Operation Dragoon order of battle

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

On 15 August 1944, Allied forces launched Operation Dragoon, a coordinated invasion of Southern France by three U.S. infantry divisions and four Free French divisions along the Mediterranean coast. The assault was preceded by nighttime paratroop drops and beach commando landings, part of a broader effort in the European theater of World War II.

Origin and decision
The operation began as Operation Anvil and was originally planned to coincide with the Normandy landings (Overlord). However, shipping for both invasions was prioritized for Normandy, so Dragoon was postponed. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill opposed the Southern France invasion, preferring an Adriatic option. But the American high command, led by SHAEF commander General Dwight D. Eisenhower, pressed to open a southern port to supply a growing Allied force in France. Normandy ports were already strained, and a large port closer to Germany was essential. The French Liberation Army also pushed for landing in Provence to use Free French troops. Churchill relented five days before the landings.

The landings and early combat
In the Alpha and Delta zones, Allied air and naval bombardment largely neutralized German fortifications. Only in the Camel zone did the assault encounter significant resistance. The operation succeeded in opening Southern France to Allied forces, facilitating rapid advances and the liberation of much of the region within four weeks. The ports of Marseille and Toulon were quickly put into operation, though some of the strongest German formations managed to withdraw.

Forces and command
- Ground and follow-up forces: The assault involved three American infantry divisions and four Free French divisions, with the French Army B as the follow-up landing force. General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny commanded the French ground force, while American command included General Dwight D. Eisenhower and subordinate theater leaders. The operation aimed to secure beachheads and then push inland to liberate Provence and nearby ports.

- Airborne and commando operation: Paratroopers and commandos landed on the night of 14–15 August under the 1st Airborne Task Force commanded by Brigadier General Robert T. Frederick, with naval support from Rear Admiral Lyal A. Davidson aboard the heavy cruiser Augusta.

- Main landing sectors and units:
- Near St. Tropez: 3rd Infantry Division (Rock of the Marne) under Major General John W. O’Daniel.
- Near St. Maxime: 45th Infantry Division (Thunderbird) under Major General William W. Eagles.
- Near St. Raphael: 36th Infantry Division (Arrowhead) under Major General John E. Dahlquist.
Each landing area operated with a Beach Group Task Force (Task Force 84, 85, and 87) commanded by Rear Admirals Frank J. Lowry, Bertram J. Rodgers, and Spencer S. Lewis, respectively, and supported by amphibious force ships and landing craft.

- Air and naval support: The operation included air forces under the Royal Air Force and the U.S. Army Air Forces, with Brigadier General Paul L. Williams and Air Vice-Marshal Hugh Pughe Lloyd coordinating a major air effort. The naval component included a diverse fleet of American and Allied ships, providing bombardment, escort, and landing support.

- Opposing forces: German defense along the southern coast was commanded by Generaloberst Johannes Blaskowitz, with coastal defenses under German naval and army commands.

Result
Dragoon achieved its strategic goals: rapid establishment of a southern front, liberation of most of southern France within a month, and the opening of Marseille and Toulon as major Allied ports. While many German units escaped to fight another day, the operation significantly eased pressure on Allied forces in Normandy and accelerated the drive into occupied France.