Allied forces landed on the mediterranean beaches of france, leaving little resistance in the first few days. Reel america, invasion of Southern France, in 1950 u. S. Army film that tells the story of operation dragoon, from the Beach Landing to the september 11 liberation of the city of dijon, about 350 miles north of the coast. Narrator the historic bay of naples was transformed into an open area marshaling area. Is a vast quantity of mechanized war instruments was to be used by the third, 36 and 45th divisions which later or combined to create the seventh army. All equipment was loaded aboard and each piece was checked off the loading chart. The men put in charge represented the best allied military bravest. Narrator fresh from their recent entries, then you seventh army, all seasoned veterans with experience in the sicilian campaigns come marched to the embarkation port. Red cross workers gave a one sendoff. With precision, reflecting the efficient planning of this campaign, the men marched on board in a study stream. Their faces showed every human emotion. A few of them would soon see action for the first time. But most were veterans of the tough fighting in africa and italy. Bulging with their cargoes of men and machines of war, the ships left the harbor to join the convoys being formed offshore. This fleet, assembled off the west coast of corsica, was made ready for the fight ahead. Cruisers,ne of the general patch, vice admiral hewitt and secretary of the navy lamournier of the french Naval Commission met for a conference. Men attended lastminute details. Many prayed. A few held aloof, alone with their thoughts. On august 14, the First Special Service Force was put ashore on to destroy enemy defenses on both islands. Simultaneously, french commandos islands. Rth of these heavy bombers attacked vital enemy installations. Dawn was breaking when the huge armada of fighting ships slipped into the assault area without opposition. Each vessel took up her allotted position. Navigators, gunners and signalman were alert. Everyman had a job to do. The germans must be routed from their stronghold. Every gun was ready. The fight was about to begin. Huge allied bombers linked their way towards ttoulouse. No opposition was encountered. Theyles from cannes, patrolled the seas, protecting the allied convoy. They continued to attack north in the cavalier area. Throughout the entire operation, antiaircraft fire was negligible and the luftwaffe was absent. The parachute Infantry Battalion was. Inspected. These men were chosen for their intelligence, their strength, durability and their drive. They had been through a tough course of training, taught the art of killing, the art of survival in a strange land, and the quickest way of getting from any given place to another. Hundreds of c47s and c54s swept across the Southern Coast of france. Hello can be seen as a paratroopers who had spearheaded the envision the night before. The air was full of parachutes drifting slowly to the ground, carrying hardened American Veterans to reinforce the men who had preceded them. Narrator still further inland, the gliders were nosing downward onto the soil of Southern France. These landings were made close to le muy. Many of the gliders. Didnt have an easy landing. Paratroopers advanced stealthily, following the course which had been given them. This aerial vanguard was to destroy the enemy defenses and ease the task of their comrades still at sea by keeping the flow of Russian Troops to the coast. Hit troops andes supply trains with effect. In the column of a summer morning, these farmers rained destruction, while the allied warships were steaming along the french coast within range of enemy battle. As the dark of the night melted into dark, the faint outline of an edge ships could be detected. Tense and alert, the men waited in their battle stations. Hhour. Guns of the fleet opened up, and the invasion of Southern France began. [gunfire] Landing Craft bearing men, tanks and ammunition raced toward their objectives. Americans been guarded the invasion. The transports release their cargoes. Some of boats were lowered empty into the sea, others were fully loaded. As the Landing Craft headed for the shore, there could be no turning back. The roar of the fighting planes, the bulging of the big guns and the rockets zooming o overhead, created a never to be forgotten in for no. A group of vending craft excluded by destroyers moved best escorted by destroyers, moved to another intersection. Troops began to scramble onto the beach, prepared for an enemy onslaught. Not a single german soldier appeared. Not even in luftwaffe soaring overhead. Under Lieutenant General threeder patch was the corps. The six core included the famed third, 36 and 45th divisions. The first french core was under command of general. Still unmolested, men and supplies were landed. 100 foot floating} were dropped into the waters. Cleared ther squads roads to permit our tanks to continue our way. German prisoners were herded onto the beaches for removal of ships. By midnight of august 16, the french commandos had been contacted. Operations have progressed so smoothly that by noon the a beachhead 20 miles long and nine miles deep had been established. Our seriously wounded men were evacuated to floating ambulances. Meanwhile, the enemy fought desperately to block our advance in order to cover general de gaulle. [planes roaring overhead] [explosion] narrator on the 19th of august, the french second core took over the southern zone and bypassing come pushed rapidly on to within two miles of marseille by the 20th. The wounded were given lifesaving blood asthma and blood plasma and first aid. Prisoners were evacuated to the combat zone. General patch, accompanied by general de tassigny were awarded the silver star to the leader of the french patriots in this area. To Third Division, en route brignon, halted their tired momentarily. In these ram moments of relaxation, the men found relief. The town was liberated by the 15th regiment of the french division. The germans had not offered any strong opposition. Our first aid station was established to give immediate