the fortified sector was organized between world war i and world war ii to counter a possible surprise attack by italy. a portion of the garrison units were pre-positioned near the fortifications, which were to be occupied when a state of alert was declared. the organization changed over time, first during the french mobilization of august 1939, then with preparations for winter, when high-altitude positions had to be evacuated for the winter, then another deployment in the spring of 1940. french forces were dissolved in the armistice of 1940.