The Carragher Pass is a pass on the northern border of Italy and France. It is a gentle slope between two mountains. Since Roman times, it has been one of the main routes to the Savoy region.
However, in 1860, in order to unify the kingdom, the then Kingdom of Sardinia unified northern Italy with the help of the French in return for the Savoy and Nice regions.
At this point, the Carragher Pass, which belonged to the Savoy, belonged to France.
Later, as the relationship between Italy and France became tense, strong fortifications were built at checkpoints like this.
As for the Carrage Pass, the same is true. The French army built forts, bunkers and other fortifications on both sides of the mountain. A battalion is stationed at this pass all year round, and after the war between the two countries broke out, the strength of the troops here increased to a regiment.
As for why only one regiment of troops is stationed, it is because this is already the maximum number of troops that can be stationed at the mountain pass. No more troops will be effective, and will instead cause a waste of troops.
You must know that this mountain pass is located at an altitude of 1,800 meters, and the mountains on both sides are more than 3,000 meters above sea level. It is impossible for the army to pass through. Besides, it is October, and the weather is getting colder. For this high-altitude area, this
Will mean snowy weather.
As for the previous vigorous Italian offensive, the French defenders at the pass also encountered it. Two regiments of Italian troops launched an offensive against them. Due to the heroic fighting of the defenders, the Italian army lost thousands of people.
There was no choice but to retreat after that.
For this reason, Colonel Bielsa, the commander of the garrison, also received a commendation for repelling the invading enemy at the cost of only losing more than 300 people.
Colonel Bielsa, who had received the award, was full of confidence. He was waiting for the Italian army to attack again so that he could receive a greater award or even be promoted.
The reason why he was so confident was the terrain of the Karag Pass. It can be said that it is a standard that one man can guard the pass and ten thousand men cannot open it. Although the times are developing, the huge terrain advantage is still an advantage. Although it is not possible to hold the pass alone,
But hundreds or even thousands are fine.
Even if the Italians go crazy, the defenders at Carragher Pass will not be afraid, because there is a regiment of troops stationed in Modana, more than 20 kilometers behind them, and it only takes one day for reinforcements to arrive. In two days, the garrison will
The 39th Infantry Division in Grenoble could also reach the mountain pass.
Therefore, although the Kalage Pass seems to have a small number of troops, it is actually impregnable. Moreover, the pass is only so big. At most, one regiment can attack, and two regiments take turns to reach the limit. No more, and there will be no room.
How could the Italian army, as the attacker, not be clear about the situation at the Carragher Pass? Conventional methods would not work for this pass, and unconventional measures must be used.
It was a bit cold in the Alps under the night sky, so the mountaineers went home early to rest. However, in an inaccessible valley, there were people active at this time.
At this time, they were listening to the movement in the sky while pouring the gasoline in their hands on the three piles of wood.
"Don't play with fire."
One of the leading men blew out the lighter in the hands of a teammate next to him who wanted to light a cigarette.
"Captain, I'm sorry that I got addicted to cigarettes and forgot about it."
Faced with the captain's actions, the teammate, who was addicted to smoking, could only put away the lighter and cigarettes.
They are members of the hunter brigade under the Army. They are the Army's professional soldiers who are most proficient in mountain warfare. They can live alone in the Alps and are excellent scouts and great hunters.
However, their mission this time has nothing to do with hunting, but a guidance work.
They were conducting guidance for the airship, and besides them, there were several teams of people conducting guidance work for it.
"It's already the appointed time, why hasn't the airship arrived yet?"
"Just wait a little longer, don't be impatient."
Although the temperature has not dropped significantly yet, the temperature in the mountainous areas at night is still several degrees below zero, and with the mountain wind blowing like this, it is easy for people who are not familiar with it to get caught.
As time passed little by little, everyone who was originally calm finally became a little anxious.
Just when someone was about to speak, suddenly there was a buzzing mechanical sound in the sky. Anyone familiar with the work of airships knows that this is the sound of an airship in operation.
"They are coming, light the fire quickly and mark the location."
Following the captain's shout, five wood piles burning with blazing flames immediately appeared in the mountain col. The flames broke the cover of the night, pointing out the direction of the incoming airship, and of course also indicating their identities.
After the fire was lit, the buzzing in the sky became louder.
Soon a huge airship appeared above them. Then several ropes were lowered, and figures descended from the airship to the ground along the ropes.
"Hello, who is Captain Franz?"
An officer with the rank of major immediately asked the person who was meeting them as soon as they landed.
"Hello, I'm Franz."
The big man who had stopped the team members from smoking stood up.
After seeing Captain Franz stand up, the major immediately handed over a cigarette, and the two of them smoked cigarettes and listened to the major's introduction.
"Captain Franz, I am Major Trevor of the 1st Parachute Battalion. Due to time constraints, I will keep the story short. We now need a guide to take us to the Vasco slopes."
The Vasco Slope that Major Trevor mentioned is a highland located between the Carragher Pass and Modana. As long as this area is occupied, the connection between the two places will be blocked.
Since this place is so important, the French army will certainly not fail to pay attention, and a company of French troops is stationed here.
After hearing Major Trevor's idea of going to the Vasco Slope, Captain Franz asked with concern. "I wonder how many people the Major will take?"
"Two platoons of troops."
"Two platoons?"
"Yes, two platoons."
Major Trevor is so confident that with two platoons he wants to take down a French company defending the Vasco slopes?
Not too confident, mainly because Major Trevor believed that his two platoons were enough to deal with a company of French troops stationed on the slopes of Vasco.
As a force that mainly fights behind enemy lines, paratroopers have certain pursuits in terms of training and firepower.
Needless to say, training requires the most rigorous training. As for firepower, paratroopers are currently the only unit in the world that uses machine guns at the squad level.
Even at the company level, paratroopers are armed to the teeth, with heavy machine guns and mortars as standard equipment.
Of course, paratroopers carry so many automated weapons, so they will need a lot of ammunition. However, considering the combat environment in which paratroopers are located, the only ammunition that can be supplied to paratroopers is airships from the sky.
Since they have such luxurious supply lines, it is destined that paratroopers cannot be used like ordinary troops.
After all, its one-time cost is too high. Except for some critical tasks, Italy itself cannot afford to use it.
Since paratroopers are so valuable, they need to be used in key places, and seizing the Carragher Pass to open up the passage to the Savoy region is definitely very suitable for the Italian army.
Of course, this airdrop was not just a small number of people. In order to open up the mountain pass, Italy prepared to transport two thousand paratroopers to the back of the mountain pass.
On the one hand, it was to prevent French reinforcements, and on the other hand, it was to attack the defenders of the mountain pass from behind.
