page_title: Belvédère
section_title: The last occupation
hierarchical_section_title: Belvédère / History / The last occupation
caption_attribution_description: Français&#160;: La Redoute (2080 m) Authion été 2005 photo prise par G.Bertothy
context_page_description: Belvédère is a commune in the Vesubie valley north of Nice in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France. The village of Belvédère is an attractive village sitting at the entrance of the Gordolasque valley on the edge of the Mercantour National Park.
  Over its history the Commune of Belvédère has been part of the Kingdom of Burgundy, the Kingdom of Sardinia, the First French Empire, the Duchy of Savoy and since 1860 modern France. The last battle on French soil in the Second World War, the Battle of Authion, was fought on the hills above the village.
  The world famous novel Darkness at Noon was completed in a villa nearby and the television series Belle and Sebastian was shot in and around the village.
context_section_description: With the rise of fascism in Italy a new menace arrived at the frontier as the Italians, encouraged by Hitler, made their presence felt. Their occupation only was terminated by the final defeat of the German army.
   In the spring of 1945 the Authion massif above Belvédère was occupied by the 34th DI and troops of German mountain brigade in a network of fortifications: Forca (2078 m), Three Communes redoubt (2080 m),  Plan Caval (1932 m) and fort Mille Fourches (2042 m). On 10 April 1945 the French 1st free French division (MFO) (BIMP), Pacific marine infantry battalion units and mechanized elements of the 1st Regiment fusiliers sailors, supported by artillery and aviation, launched an assault on German positions from the South. After a difficult fight, the Mille Fourches fort fell on 11 April, followed by Forca and Caval. Finally on the 12th, the redoubt of Three Communes was taken by a tank supported by five volunteer soldiers. At the end of a perilous ascent, Corporal Césaire Le Mercier, a Breton belonging to the 1st BIMP made it into the fort and emerged with 38 prisoners. The entire German front collapsed on 24 April 1945.
  Hundreds of soldiers from both sides lost their lives in this battle (273 killed, wounded 644), one of the last on French territory. It allowed French troops to continue to Piedmont following the orders of General de Gaulle's who wished to occupy territory with a view to obtaining border changes in future peace negotiations. This French attitude led to tensions and hostilities with the American allies, who were keen to prevent the dismemberment of the Italian territories by vengeful victors. Belvédère was at one point evacuated and then reoccupied.
caption: The Redoute des Trois Communes  showing battle damage
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