Border Brigade 9

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Georeferencing Map with all coordinates: OSM | WikiMap
Monument Border Brigade 9, Cima di Lago
Border Brigade 7 in the basic disposition from 1992

The Border Brigade 9 ( Italian brigata frontiera 9 ) was one of eleven border brigades of the Swiss Army . It was subordinate to the 3rd Army Corps (since 1961 Mountain Army Corps 3 , Geb. AK 3) and existed from 1938 to 1994 ( Army 95 ).

history

The border troops were reorganized in accordance with the Hague Agreement with the 1938 Troop Order (TO 38) and 11 border brigades (Gz Br) were created. In addition to the border fusilier battalions, they had a company of cyclists, motorized mitrailleurs and infantry gunners .

So that the border defense (border occupation) remained credible despite the rapid development of war technology, the Federal Council decided to strengthen the line of defense with permanent, deeply staggered border fortifications . In 1935, the federal authorities revived the office for fortifications (BBB), and from 1937 the border fortifications (Sargans Fortress, etc.) were rebuilt.

The Grenzbrigade 9 was assigned to the 3rd Army Corps for training and deployment preparation. The subordination during the mission was determined by the respective operation plan. In all units of the border troops, militiamen residing in the operational area were assigned because the border troops were the first to be mobilized in the event of mobilization and had to be ready for immediate action so that the mobilization of the majority of the army could not be disrupted.

The territory of the Border Brigade 9 joined the Fortress Brigade 23 to the south and included the canton of Ticino without the Gotthard fortress area . The most important blocking point was the fortress line LONA (as an abbreviation of LOdrino - OsogNA) with an anti-tank line, flanking fortifications and artillery rock works in the valley and district of Riviera south of Biasca . It comprised 100 fortification objects located on both sides of the Ticino River in the municipal area of ​​Lodrino, Osogna, Iragna (Mairano) and Biasca (Mondascia). In the event of an attack from the south, it would have been the last defense post of Border Brigade 9 and Italian-speaking Switzerland in front of the Reduit .

The brigade had to fight the wear and tear from the border, to ensure the neutrality protection service (NSD) and to block the axes leading through their area.

Units (as of 1994)

The brigade was formed with Ticino militiamen:

  • Works companies 30, 61, 62, 63 took care of the infantry works
  • Fortress Division 9: Companies I and II in the LONA position, Company III for 12 cm fortress mine throwers, Companies IV, V, VI with rifled howitzers.

Artillery works and blocking points

The works and blocking points of Border Brigade 9 are in the canton of Ticino (Central and Southern Ticino). The section border to Fortress Brigade 23 (Gotthard, Northern Ticino) was the line Basòdino - Pizzo Campo Tencia - Giornico - Rheinwaldhorn . Artillery works for fire support belong to individual blocking points (blocking points of national importance with *):

Agno, Arbedo, Arogno, Biasca, Biscia San Jorio , Brontallo Bignasca, Brusino Arsizio, Camedo, Camignolo Bironico, Camorino , Ceneri Nord, Capolago, Diga di Melide, Gandria *, Gerra Piano Cugnasco, Gerro San Nazzaro, Gola di Lago, Gordola , Gudo, Grono, Intragna, Lodrino-Osogna LONA *, Magadino *, Monte Ceneri *, Monte di Medegli *, Moleno Cresciano, Novaggio, Ponte Brolla, Ponte Tresa, Ranzo, Roveredo, San Jorio, Ronco Moscia, Strada Indemini, tavern Mezzovico, Valmara Ponte, Vira, Vogorno

  • Artillery bunker Iragna-Mairano A 8154

  • Infantry bunker Grande A 8128, Lodrino

  • Infantry works A 8141, Osogna

Lock point Gola di Lago

The barrier, built from 1939 to 1942, was part of the defense line from Ponte Brolla ⊙ via Indemini ⊙ , Mezzovico-Vira ⊙ , Gola di Lago to Gandria ⊙ .

The bunker path no.4 of the Fortificazioni Ticinesi (ForTi) on Gola di Lago ( 972  m above sea level ) comprises nine objects. They can be reached via two mountain hiking trails: 1. Gola di Lago-Davrosio-Gola di Lago: 6 km, altitude difference 381 m, 2. Gola di Lago-Cima di Lago-Stinche-Gola di Lago: 5 km, altitude difference 222 m.

