Operation Dragoon
| Operation Dragoon | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Mediterranean and Middle East Theatre and the European theatre of World War II | |||||||||
 Allied invasion fleet gathered off the coast of Southern France. The 19th Flotilla of the Royal Navy Patrol Service (RNPS), known as “Harry Tate’s Navy”, played a vital role in the invasion. HMS Ensay, together with other minesweepers of the flotilla, cleared enemy mines and swept safe lanes through the minefields, allowing the invasion fleet and landing craft to approach the French coast safely. | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
 United States United Kingdom Canada[a]Air support: Australia South AfricaNaval support: Greece New Zealand |
 Germany | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
|
Jacob L. Devers Alexander Patch Jean de Tassigny Edgard de Larminat Joseph de Monsabert Henry Kent Hewitt John K. CannonRobert T. Frederick[a] |
Johannes Blaskowitz Friedrich Wiese | ||||||||
| Units involved | |||||||||
FFI Eighth Fleet MAAF | |||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
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Initial landing 151,000 personnel Entire invasion force 576,833 personnel French Resistance 75,000 personnel |
Initial landing 85,000–100,000 personnel 1,481 artillery pieces Southern France 285,000–300,000 personnel | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
|
more than 10,000 casualtiesTotal: ~25,574 |
7,000 killed ~21,000 wounded 131,250 captured 1,316 artillery pieces Total: ~159,000 | ||||||||
Operation Dragoon (initially Operation Anvil), known as Débarquement de Provence in French (lit. 'Provence Landing'), was the code name for the landing operation of the Allied invasion of Provence (Southern France) on 15 August 1944. Although initially designed to be executed in conjunction with Operation Overlord, the June 1944 Allied landing in Normandy, insufficient resources led to the cancellation of the second landing. By July 1944 the landing was reconsidered, as the clogged-up ports in Normandy did not have the capacity to adequately supply the Allied forces. Concurrently, the high command of the French Liberation Army pushed for a revival of the operation, which would involve large numbers of French troops. As a result, the operation was approved in July to be executed in August.
The invasion sought to secure the vital ports on the French Mediterranean coast and increase pressure on the German forces by opening another front. After preliminary commando operations, the US VI Corps landed on the beaches of the Côte d'Azur under the protection of a large naval task force, followed by several divisions of French Army B. They were opposed by the scattered forces of the German Army Group G, which had been weakened by the relocation of its divisions to other fronts and the replacement of its soldiers with third-rate Ostlegionen outfitted with obsolete equipment.
Hindered by Allied air supremacy and a large uprising by the French Resistance, the weak German forces were swiftly defeated. The Germans withdrew to the north through the Rhône valley to establish a stable defense line at Dijon. Allied mobile units overtook the Germans and partially blocked their route at the town of Montélimar. After a battle, the Germans completed their withdrawal from the town. Meanwhile, the French captured the important ports of Marseille and Toulon, and soon put them into operation.
The Germans were unable to hold Dijon and ordered a withdrawal from Southern France. Army Group G retreated further north, pursued by Allied forces. The fighting came to a stop at the Vosges mountains, on the French side of the border with Germany, where Army Group G established a stable defensive line. After meeting with the Allied units from the American Third Army, the Allied forces needed to reorganize and, facing stiffened German resistance, the offensive was halted on 14 September.
The Americans considered Operation Dragoon a success. It enabled them to liberate most of Southern France in just four weeks while inflicting heavy casualties on the German forces, although a substantial part of the best German units were able to escape. The captured French ports were put into operation, allowing the Allies to solve their supply problems quickly. The British disagreed with the American assessment due to the weak political impact and lack of movement in Italy.