page_title: Operation Dragoon
section_title: Liberation of Marseille and Toulon
hierarchical_section_title: Operation Dragoon / Operation / Liberation of Marseille and Toulon
caption_attribution_description: Français&#160;: André Diethelm&#91;1&#93; passe en revue des troupes [du 7e RTA] dans Marseille libérée en août 1944. On reconnaît, derrière Diethelm, le général de Lattre de Tassigny (en pantalon et chemise d'uniforme, sans veste, regardant sur sa droite les soldats) et Emmanuel d'Astier de La Vigerie, à droite de la photo. Entre les deux précédents, derrière Diethelm, en képi à feuilles de chêne, le général de Monsabert. Photographie prise sur le quai de Rive-Neuve à l'angle avec le cours Jean-Ballard&#91;2&#93;. English: André Diethelm reviews troops in Marseille liberated in August 1944. We recognize, behind Diethelm, General de Lattre de Tassigny (in pants and uniform shirt, without jacket, looking to the right of the soldiers) and Emmanuel Astier de La Vigerie, on the right of the photo. Between the two preceding ones, behind Diethelm, in a kepi with oak leaves, General de Monsabert. Photograph taken on the wharf of Rive-Neuve on the corner with the Cours Jean-Ballard
context_page_description: Operation Dragoon was the code name for the landing operation of the Allied invasion of Provence on 15 August 1944. The operation was initially planned to be executed in conjunction with Operation Overlord, the Allied landing in Normandy, but the 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 French High Command 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 goal of the invasion was to secure the vital ports on the French Mediterranean coast and increase pressure on the German forces by opening another front. After some 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.
context_section_description: Meanwhile, the disembarked French units started to head for Marseille and Toulon. The initial plan was to capture the ports in succession, but the unexpected Allied advance allowed the French commander de Lattre de Tassigny to attack both ports almost simultaneously. He split his forces into two units, with Joseph de Goislard de Monsabert given the task to take Toulon from the east while Edgard de Larminat drove north to encircle the city at the flanks. The Germans had a significant force stationed in both cities, but they lacked the time to prepare for a determined defense. After heavy fighting around Hyères, which temporarily stopped the advance, French forces approached Toulon on 19 August. At the same time, Monsabert swung around the city, enveloped it, and cut off the highway between Toulon and Marseille. On 21 August, the French pressed into Toulon, and heavy fighting ensued. The heavy German resistance led to an argument between Larminat and de Tassigny, after which de Tassigny took over direct command of the operation, dismissing Larminat. By 26 August, the remaining German units had surrendered. The battle for Toulon cost the French 2,700 casualties, but they captured all remaining German forces, which lost their entire garrison of 18,000 men.
  At the same time, Monsabert's attempt to liberate Marseille commenced. At first, a German force at Aubagne was defeated before French troops attacked the city directly. Unlike Toulon, the German commander at Marseille did not evacuate the civilian population, which became increasingly hostile. The resulting fighting with FFI troops further weakened the German units, which were exhausted from partisan fighting. The Wehrmacht was not able to defend on a broad front and soon crumbled into numerous isolated strongpoints. On 27 August, most of the city was liberated, with only a few small strongpoints remaining, and on 28 August, German troops issued the official surrender. The battle caused 1,825 French casualties, but 11,000 German troops were captured. In both harbours, German engineers had demolished port facilities to deny their use to the Allies.
caption: Jean de Lattre de Tassigny walking through the liberated city of Marseille
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