France Honors African Soldiers in 80th Anniversary of World War II Mediterranean Landings

On Thursday, France marked the 80th anniversary of the Allied landings on the French Riviera, an operation aimed at liberating southern France from Nazi occupation. The commemoration particularly focused on the African soldiers who played a crucial role in this pivotal campaign, often referred to as the “forgotten D-Day.”

The ceremonies were led by French President Emmanuel Macron, with a special emphasis on acknowledging the contributions of soldiers from Africa, who were sent by France’s former colonies. Unfortunately, storm warnings along the Mediterranean coast led to the cancellation of a planned maritime segment of the events.

President Macron and Cameroonian President Paul Biya were set to deliver speeches at the Boulouris national cemetery in Saint-Raphaël, where 464 French soldiers who died in August 1944 are buried. Additionally, other African leaders participated in the tributes.

As part of the ceremonies, six World War II veterans—five French and one foreign—were honored with the Legion of Honor, France’s highest accolade. The event also featured an aeronautical demonstration and a fireworks display, which were aimed at celebrating the historical significance of the operation.

Operation Dragoon, which commenced on August 15, 1944, saw hundreds of thousands of Allied troops, primarily American and French, landing on the Mediterranean coast. This operation was intended to complement the D-Day landings in Normandy that took place in June 1944 but was delayed due to resource constraints.

A notable aspect of Operation Dragoon was the significant African involvement. Soldiers from what are now approximately twenty independent African nations made up as much as half of the French forces. This substantial contribution underscores the pivotal role of African troops in the Allied victory.

The precise number of Allied casualties during the initial days of the operation is not definitively known, but the French Defense Ministry estimates that around 1,300 Allied soldiers lost their lives within the first two days.

Operation Dragoon proved instrumental in the rapid liberation of southern France. The success of this operation facilitated the meeting of Dragoon forces with Normandy troops on September 12, 1944, in Burgundy, marking a significant step towards the overall liberation of France.

The commemoration serves as a reminder of the diverse contributions to the Allied efforts during World War II and aims to rectify the historical oversight of the African soldiers’ roles in these crucial events.