My Italian: Chapter 604 Battle of Carragher Pass Part 1

The Carragher Pass is a checkpoint on the northern border of Italy and France. It is a gentle **** between the two mountains. Since Roman times, it has been one of the main roads leading to the Savoy region.

However, in 1860, in order to unify the great cause, 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 belongs to Savoy, belongs to France.

Later, as the relationship between Italy and France became tense, strong fortifications were built on key points like this,

As for the Karage pass, the same is true. The French army built forts, bunkers and other fortifications on both sides of the mountain. A battalion was stationed at the 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 is stationed, because this is already the maximum force that can be stationed at the mountain pass. No amount of more can play a more role, but it will 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's October and the weather is getting cooler. For this high altitude area, this will mean snowy weather.

As for the vigorous Italian offensive before, the French defenders of the mountain pass also encountered it. Two regiments of Italian troops launched an offensive against them. Under the heroic fighting of the defenders, the Italian army lost thousands of people. After that, you can only retreat.

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 received the award, was full of confidence. He waited for the Italian army to attack again, so that he could get a greater award and even a promotion.

The reason why he is so confident is the terrain of the Karage Pass, which can be described as a standard one man guards the gate and ten thousand men can't open it. Although the times are developing, the huge terrain advantage is still an advantage. Although it is not really possible for one person to guard the pass, hundreds of thousands of people can do it.

Even if the Italians go crazy, the defenders of the Karage Pass will not be afraid, because there is a regiment garrison in Modana, more than 20 kilometers behind them, and it only takes one day for reinforcements to arrive. In two days, the 39th Infantry Division stationed in Grenoble was also able to reach the mountain pass.

Therefore, although the Karaage Pass does not seem to have many troops, it is actually solid. Besides, the pass is only so big. At most one regiment can attack and two regiments take turns to attack. There is no room for more.

Regarding the situation at the Karage Pass, how could the Italian army, as the attacker, not be clear about it? Conventional methods for this pass will not work, and some unconventional means must be used.

The Alps under the night sky are a bit cold, so those mountain people went home early to rest. However, in an inaccessible valley, there are people active at this time.

At this time, while listening to the movement in the sky, they poured the gasoline in their hands on the three wood piles.

"Don't play with fire."

A leading man blew out the lighter in the hands of his teammates who wanted to light cigarettes.

"Captain, I'm sorry I'm addicted to cigarettes, I forgot."

Faced with the captain's actions, the teammate, who was addicted to cigarettes, could only put away the lighter and cigarettes.

They are members of the Hunter Brigade under the Army, and they are professional soldiers who are most proficient in mountain warfare. They can live alone in the Alps, and they are excellent scouts and great hunters.

However, their mission this time has nothing to do with hunting, but a guiding job.

They are conducting guidance for the airship, and besides them, there are several teams of people conducting guidance work for it.

"It's already the appointed time, why hasn't the airship arrived yet?"

"Wait a little longer, don't worry."

Although the temperature has not dropped significantly yet, the temperature in the mountainous area at night is 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, everyone who was originally calm finally felt a little anxious.

Just when someone was about to speak, suddenly there was a buzzing sound of mechanical rotation in the sky. Anyone who is familiar with the work of airships knows that this is the sound of airships running.

"They're coming, light the fire and mark the location."

Following the captain's shout, five piles of wood burning with raging flames immediately appeared in the mountain depression. The flames broke through the cover of the night, pointed out the direction for the coming airship, and of course showed their identities.

After the fire was lit, the humming in the sky became louder.

Soon a huge airship appeared above their heads. Then a few 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 here to meet them as soon as he landed.

"Hi, I'm Franz."

The big man who stopped the team members from smoking stood up.

After seeing Captain Franz standing up, the major immediately handed over a cigarette, and the two of them smoked cigarettes while listening to the major's introduction.

"Captain Franz, I'm Major Trevor of the 1st Parachute Battalion, and I'll make a long story short because of time. We need a guide now to take us to Vasco Slope."

The Vasco Slope that Major Trevor mentioned is a highland located between Carragher Pass and Modana. As long as it is occupied here, the connection between the two places will be blocked.

Since this place is so important, of course the French army will not ignore it, and a company of French troops is stationed here.

After hearing Major Trevor's idea of ​​going to Vasco Slope, Captain Franz asked with concern. "I don't know how many people the major will bring?"

"Two platoons of troops."

"Two rows?"

"Yes, two platoons."

Major Trevor is so confident that he wants to take down a company of the French army defending the Vasco **** with two platoons of troops?

Not too confident, mainly because Major Trevor believed that his two platoons were enough to deal with a company of the French army stationed on Vasco Slope.

As a unit that mainly fights behind enemy lines, paratroopers will pursue training and firepower.

Needless to say, training, it has always been the most rigorous training. As for firepower, paratroopers are currently the only force in the world that uses machine guns at the squad level.

Even at the first level of the company ~www.mtlnovel.com~ the paratroopers are armed to the teeth, with heavy machine guns and mortars as standard equipment.

Of course, paratroopers carry so many automated weapons, so the ammunition required will not be small. However, considering the combat environment in which the paratroopers are located, the only thing that can provide them with ammunition supplies is the airship from the air.

Since there is such a luxurious supply line, it is also doomed that the use of paratroopers cannot be used like ordinary troops.

After all, the cost of using it once is too high, except for some critical tasks, otherwise Italy can't afford it.

Since paratroopers are so precious, they need to be used in key places, and it is absolutely suitable for the Italian army to seize the Karage Pass to open the passage to the Savoy area.

Of course, this airdrop was not just such a small number of people. In order to get through the mountain pass, Italy prepared to transport 2,000 paratroopers to the back of the mountain pass in one go.

On the one hand, it was to prevent the reinforcements of the French army, and on the other hand, it was to attack the defenders of the mountain pass from behind.

Please remember the first domain name of this book: . :