France recently marked the 80th anniversary of the Allied invasion of the French Riviera during World War II in a ceremony that paid tribute to the soldiers from Africa who participated in the operation. French President Emmanuel Macron led the commemorative events, which were also attended by several African leaders.
The occasion, often referred to as “the forgotten D-Day,” was commemorated at the Boulouris National Cemetery in Saint-Raphael, where the bodies of 464 French soldiers killed in the August 1944 fighting are laid to rest. Storm warnings along the Mediterranean coast on the day of the event led to the cancellation of a planned seaborne segment but did not deter the solemn ceremonies.
President Macron and Cameroonian President Paul Biya were expected to deliver speeches at the cemetery, honoring the sacrifices made by the soldiers who took part in Operation Dragoon. The commemoration also included the presentation of the Legion of Honor to six World War II veterans, as well as an aeronautic demonstration and fireworks display.
Operation Dragoon commenced on August 15, 1944, with hundreds of thousands of American and French troops landing on the Mediterranean coast to liberate southern France. The operation, initially meant to coincide with the D-Day invasion in Normandy, was delayed due to logistical challenges but ultimately proved successful in freeing significant portions of the region.
Africans played a vital role in Operation Dragoon, with soldiers from numerous independent countries forming up to half of the French contingent. While the exact Allied death toll remains unknown, the French Defense Ministry reports that 1,300 Allied soldiers lost their lives in the initial two days of the operation.
The success of Operation Dragoon enabled the Allies to swiftly liberate southern France within four weeks. On September 12, 1944, troops from Operation Dragoon met with soldiers from the Normandy landings in Burgundy, marking a significant milestone in the Allied advance during World War II.
