Operation Dragoon - The "Forgotten D-Day" August 8-11, 2013 Sheraton Pentagon City Hotel

Well not quite 70 (69 years). I'm attaching the PDF file which provides more information.

Operation Dragoon - The "Forgotten D-Day"

August 8-11, 2013
Sheraton Pentagon City Hotel - 900 South Orme St, Arlington, VA 22204

My husband and I are attending. Can't wait. This will be a big event. I'd like to thank those who are responsible for putting this together. What a great way to honor my father and his buddies who fought there.

When "my vets" hear the words D-Day, they and I always ask, "Which one?" There were many. We are always so surprised when we talk about the Invasion of Southern France, and no one knows what we are talking about!

 

Marion

When "my vets" hear the words D-Day, they and I always ask, "Which one?" There were many. We are always so surprised when we talk about the Invasion of Southern France, and no one knows what we are talking about!

I know exactly what you mean !

Look at my diary for 9/4/45

This was just another D-Day for the "D-Day Dodgers"

Sunday 8th. April 1945
Colonel gave A & B squadrons griff talk talk for this 'final' campaign. Packed tank sheet and covered my bed with Honey canopy.

Monday 9th April 1945
Moved to other side of Traversare. Dug in & have bivvie to myself. D day & H hour have started. One rocket landed fairly near. Leaflets dropped.

Ron

 

Marion

To many of us fighting in Italy - the "invasion" of the South of France which you are honouring was a total waste of time which only meant that the Italian campaign was weakened by the Moscow inspired " invasion " by taking away seven divisions making it impossible for the Italian based forces to strike North to head off the RUSSIAN troops from entering central Europe. As it was your FDR thought it a great idea and so Russia was allowed to enter - and stay - in central Europe for the next 40 years spreading their errors ....so think on these things while you celebrate....and also the FDR - Marshall - Eisenhower - idea of allowing RUSSIA to capture Prague - Vienna and Berlin to allow them to rape and pillage for the next few years - when they might have been halted in Poland by both 8th British and 5th US Armies coming up from Italy at full strength...

Cheers

 

Ron, thanks for joining in and Owen, thanks for giving this post it's own "space". Good idea. Also nice to hear from you Tom. I thank both of your for your service, no matter where you were fighting.

While the Invasion of Southern France was a highly discussed and highly disputed plan of operation, nonetheless, for all the guys who fought there and for those who gave their lives, it was all too real. They simply want to be recognized for all they gave, so they and I are happy to see this commemoration and to be part of it.

We are looking forward to meeting and talking with others who took part in this invasion. My father is no longer around so I cherish each veteran I meet and to hear their recollections.

Some day I hope to walk in my dad's footsteps and to find myself on the shores of the Mediterranean. Not only do I want to visit France, but follow the 540th's path in Sicily, Naples/Salerno, Anzio/Rome, then go up through the Rhone Valley up to the "Bulge" and across the Rhine into Germany. These guys had a very long haul. They actually landed on the shores of North Africa in November of 1942.

I am currently reading a book called, Operation Dragoon, The Liberation of Southern France 1944 by Anthony Tucker-Jones. Oh to be a fly on the wall and to listen in as Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin fought which front was to be the course of action.

 

WWII 12th Air Force France Report



Operation Dragoon Search Results | CriticalPast.com: Page 1




THE BIG PICTURE - COMMAND DECISION: THE INVASION OF SOUTHERN FRANCE : Department of Defense : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive

 

Owen thanks for the Memorial pic. Many of "my guys" fought alongside the Special Forces. It's great to see a monument in their honor.

 

Wills, eagerly looking forward to reading/viweing those. Will have to add them to my main site, for I know my readers would be interested too. Thanks for taking the time to post those.

I have a complete set of the 540th's archived documents from NARA, and have been slowly copying each sheet and uploading to my site. It's more than fascinating to read the day by day account of a unit and to discover all the behind the scenes action occurring.

 

Marion

I have absolutely no objection to anyone honouring any veteran of any nation who served - as long as there is an awareness of the background to their actions - it was well known that Stalin's prime objective was to enter Central Europe in order to spread the Communist errors - but it also appeared that FDR was naively unaware of this and thought "Uncle Joe " was a good guy - now we all know !

We are also fully aware of the contribution of many Americans in that conflict by serving alongside them...
Cheers

 

7th Army:


Internet Archive Search: INVASION OF SOUTHERN FRANCE

 

...

 

My Dad was RAF(VR) A/G attached to 34 Squadron SAAF operating Liberator BVI's (B-24J's) out of Foggia Italy

On Operation Dragoon's 'D-Day' they provided Electronic Counter Measures (ECM) using 'MANDREL' jamming devices

PZULBA - Out of Africa (Retired)

 

Unfortunately, we'll never know what was going on in the mind of FDR, but I've always felt that it was probably ego rather than naivete' that led him to make many of the decisions that he made. He was a master manipulator. He probably felt that he could handle Stalin just as he had handled people and events throughout his presidency.
As far as Anvil/Dragoon itself goes, during the initial planning it must have seemed like a useful operation to many, at least on the American side. It had the potential to out-flank a powerful enemy, as well as opening up additional supply ports. But, by the time it actually took place it didn't seem as critical to victory as it had been earlier. The Allies had broken out of Normandy and were charging across France and they had their eyes on the great seaport of Antwerp which would go far in solving their supply issues.
The problem was that the Americans had been committed to the operation from the beginning so they weren't going to abandon it even if it had been possible at that late date. That along with the fact that they had never been totally committed to the bloody and arduous campaign up the Italian boot meant that the landings were going to proceed no matter what.
Whatever the decision history makes concerning the justification Anvil/Dragoon, we must never forget the men who fought and died in what many have written off as a secondary action.

 

Sandwichery
Can only agree with you - as Marshall hated the Italian campaign and did much damage

in his reluctance to back it 100% - as well as not saying a word to Clark when he turned

left to be the first in ROME - when like Patton at Palermo - ROME was not a high priority-

which emphasised the difference in strategy - the British to kill Germans to reduce their

strength - the Americans to capture territory - far too many died owing to that difference

Cheers