the fortified section of savoy "(secteur fortifié de la savoie)" was the french military organization that in 1940 controlled the section of the alpine line portion of the maginot line facing italy in the savoy region. the sector constituted part of the alpine line portion of the maginot line, between the defensive sector of the rhône to the north, and the fortified sector of the dauphiné to the south. the works combined a number of pre-1914 fortifications with maginot-style "ouvrages", with many forward-positioned cavern-style frontier stations or "avant-postes" that proved effective in holding invading forces near the order.