medical attention to the more seriously wounded before they were evacuated to hospitals. The Third Division continued its advanced to the rest. Throughout the early stages of the campaign, le muy remained uninformed camila and center. At calais, partisans rounded up civilians who had been spying for the germans, is being which was repeated in every town to read the rushing out of these traders gave the advance into the interior safer. Our advanced elements had difficulty keeping contact with the retreating this town did not become a battleground, in the Rapid Movement of our forces prevented any german destruction. When the first part of the third non, theyentered avig had a closeup of the destruction caused by our bombing. The streets were deserted for the civilians did not believe the germans had actually left, only the ffi, having seized the town center, waited for our troops. The french force entered marseille. Isolate the germans cut off from further retreat or aid, had to be liquidated. Sections of the secondlargest city of france, parts of the third Algerian Division guarded against possible counterattack by germans left in the city. The streets remained deserted until the patrols rotted out the last of the enemy. Saint nicholas was one of the last sentence of resistance. Atrocities similar to these were perpetrated on civilians by the nazis until their final expulsion. Street defenses in the heart of marseille had in prepared the enemy in their plan to hold the city. However, they left these emplacements shortly after they were attacked, and retreated to the more easily defended for. For this reason, parts of the city were spared heavy destruction. But in the harbor area, the nazis systematically destroyed docs, warehouses and other facilities. Our preinvasion bombings had destroyed the hangers and many aircraft. These planes, originally french, had been remarked by the nazis for their own use. The liberated population of marseille cheered the triumphant algerian troops. The general, commander of the french are jerry and division, was congratulated by general de tassigny and the french minister of war. Here, too, the enemy was forced to leave its street defenses. In the months before the invasion, allied air bombing had rather the naval base useless as such. But the nazis continued to utilize naval rifles and other undamaged weapons which have not been destroyed. With other wrecked warships are those the french had scuttled. Narrator this is what remained of the famous french fighting vessel, dunkirk. This summer and torpedo plant, although damaged severely, had remained in use until the capture of the port. The french int by 1930 six and taken over by the germans in 1940, had been rendered useless by alan roaming allied bombing. Guns,were 320 millimeter which with their talents, had been taken from battleships. The germans surrendered only after their water supply had been exhausted. Before their surrender, they destroyed many heavy guns. In this town, joyous people cheered french troops. In this amphitheater of hills the hind the town, the french had constructed a series of strong force which guarded them against invasion from the sea. Thats into this stronghold the nazis retreated for the last defense of Southern France. The french forces, commanded by general de tassigny pushed westward to check the germans. Meanwhile, segments of the corpsans aske6th advanced westward and northward. Roads were littered with destroyed enemy vehicles, guns and nazis. Town after town was left behind by our troops in their rapid advance to catch up with the retreating enemy. Troops entered grinault, 140 Airline Miles from the beaches, and a town along the river about 100 miles from the coast. Both places were reached on the eight days after landing. After this time, business of war numbered around 17,000, hs, pulls andc russians, many of whom had been pushed into the german army. We found the apartment had already been appropriated by the ffi. Partisans were rounding up 90 sympathizers, including french women who had been friendly to the germans. Are on the interest in these proceedings was to examine the suspects for spies and saboteurs. On the afternoon of august 29, the second battalion of the seventh infantry regiment of the Third Division caught up with the enemy five miles north of this town. With the destruction of the second segment, had captured nearly 15,000 more troops commit which had been concentrated to block our advance. To prevent our rapid thrust up the valley, the germans concentrated forces at the town. But a task force composed with of elements from the sixth corps blanketed the nazis from the rear, this in conjunction with arthur division driving from the south. Our artillery went into action. [gunfire] narrator though trapped by our rapid maneuver, the germans fought savagely. [explosion] escaped the nazis who annihilation fled northward pursued by our air force. [planes roaring overhead] narrator in their haste the germans left much of the runnable equipment intact. That really paid off. Narrator nazis who had been cut off from their escaping comrades were rounded up and imprisoned. While the Third Division was moving toward lyon, the 191st Tank Destroyer battalion raced northward to cut off the germans, who were retreating through the rhone valley. After four long years of nazi slavery, the free population staged a wild celebration to welcome our men. The major delaying tactics of the retreating enemy consisted primarily of destroying all bridges, railroads, and blocking highways. There was no. Rest for the engineers. Odaniel,eral john w. Commander of the third, crossed the bypass to direct the pursuit. In 1944, the first French Armored Division entered this town, an important road junction on the main highway leading to Southern France. The few american civilians in this town were given very special attention. Meanwhile, at this town. 13 miles west of dijon, french troops attached to the seventh army joined with the third army. The final line had been forged between our forces which landed in Southern France, on august
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