France marks 80th anniversary of Operation Dragoon, honouring African Soldiers in Côte d’Azur landings

On August 15, 2024, France commemorated the 80th anniversary of the Allied landings in the Côte d’Azur with a series of solemn events, recognizing the critical role played by African soldiers from former French colonies.

The ceremonies, held in Saint-Raphaël, were led by French President Emmanuel Macron, who honored the significant contributions of these troops in the 1944 campaign against Nazi forces.

Often dubbed the “Forgotten D-Day,” this anniversary was marred by severe weather warnings along the Mediterranean coast, leading to the cancellation of several planned maritime activities.

Despite the disruptions, President Macron and Cameroonian President Paul Biya, along with other African leaders, were set to speak at the Boulouris National Cemetery.

This site memorializes 464 French soldiers who fell during the August 1944 battles.

The day’s events included the awarding of France’s highest honor, the Legion of Honour, to six World War II veterans—five French and one foreign national.

Additional plans for an aerial demonstration and a fireworks display were adjusted due to the adverse weather conditions.

The Operation Dragoon landings commenced on August 15, 1944, with a massive deployment of Allied troops, predominantly American and French, on the Mediterranean coast.

Intended to complement the Normandy invasion, the operation faced delays due to resource constraints.

A significant number of the French troops were African soldiers from what are now independent nations.

While exact figures on Allied casualties remain uncertain, the French Ministry of Defense estimates that approximately 1,300 soldiers perished in the first two days of the operation.

Operation Dragoon was instrumental in the swift liberation of southern France, achieving its objectives within four weeks.

On September 12, 1944, the forces from Normandy met with those from Dragoon in eastern Burgundy, marking a crucial moment in the Allied campaign to liberate France.