page_title: Defensive Organization of Corsica
section_title: Concept and organization
hierarchical_section_title: Defensive Organization of Corsica / Concept and organization
caption_attribution_description: insigne régimentaire du 28e régiment de tirailleurs Tunisiens. ما شاء الله (God willings)
context_page_description: The Defensive Organization of Corsica was the French military organization that in 1940 was responsible for the defense of the French island of Corsica against a potential invasion by Fascist Italy. As part of the overall effort to fortify France's borders which included the Maginot Line, the fixed Corsican defenses were constructed in parallel with the Maginot Line, using the same organizational structure and similar designs, albeit scaled back in size, cost and fighting power. The Corsican defenses were designed to deter an Italian landing on the south end of Corsica, and to support artillery batteries capable of controlling the Strait of Bonifacio between Corsica and the Italian island of Sardinia, separated by only twelve kilometers. As World War II unfolded, no attempt was made by Italian forces to mount an opposed landing on Corsica. The island was instead occupied in November 1942. In 1943 Corsica saw fighting when German forces moved from Sardinia. Most of the fortified positions remain to the present day.
context_section_description: During the inter-war period, Corsica's defenses were first examined in 1926, when General Debeney requested a study of the island's defenses from Vice-Admiral Salaun, the French Navy chief of staff. The island was only twelve kilometres (7.5 miles) from the Italian island of Sardinia across the Strait of Bonifacio, and was regarded as weakly defended. Salaun's report indicated that the island's capital, Ajaccio, was relatively well defended by old 120 mm (4.7 in) field guns, but that the areas on Bonifacio in the south and Bastia in the north were vulnerable to amphibious assault. Both attack and defense would be hampered by the island's poorly developed road network. Bonifacio, the closest point to Sardinia, could control the straits and provide a means of counterattacking Italian territory. In 1928 Bonifacio received five batteries of mounting a total of eight 190 mm guns and six 95 mm guns, both types of late 19th-century manufacture. At the same time, two 340 mm gun turrets were proposed for Bonifacio, similar to those eventually installed at Battery Cepet in Toulon and at Bizerte in Tunisia. The 200 million-franc cost of these batteries caused the turret project to be placed in a low-priority status.
  General Fournier, in charge of Corsican defenses in 1932, was directed by the Ministry of War on 13 April 1928 to prepare a defensive plan for the island. Fournier prepared an ambitious plan, proposing roads, airfields, telephone communications and other measures, which were projected to cost as much as 6 billion francs. Fournier was told to make do with 42 million francs. Exercises in 1929 showed up the vulnerability of Bonifacio, prompting Fournier to propose a 10 million-franc program to defend the southern beaches and the roads near Bonifacio. However, while the French Senate was amenable to funding, none was provided, and the 42 million-franc program was cut from the 1930 budget.
  Bonifacio's defenses were augmented in October 1932 with eight 194 mm guns in the town's citadel, four 138 mm guns and four 75 mm anti-aircraft guns at Bocca-di-Valle, four 145/155 guns at Sotta and six 164 mm guns at Monte-Léone. Many of these weapons had sufficient range to fire across the straits, particularly the guns at Sotta, which had a range of 20 kilometres (12 mi). These open emplacements lacked close-range defenses and were vulnerable to a landing behind the main artillery line. However, from 1931 the Commission d'Organisation des Régions Fortifiés, or CORF, was directed to advise on the defense of Corsica. The same year, a proposal was approved by the Army and Navy to fortify Corsica. The programme included improvements to infrastructure, with new roads and telephone communications, as well as the construction of casemates and ouvrages around Bonifacio. Costs were estimated in 1933 at 27 million francs, about half of which was to be spent on fortifications, with the remainder devoted to roads and communications.
caption: Insignia of the 28th RTT.
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