Battle of Authion

Battle of Authion
Part of Second Battle of the Alps
The Redoute des Trois Communes in 2005, showing battle damage
Date 10–12 April 1945 (2 days) Location Authion massif, France Result Allied victory
Belligerents
Germany  Italian Social Republic	France  United States
Commanders and leaders
Theo-Helmut Lieb Tito Agosti	Pierre Garbay
Units involved
34th Infantry Division 2nd Division "Littorio"	1st Free French Division 3e RIA 1st Brigade 2nd Brigade 4th Brigade[1]
Strength
Germany: 5,200 men Italy: 4,800[2]	16,000 unknown number of planes, tanks and artillery
Casualties and losses
Germany: 120 killed 480 wounded 242 captured Italy: 5 killed 155 captured[3]	280 killed 1,000 wounded[4]

The Battle of Authion was a military engagement that took place towards the end of World War II, shortly before the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945. Units of the French Army were sent to the French Alps to clear an important route from central France to Italy. A critical choke point was the 2,080 metre (6,820 feet) high Authion massif, held by determined but weakened German and Italian forces.

Field Marshal Harold Alexander authorised the assault on Authion on 10 April 1945.