  • 01 Infantry factory Cappella di Lago A 8014 ( 1010  m above sea level ) ⊙
  • 02 Davrosio Infantry Plant A 8012 ⊙
  • 03 Turning place for military vehicles ⊙
  • 04 Water source for military supplies ⊙
  • 05 Gola di Lago accommodation barracks ⊙
  • 06 Infantry factory Cima di Lago 2 A 8017 ⊙ , counterpart to Cima di Lago 1
  • 07 Infantry factory Cima di Lago 1 A 8016 ⊙
  • 08 Monument at Grenzbrigade 9, built in 1993 ⊙
  • 09 Stinché shelter A 8018 ⊙

  • Davrosio Infantry Plant A 8012

  • Infantry factory Cima di Lago 1 A 8016

  • Infantry factory Cima di Lago 2 A 8017: entrance

  • Infantry factory Cima di Lago 2 A 8017: Scharte

Lock point Monte di Medeglia

The locking point Monte di Medegli-Alpe del Tiglio comprises around 20 objects as caverns, shelters, rock works and field fortifications. They are a continuation of the line of defense of the Monte Ceneri barrier. In 1914–18 the troops built trenches and shelters, in 1939–45 a rock structure was built, and in the post-war period various caverns and prefabricated shelters.

The network of military roads (10 km in length) and mule tracks that connect Robasacco, the Cima di Medeglia, the Alpe del Tiglio, the Alpe delle Lagonce (Alpe Grumo / Grun) and the Monte Ceneri were built in several stages between 1913 and 1916 . To camouflage the fortifications and paths, afforestation was carried out by the troops from 1915 to 1920 on the Cima di Medeglia and the Alpe Grun / Grumo.

The bunker path no.5 of the Fortificazioni Ticinesi (ForTi) leads from Isone up to the Cima di Medeglia ( 1259  m above sea level ) and down to the Monte Ceneri ( 554  m above sea level ). It comprises 9 locations:

The locking points Monte Ceneri and Monte di Medegli-Alpe del Tiglio are considered to be military-historical monuments of national importance.

  • 01 Shelters Matro A 8231 with trenches (WWI) ⊙
  • Shelter Cime di Medeglia A 8035 Cp Zap III / 9 (sapper company III / 9)
  • 02 Motto del Predoso shelters A 8037 with trenches (base III Bat 65, WWI) ⊙
  • 02 Motto del Predoso A 8036 shelters with trenches (WWI) ⊙
  • 02 Shelters Motto Rotondo A 8038 with trenches (base II, WWI) ⊙
  • 03 Shelters Sopra Canaa A 8039 with trenches (base I, WW1) ⊙
  • 04 Open artillery position Alpe delle Lagonce / Alpe di Grumo, two 12 cm cannons (WWI) ⊙

  • Military road on Cima di Medeglia (ex item 1263)

  • View from the Cima di Medeglia point 1263 to the crossing point 1050

  • Sopra Canaa: Sapp Bat 23 1914

  • Throat ditch Sopra Canaa A 8039

Lock point Monte Ceneri

The Monte Ceneri blocking point comprises around 30 objects, including a flanking gallery for two 7.5 cm cannons (Spina A 8046) and four infantry bases (two with 7.5 cm cannons). Several machine gun positions had the task of blocking the Monte Ceneri crossing. The blocking point was realized in three construction stages: 1913–1920 flanking battery and four bases, 1939–1945 machine gun and cannon positions, after 1945 prefabricated shelters. The first of the four infantry bases is believed to have been built on the ruins of a Roman fort.

