France Honors African Soldiers in Detailed 80th Anniversary Commemoration of World War II’s Operation Dragoon with President Emmanuel Macron and Cameroonian President Paul Biya in Saint-Raphaël
Fiona Nanna, ForeMedia News
6 minutes read. Updated 2:59PM GMT Thurs, 15August, 2024
On Thursday, France commemorated the 80th anniversary of the Allied landings on the French Riviera during World War II, a pivotal moment aimed at repelling Nazi forces. This year’s events held special significance as they paid tribute to the many African soldiers who fought valiantly under French command. Often referred to as the “forgotten D-Day,” this commemoration highlighted the crucial role played by soldiers from France’s former colonies.
The ceremonies, presided over by French President Emmanuel Macron, were scheduled to take place in Saint-Raphaël at the Boulouris national cemetery. Unfortunately, severe storm warnings around the Mediterranean coast led to the cancellation of a maritime segment of the events. Despite this setback, the observances remained a poignant reflection of historical valor.
President Macron, alongside Cameroonian President Paul Biya, was expected to deliver speeches at the cemetery, which is the final resting place of 464 French soldiers who fell during the fierce August 1944 battles. The presence of other African leaders underscored the event’s significance in acknowledging the diverse contributions to the Allied victory.
The ceremony was to include the awarding of the Legion of Honor—France’s highest accolade—to six World War II veterans, comprising five French nationals and one foreign hero. An aeronautical demonstration and a fireworks display were also part of the planned festivities, though they were ultimately affected by weather conditions.
Operation Dragoon, which commenced on August 15, 1944, was a key Allied initiative involving the landing of hundreds of thousands of troops, primarily American and French, on the Mediterranean coast. This operation was designed to complement the D-Day landings in Normandy, which occurred earlier in June 1944. However, Operation Dragoon faced delays due to resource shortages.
Remarkably, African soldiers constituted up to half of the French forces, representing various regions that are now independent nations. While exact numbers of Allied casualties remain unclear, the French Defense Ministry estimates that around 1,300 Allied soldiers perished within the initial two days of the operation.
Operation Dragoon’s success enabled the Allies to liberate much of southern France within a span of just four weeks. The convergence of the Normandy and Dragoon forces occurred on September 12, 1944, in Burgundy, marking a significant step toward the liberation of France from German occupation.
