Marseille, France
Marseille, France
Being an important port in France, Marseille was vital to the U.S. Army for its strategic location to land men and materiel. German defenses were stronger at Marseille than Toulon, but U.S. Navy gunfire support and aerial bombardments played a key part of the Allied success during Operation Dragoon. As a sign by the Allies to the French people, the port surrendered to the French Free Forces on August 28. Yet, before Marseille could be used, the Allies would invest in a large scale mine sweeping operation that lasted until early September.
Image: 80-G-364057: Invasion of Southern France, Marseille, August 1944. Destruction to the harbor and installations. Offiical U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collection of the National Archives.