  • 05 Infantry base Ceneri 4 A 8042 (WWI) ⊙
  • 06 Infantry base Ceneri 3 A 8048 (WWI) ⊙
  • Infantry cannon stand A 8047 (WWII) ⊙
  • Infantry bunker A 8048 (WWII) ⊙
  • 07 Infantry base Ceneri 1 A 8052 (WWI) ⊙
  • 08 Artillery Fort Spina A 8046 (1913–1939) ⊙
  • 09 Bunker Nagra A 8051 (WWI) ⊙

  • Gun of the southern battery Monte Ceneri, background: Cima di Medeglia, Alpe di Grumo / Grun, infantry bases 1, 2 and 3

  • Kehlgraben base 3

  • Artillery Fort Spina A 8046

  • Forte Spina A 8046, from top to bottom: two headlight, machine gun and 7.5 cm cannon slots

Lock point Magadino – Gordola

The Magadino-Gordola locking point with the fortifications between Magadino and Quartino had the task of repelling any attacks from Italy that threatened from Gambarogno, from Lake Maggiore and the coastal road on the right side of the lake as well as from Centovalli. The lock was part of the defense line Alpe del Tiglio - Cima di Medeglia - Monte Ceneri - Magadino - Gordola. The artillery fort Spina A 8046 on Monte Ceneri was originally designed as a barrier on the Lugano - Bellinzona road axis with the artillery fort Magadino A 8062 and Gordola . The fortifications on the Cima di Medeglia and on the Alpe del Tiglio served as flanking works for these three main works. The Magadino and Gordola barriers are considered military and historical monuments of national importance.

The bunker path No. 7 of Fortificazioni Ticinesi (ForTi) leads to the facilities from Magadino to Quartino, which belonged to the Magadino-Gordola barrier.

Lock point Magadino

  • 01 Lower infantry bunker “Magadino inferiore”, “Forte Olimpio” A 8064 ⊙
  • 02 New gallery 1 ⊙
  • 03 New gallery 2 ⊙
  • 04 Artillery Fort Magadino A 8062, flanking battery with two 7.5 cm cannons ⊙
  • 05 Trenches 1 and 2 ⊙ ⊙ ⊙
  • 06 Upper block house «Magadino superiore» A 8061 ⊙
  • 07 Trenches 3 ⊙ ⊙ ⊙

Lock point Gordola

  • Artillery fort Gordola, flanking battery with two 7.5 cm cannons ⊙
  • Infantry factory, Kehlkaserne Gordola ⊙
  • Casemate Verzasca 1: 8.4 cm cannon ⊙
  • Casemate Verzasca 2: 8.4 cm cannon ⊙

  • Artillery Fort Magadino A 8062

  • Artillery Fort Magadino A 8062 (2019)

  • Forte "Olimpio" A 8064, Magadino

  • Infantry factory Gordola with Kehlkaserne (left)

  • Artillery Fort Gordola

Museums and trails Fortificazioni Ticinesi (ForTi)

Bunker hiking trail ForTi 04 - Gola di Lago

The "Forte Mondascia" museum opened in 1999 in the former Mondascia artillery factory near Biasca is operated by the Gruppo Escursionisti Liberi (GEL), which intends to preserve the Lona fortress and to make the infantry's systems and defenses accessible to the public.

The association “Associazione Fortificazioni Gambarogno”, founded in 2018 and based in Magadino , is committed to maintaining military installations in the region and maintains the “Forte Olimpio” museum.

Eleven hiking routes from Fortificazioni Ticinesi (ForTi) lead in various areas of Ticino to places of military and historical interest: from the Monte Ceneri and Airolo arsenals, the flanking batteries in Magadino and Spina to the artillery works.

literature

Web links

Commons : Brigata di frontiera 9  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Agreement on the Rights and Duties of Neutral Powers and Persons in the Event of Land War, concluded in The Hague on October 18, 1907.
  2. ↑ Military historical monuments in the canton of Ticino, VBS
  3. ↑ Fortress Oberland: Border Brigade 9
  4. ↑ ForTI: Bunker hiking trail No. 4 Gola di Lago
  5. ↑ ForTI: Bunker hiking trail No. 5 Monte Ceneri
  6. ↑ Forti: Gamborogno - Magadino
  7. ^ Fortress Oberland: Lock point Magadino TI
  8. ↑ Fortress Oberland: Lock point Gordola TI
  9. ^ Official website of the Forte Mondascia Museum with opening times
  10. ^ Associazione Fortificazioni Gambarogno
  11. ↑ Forte Olimpio Museum
  12. ↑ Official website of Fortificazioni Ticinesi (ForTi)

Coordinates: 46 ° 6 '8.1 "  N , 8 ° 59' 1.7"  E ; CH1903:  719,479  /  106813