THEOULE-SUR-MER, France (Aug. 14, 2017) The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79) is anchored off the coast of Theole-Sur-Mer, France, for a port visit. During the port visit Sailors assigned to the ship participated in events commemorating the 73rd anniversary of Operation Dragoon, the liberation of southern France by Allied forces during World War II. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ryan U. Kledzik/Released)
Overshadowed in military history by the Torch landings in North Africa, the Husky/Avalanche/Baytown/Slapstick landings in Sicily and Italy, and of course Overlord in Normandy, the month-long amphibious invasion of South France by the Allies in August-September 1944, Operation Dragoon, is often overlooked.
This is largely because the “walk-over” resulted in comparatively few casualties to the U.S. 7th Army/8th Fleet and Free French Armee B, and bagged over 130,000 German prisoners of Gen. Fredrich Wiese’s 19. Armee– though to be honest the Axis force was composed largely of fresh conscripts, shell-shocked second line troops and Hiwis.
Still, tell that to the more than 4,000 U.S. and French killed and missing from the op.
