps and is ordered to block the north to south axis in the Rhône Valley. The defense is mainly prepared at Condrieu and at the level of Annonay and Andance.

In front of these positions, Commandant Fauré with a group of squadrons from 6e RSA have the task to establish early contact with the enemy and then to fight delaying and harassment combats, while retreating to the Condrieu - Chavaney level.

The 1e BS is reinforced by:

- 20e GRCA (Lieutenant-Colonel Cottin – reconnaissance group from XIVth Army Corps)

- 3 75mm Mle1897 field guns (Capitaine Chapuis) (motorized)

- 1 regional battalion from 75e RR (3rd line troops, Alsatians)

- 2 47mm Mle1937 AT guns

The 75mm guns are remnants from the 311e RAP (Régiment d’Artillerie Porté), which fought lately hard against the German tanks in the Champagne area. The hydraulic breaks of the guns are currently out of use. Special oil has to be found in Valence.

There is a first strongpoint around Condrieu with:

- 6e RSA (-) [except the squadrons of Commandant Fauré]

- 1 regional battalion from 75e RR

- 2 47mm Mle1937 AT guns

The defense is then anchored around Annonay and Andance with elements of the 4e RSM:

- Half of the support / heavy weapons squadron

- Half of a squadron

Troops from the 4e RSM are placed in reserve around Pélussin:

- Half of the support / heavy weapons squadron

- 1 squadron

- 2 25mm AT guns

4.2 June 21

The 1e BS is always very well informed about the enemy by its own patrols but also by the civilian telephone network and the post office employees.

The troops are ordered to retreat on the Annonay - Andance line. The regional battalion is transported to Tournon, forming a line behind the 1e BS.

The spahis brigade is reinforced by 1 65mm Mle1906 mountain gun battery from 94e RAM. It is the instruction battery from the depot at Nice, commanded by Sous-Lieutenant Palloc. It is motorized with brand new vehicles.

- The 4e RSM holds the line between Annonay and Andance (excluded). Many outposts, blockades and patrols are organized (Davezieux, Saint-Cyr, Saint-Etienne-de-Valoux etc.)

- The 6e RSA with the 47mm Mle1937 AT guns holds the line between Andance, Sarras and Arras-sur-Rhône. In front of these troops, there is a strong outpost/blockade organized at Serrières with squadron Chabot.

- The group of squadrons of Commandant Fauré is maintained in reserve at Sarras.

- The brigade HQ is installed at Sarras.

- The 65mm guns battery is deployed on the heights dominating Andance. The 75mm guns are deployed at Saint-Bosé, 3 km south of Andance. They have an interdiction mission: controlling the roads going parallel east and west of the Rhône River.

Each spahis regiment has 350 AT mines and prepares its defense. Gasoline is stored in the higher levels of the houses to spread it on enemy tanks passing in the streets. Many traps are installed as well as wires on the roads to kill German motorcyclists.

The AT mines proved to be efficient. Several overconfident German tanks exploded on them and it forced the enemy to advance cautiously and slowly.

During the night, a German spearhead made of motorcyclists and armored cars capture a suspended bridge over the Rhône River at Saint-Vallier. The middle of this bridge is higher than the ends and therefore the men at one end cannot see the other end.

The Germans enter in Saint-Vallier and capture a small group of old 3rd line soldiers regulating the traffic. They learn that the other side of the bridge is defended by spahis. One civilian is sent to the spahis with the message that a German officer would like to meet the commander of the post.

The French NCO follows the civilian… but he is immediately captured by the Germans despite his resistance. French teens and their bicycles quickly move to warn the French troops of what happened. Angry and frightening that the bridge could be blown, the Germans take 50 civilians as hostages (1 of them, probably a very old man, dies). The Germans threaten to kill the civilians if the bridge is destroyed. Finally, during the night, the Germans abandon Saint-Vallier and moves back.

At Serrières, squadron Chabot defeats all the German attacks but at 1h30 it is ordered to retreat in the French lines at Annonay.

The Germans launch also a serious attack against Andance with a rifle battalion and numerous tanks. The combat is very violent and reaches the center of the town. The enemy infantry is supported by the direct fire of the tanks but also by light artillery and mortars. Lieutenant-Colonel Goutel’s HQ is near to fall in enemy hands but a French counter-attack forces the Germans to retreat.

4.3 June 22

At 2h00, the brigade HQ begins to move from Sarras to Eclassan. It is installed in the “château des Prés”, a castle belonging to Commandant de la Roque, the commander of the 14e BCA. The castle is located on a hill at about 450 meters high. It dominates the entire valley.

The XVIIIth Army Corps is impressed by the duration and intensity of the combats during the night. It fears that the spahis brigade will disappear in future combats. The 1e BS is ordered to retreat on the Annonay – Ardoix – Tournon line. The strongpoint at Sarras will have to fight as long as possible to enable the retreat of its neighbours.

Nonetheless, Colonel Jouffrault is completely opposed to these retreat orders. He thinks it would be better to anchor the defense as close as possible to the Rhône River. He sees no reason to retreat since all the German assaults of the night have been defeated.

General Doyen leaves finally his HQ at Lamastre to come himself to evaluate the situation. In Sarras, he sees the spahis very confident, with a strong moral and in well prepared emplacements. He chooses to cancel the retreat orders.

Squadron Chabot (6e RSA) is moved in reserve at Saint-Jeure-d’Ay and 1 47mm AT gun is moved from Annonay to Tournon to reinforce the regional battalion.

Colonel Jouffrault and one officer of his staff visits all the positions and find the troops very confident and very well deployed everywhere.

The 65m mountain guns battery from Sous-Lieutenant Palloc shells German positions around Andancette. A second 65mm mountain guns battery is attached to 1e BS. It is deployed on the heights south of Tournon.

Everywhere the French horse mounted or motorcycle patrols are very active. Important German motorized columns are spotted on the Lyon – Marseille road (east of the Rhône River). The 75mm battery has opened fire on these objectives. The 65mm battery continues at first to treat objectives around Andancette but engages also the German convoys. The traffic is interrupted on this road. Each time German motor vehicles try to advance they are quickly blocked by the barrage.

One German convoy, trying to avoid the French artillery, chooses a road leading to Andancette. This road is directly in the axis of the 65mm guns battery. Palloc opens fire on the first vehicles and destroys them. The convoy is blocked. Palloc sees the vehicles at the end of the convoy trying to manoeuvre. He opens fire on them and destroys them too. The whole convoy is now blocked and systematically targeted. The wrecks will remain for long on this road.

German light elements cross Saint-Vallier and reach Tournon but they find the well-prepared positions of the 75e RR.

It is to note that most of the French communications are depending from the civilian telephone network. Saint-Vallier is really a key in this network and is occupied by the Germans, who have still not yet cut the lines. The civilians in the post office continue to transfer the communications. They would probably be shot if caught working for the French Army.

The Germans are reinforcing their troops in Andancette and preparing an assault against Andance a

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