Alpine Wall The Alpine Wall ( " Vallo Alpino " ) was an Italian system of fortifications - along the 1851 km of Italy ' s northern frontier - built in the years leading up to World War II . Built at the direction of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini , the defensive line faced France , Switzerland , Austria and Yugoslavia . It was defended by the " Guardia alla Frontiera " ( GAF ) , Italian special troops . Characteristics . The Alpine line was similar in concept to other frontier fortifications of the same era , including the Maginot Line of France , the Siegfried Line of Germany , and the National Redoubt of Switzerland . Italy ' s land frontiers were in most places mountainous and easily defended , but in the years leading up to World War II , Italy ' s relations with its neighbours were uneasy . Even in its dealings with its German ally , Italy was concerned about German ambitions towards the province of South Tyrol , inhabited by a German majority . Due to the rugged nature of the Alpine frontier , defences were confined to passes and observation posts in accessible locations . History . Work on the Alpine Wall began in 1931 , intended to cover an arc from the Mediterranean coast at Ventimiglia in the west to Fiume on the Adriatic coast in the east . Three zones were designated at increasing distances from the frontier : Three types of fortifications were provided : The work , which was carried out in secrecy using Italian labor , was a significant economic burden , resulting in 208 " opere " with 647 machine guns and fifty artillery pieces . Construction continued until 1942 . The forts were armed with a mixture of new weaponry and older equipment from World War I . Provisions were made to deal with the use of poison gas . Much of the armour was obtained from Germany in compensation for Italian military ventures on behalf of the Axis . The Alpine Wall during World War II . Little use was made of the Alpine Wall during World War II . During the Italian invasion of France in 1940 , some western forts such as Fort Chaberton exchanged fire with their French counterparts of the Alpine Line . Chaberton was hit by French 280mm field mortars and suffered disabling damage . In addition , some Alpine Wall fortifications were used defensively by the Germans in 1944 . After World War II . At the end of the conflict , some of the western fortifications were destroyed , while portions of the eastern works were transferred to Yugoslavia as part of the transfer of Friuli to that state . The 1947 Paris Peace Treaty forbade the construction or expansion of fortifications within twenty kilometers of the border . However , with Italy ' s membership in NATO , construction began on a new defensive line from Austria to the Adriatic along the Yugoslavian border along the Natisone and Tagliamento rivers . The new line used tank turrets in a manner similar to German defences during the previous conflict , allowing 360 degree traverse and a high rate of fire . By 1976 this system was still considered useful in any conflict short of nuclear war . Abandonment . The end of the Cold War brought an end to the usefulness of the Alpine Wall . The emplacements were stripped and sealed in 1991 - 1992 . No functional fortifications have been preserved . Arrangement . The fortifications were primarily constructed in the flanking heights of the valleys , with works within the valleys only where they were sufficiently wide . Anti - tank guns , artillery and machine guns were trained on prepared fields of fire , with observation stations at higher points . Shelters for infantry were located rearwards . A system of communications links and roads , or for higher locations , ropeway s were provided for communication and supply . Fortifications . The individual fortifications were typically built in rock on valley sides . Where this was not suitable , concrete was used for protection , with a minimum of openings and three to five metres of concrete thickness . Combat blocks were to the front , with ammunition rooms behind . Underground galleries connected the combat blocks and their support areas , such as the utility rooms , barracks , storage and command centres , with the main entry farthest to the rear . Combat areas were isolated from the rest of the structure by gas - tight doorways . Units built after 1939 were designed to operate independently , cut off from utilities and supplies . Fortifications were camouflage d so that they appeared to blend with the surroundings , whether doors or embrasures were open or closed . Emergency escape routes were also provided . Armament . Typically an anti - tank gun and a number of machine guns . Post - war units used tank turrets . Usual armament included : Fortifications were usually surrounded by minefields and barbed wire . Where feasible , an anti - tank ditch was provided . Guardia alla Frontiera . The Vallo Alpino was mainly defended by the " Guardia alla Frontiera " ( G . A . F . ) , a special Italian Corp created in 1937 . They defended the 1 . 851 km of northern Italian frontiers with the so - called " Vallo Alpino Occidentale " ( 487 km with France ) , " Vallo Alpino Settentrionale " ( 724 km with Switzerland and 420 km with Austria ) and " Vallo Alpino Orientale " ( 220 km with Jugoslavia ) . In 1940 the G . A . F . had 21 , 000 military personnel , and was divided in the following " Corpi d ' Armata " : The Guardia alla Frontiera disappeared after 1943 , but nominally was active until 1953 .