France honors its African fighters

France recently commemorated the 80th anniversary of the Allied landings on the French Riviera during World War II, a mission aimed at repelling Nazi forces. The ceremonies on Thursday paid special tribute to the many African soldiers, sent from France’s former colonies, who participated in the operation.

Often referred to as the “forgotten D-Day,” the event was marked by French President Emmanuel Macron, along with other leaders, including Cameroonian President Paul Biya. Unfortunately, storm warnings along the Mediterranean coast led to the cancellation of the planned maritime events.

President Macron and President Biya were set to deliver speeches at the Boulouris national cemetery in Saint-Raphaël, where 464 French soldiers who died during the August 1944 fighting are buried. Several African leaders were also in attendance for the commemorations.

Six World War II veterans, including five French soldiers and one from another nation, were honored with the Legion of Honor, France’s highest distinction. An aeronautical demonstration and fireworks display were also part of the day’s events.

The landings, which began on August 15, 1944, were part of Operation Dragoon. Hundreds of thousands of troops, primarily from the United States and France, landed on the Mediterranean coast. The operation was initially intended to happen around the same time as the Normandy landings in June 1944 but was postponed due to resource shortages.

African soldiers made up nearly half of the French forces involved, hailing from what are now around twenty independent African countries. Although the exact number of casualties is not known, the French Defense Ministry estimates that about 1,300 Allied soldiers were killed in the first two days of the operation.

Operation Dragoon played a crucial role in the liberation of southern France, with most of the region being freed in just four weeks. On September 12, 1944, troops from the Normandy landings in northern France met with those from Operation Dragoon in the Burgundy region, marking a significant milestone in the Allies’ efforts to defeat Nazi Germany.