80 years ago, on August 15, 1944, an event took place in the South of France that would change the course of history. A journey through the Var in the footsteps of the landing in Provence.
Operation “Dragoon” or “Anvil”, this is the name given to this immense surge of troops and machines on the Provençal coast, in order to defeat Nazi Germany and complete the liberation of France, a few months after the famous D.Day, the Normandy landings. Less known than June 6, the landings in Provence are no less crucial for the Allies in their reconquest of Europe; as for the French resistance from within or outside which largely contributed to the success of this landing.
On the occasion of the anniversary of this other landing, Raphaëlle Constant takes us on a journey to the Var, to the sites of this crucial moment of the Second World War: along the coasts, between Toulon, the historic beach of Cavalaire-sur-mer and the Provençal hinterland, in order to understand what remains in the memories of this day like no other. It is also an opportunity to recall that Provence – and more broadly France – owes its liberation to the immense sacrifice of the fighters from Africa who landed in large numbers that day.
A report by Raphaëlle Constant.
Also readProvence: in August 1944, the other Landing which liberated France from Nazi occupation
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