Operation Dragoon

Operation Dragoon
Part of the Mediterranean and Middle East Theatre and the European Theatre of World War II
The Operation Dragoon invasion fleet off the coast of Southern France
Date 15 August – 14 September 1944 (4 weeks and 2 days) Location Southern France, Côte d'Azur 43°14′N 6°40′E / 43.233°N 6.667°E / 43.233; 6.667 Result Allied victory Territorial changes German forces withdraw from most of Southern France to the Vosges region.
Belligerents
United States France French Algeria  United Kingdom  Canada[note] Air support:  Australia  South Africa Naval 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. Cannon	Johannes Blaskowitz Friedrich Wiese
Units involved
Sixth Army Group Seventh Army Armée B FFI Eighth Fleet MAAF	Army Group G 19th Army
Strength
Initial landing 151,000 personnel[1] Entire invasion force 576,833 personnel[2] French Resistance 75,000 personnel[3]	Initial landing 85,000–100,000 personnel[4] 1,481 artillery pieces[5] Southern France 285,000–300,000 personnel[4]
Casualties and losses
15,574 casualties[6] 7,301 killed[6] more than 10,000 casualties[7][8] Total: ~25,574	7,000 killed ~21,000 wounded 131,250 captured[8][9][10] 1,316 artillery pieces[5] Total: ~159,000

Operation Dragoon (initially Operation Anvil) 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 Allied landing in Normandy, a lack of available resources led to a 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 that would include large numbers of French troops. As a result, the operation was finally 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 shield of a large naval task force, followed by several divisions of the 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-scale 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 were able to overtake the Germans and partially block their route at the town of Montélimar. The ensuing battle led to a stalemate, with neither side able to achieve a decisive breakthrough, until the Germans were finally able to complete their withdrawal and retreat from the town. While the Germans were retreating, the French managed to capture the important ports of Marseille and Toulon, soon putting them into operation.

The Germans were not able to hold Dijon and ordered a complete withdrawal from Southern France. Army Group G retreated further north, pursued by Allied forces. The fighting ultimately came to a stop at the Vosges mountains, where Army Group G was finally able to establish a stable defense line. After meeting with the Allied units from the American Third Army, the Allied forces were in need of reorganizing 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.