Operation Dragoon
General George Marshall proposed the invasion of Southern France in 1942. Joseph Stalin supported this plan at the Tehran Conference in late 1943. He preferred an Allied presence in the far west over a landing in the Balkans, which he considered his zone of influence. Franklin D. Roosevelt found cancelling the southern landing unpalatable during discussions with Marshall. Winston Churchill argued that the operation would divert resources from Italy. He favored invading oil-producing regions of the Balkans instead. Churchill reasoned that attacking there could deny Germany petroleum and forestall the Red Army's advance. The American military leadership and British counterparts disagreed on the operation throughout planning. A dual landing was soon recognized as impossible to conduct with available forces. The expansion of Operation Overlord required many additional tank landing ships needed for Anvil. Another Allied amphibious landing at Anzio had gone badly. These factors led the Allies to postpone Anvil until after Normandy.
The Western Naval Task Force formed under Vice Admiral Henry Kent Hewitt carried the U.S. 6th Army Group ashore. The 6th Army Group activated on the 1st of August in Corsica to consolidate French and American forces. Admiral Hewitt included battleships Nevada, Texas, Arkansas, Ramillies, and a French battleship with 20 cruisers for gunfire support. Nine escort carriers assembled as Task Force88 provided naval aircraft. Major General Lucian Truscott commanded the US VI Corps for the initial landing. Général Jean de Lattre de Tassigny led the French Army B following the Americans. Task Force Butler mobilized tanks, tank destroyers, and mechanized infantry alongside the main force. Three divisions landed on Alpha Beach, Delta Beach, and Camel Beach on the 15th of August. The 3rd Infantry Division took Alpha Beach at Cavalaire-sur-Mer. The 45th Infantry Division landed at Delta Beach near Le Muy and Saint-Tropez. The 36th Infantry Division secured Camel Beach at Saint-Raphaël. Airborne landings concentrated near Draguignan and Le Muy to seize high ground overlooking beaches. Commando units protected flanks while taking islands off the coast.
Army Group G occupied southern France with only one army under its command: the 19th Army led by Friedrich Wiese. German forces there had been stripped of nearly all valuable units over the course of the war. Remaining 11 divisions were understrength with only one panzer division left, the 11th Panzer Division. In early August, the 11th Panzer Division sent one of its two panzer battalions to Normandy shortly before landing. Troops positioned thinly along the French coast averaged fewer than 200 men per division. Soldiers replaced with wounded old veterans and Volksdeutsche from Poland and Czechoslovakia. Numerous units also replaced by Ostlegionen and Ostbataillone volunteers from Eastern Europe with low fighting morale. Equipment consisted of old weapons from various nations including French, Polish, Soviet, Italian and Czech guns. Four German divisions designated as static meant stripped of mobile capabilities unable to move from positions. The Luftwaffe with 200 aircraft and Kriegsmarine with 45 small ships played negligible role in operation. Coastal defenses included about 75 heavy and medium caliber guns emplaced along shore. Toulon protected by complex of heavy gun artillery batteries in mounted turrets.
Preliminary commando operations targeted Hyères Islands specifically Port-Cros and Levant on the 14th of August. First Special Service Force received order to take islands as part of Operation Sitka. On Levant, 2nd and 3rd regiments faced sporadic resistance becoming more intense when German garrison forces came together. Men gained upper hand discovering coastal defense battery was actually several well-camouflaged dummy weapons. Fighting continued through the 16th of August on Port-Cros until German garrison surrendered morning of the 17th of August. Meanwhile at Cap Nègre large group of French commandos destroyed German artillery emplacements as part of Operation Romeo. Main effort supported by diversionary flank landings while 67 French commandos taken prisoner after running into minefield. First airborne task force landed early hours in River Argens valley around Le Muy objective preventing German reinforcements reaching beaches. British landings codenamed Operation Rugby consisted of 2nd Parachute Brigade. Fog and low clouds resulted many paratroopers landing ten or fifteen miles away while others closer. British took villages Le Mitan, La Motte, Clastron and Les Serres then assaulted bridge over River Naturby carrying road to Le Muy.
Disembarked French units started heading for Marseille and Toulon starting the 19th of August. Initial plan captured ports in succession but unexpected Allied advance allowed de Lattre de Tassigny attack both almost simultaneously. He split forces with Joseph de Goislard de Monsabert given task take Toulon from east while Edgard de Larminat drove north encircle city flanks. Germans had significant force stationed cities lacking time prepare determined defense. After heavy fighting around Hyères temporarily stopping advance French forces approached Toulon on the 19th of August. At same time Monsabert swung around city enveloped it cutting highway between Toulon and Marseille. On the 21st of August French pressed into Toulon heavy fighting ensued leading argument between Larminat and deTassigny after which deTassigny took direct command dismissing Larminat. By the 26th of August remaining German units surrendered battle costing French 2,700 casualties capturing all remaining German forces losing entire garrison of 18,000 men. Meanwhile Monsabert attempt liberate Marseille commenced defeating German force at Aubagne before attacking city directly. Unlike Toulon German commander did not evacuate civilian population becoming increasingly hostile resulting fighting weakened exhausted German units. Wehrmacht unable defend broad front soon crumbling numerous isolated strongpoints. On the 27th of August most city liberated few small strongpoints remaining the 28th of August German troops issued official surrender causing 1,825 French casualties capturing 11,000 German troops.
