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;
Strength
Germany:; 5,200 men ; Italy:; 4,800	16,000; unknown number of planes, tanks and artillery
Casualties and losses
Germany:; 120 killed; 480 wounded; 242 captured; Italy:; 5 killed; 155 captured	280 killed; 1,000 wounded

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.

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