While Marseille and Toulon liberated German retreat continued north along Rhône River. 11th Panzer Division started several feints toward Aix-en-Provence discouraging further Allied advance allowing LXXXV Corps successfully retreat from Allied advance at Rhône. Allies unsure German intentions Truscott decided try trap Germans with right flank movement pursuing them three divisions from VI Corps. Uncertainty at Allied headquarters led indecisiveness missing several opportunities cut off retreating LXXXV Corps. Through decryption German radio communications Allied headquarters aware withdrawal plan recognizing open German flank east Rhône at Grenoble due to retreat 157th Infantry Division towards Alps. Taskforce Butler ordered advance direction paralleling German evacuation effort ultimately cutting them off further north near Montélimar small city east bank Rhône River lying directly on German escape route. Following Taskforce Butler 36th Infantry Division tasked the 20th of August blocking German force continuing northward advance to Grenoble while VI Corps pursued Germans behind. After speedy advance forward Allied forces now suffered serious lack fuel supplies making task difficult. On the 21st of August Taskforce Butler occupied hills north town Montélimar according revised orders Truscott considered too weak block entire German force marching north.
Allied shortage of fuel began soon after landing hindering pursuit of retreating Army Group G. Western Allies not anticipated speed own advance so could not adequately provide supplies logistics leading units. Main reason failure capture destroy Army Group G was critical lack supplies allowing Germans retreat over distance in good order into Vosges Mountains on German border. In October 524,894 tons supplies unloaded more than one-third Allied cargo shipped Western Front easing supply situation. During fighting retreat up Rhône Germans withdrew remaining forces garrisons southwestern France racing north along Atlantic coast then swung east at Loire link rest Army GroupG Burgundy. About 88,000 men moved north leaving 20,000 southwestern France behind. During retreat about 19,000 men captured Allies 60,000 reached Army GroupG line integrated defense Vosges Mountains. Forward units VI Corps established contact Patton's Third Army the 10th of September. Truscott hoped push through Belfort Gap but received orders halt offensive the 14th of September. Army GroupG finally able establish stable defense line Vosges Mountains thwarting further Allied advances. Combined need reorganize command structure forces Northern Southern France linked forced Allies stop pursuit ending offensive there.
French resistance against occupation Nazi Germany Vichy French puppet government increased drastically weeks leading Dragoon landings. Wehrmacht units committed numerous atrocities civilians fighters retaliatory acts. On the 9th of June after attack German garrison Tulle 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich hanged about 99 civilians moving northern France during Tulle massacre. Next day division murdered 642 civilians Oradour-sur-Glane during Oradour-sur-Glane massacre plundered razed town. Wehrmacht worked together French collaborators subdue partisans example partisan base Vercors massif little lasting result. Atrocities continued German retreat southern France soldiers plundered burned towns. French civilians brought military courts sentenced death alleged partisan activities. These atrocities did not help subdue French uprising encouraging population engage partisan fighting instead. Two days landing Nazi regime proceeded dismantle French state members Sicherheitsdienst stormed French government institutions moved officials including Philippe Pétain Belfort Eastern France later Sigmaringen Germany acting government exile. Collapse Vichy regime troops Provisional Government French Republic reestablished control political institutions Antony Beevor comments landings south France prompted rapid German withdrawal reducing damage suffering done France. Despite successes criticism made some Allied generals contemporary commentators Bernard Montgomery Arthur R. Wilson Chester Wilmot aftermath mostly geostrategic implications.
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Common questions
When did Operation Dragoon take place?
Operation Dragoon took place on the 15th of August 1944. The invasion began with three divisions landing on Alpha Beach, Delta Beach, and Camel Beach on that date.
Who commanded the Allied forces during Operation Dragoon?
General George Marshall proposed the operation while Vice Admiral Henry Kent Hewitt formed the Western Naval Task Force to carry U.S. 6th Army Group ashore. Major General Lucian Truscott commanded US VI Corps for the initial landing and Général Jean de Lattre de Tassigny led French Army B following the Americans.
Why was Operation Anvil postponed until after Normandy?
Allies postponed Anvil because the expansion of Operation Overlord required many additional tank landing ships needed for Anvil. Another Allied amphibious landing at Anzio had gone badly which combined with resource constraints made a dual landing impossible to conduct with available forces.
What were the results of the battles for Toulon and Marseille in Operation Dragoon?
French forces captured all remaining German forces in Toulon by the 26th of August costing 2,700 casualties and capturing 18,000 men. Germans surrendered in Marseille on the 28th of August causing 1,825 French casualties and resulting in the capture of 11,000 German troops.
How did German forces respond to the invasion of Southern France?
German forces in southern France consisted of only one army under its command: the 19th Army led by Friedrich Wiese. Remaining 11 divisions were understrength with only one panzer division left and troops positioned thinly along the French coast averaged fewer than 200 men per division.