Editing Operation Dragoon (section)

{{Short description|1944 Allied invasion of Southern France}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict          = Operation Dragoon
| partof            = the [[Mediterranean and Middle East theatre of World War II|Mediterranean and Middle East Theatre]] and the [[European Theatre of World War II]]
| image             = Operation Dragoon invasion fleet 1944.jpg
| image_size        = 300px
| caption           = The Operation Dragoon invasion fleet off the coast of Southern France
| date              = 15 August – 14 September 1944<br>({{Age in years, months, weeks and days |month1=08 |day1=15 |year1=1944 |month2=09 |day2=14 |year2=1944}})
| place             = Southern France, Côte d'Azur
| coordinates       = {{Wikidatacoord|Q221111|scale:50000_type:event_region:FR-PAC|display=inline,title}}
| territory         = [[Nazi Germany|German]] forces withdraw from most of Southern France to the [[Vosges]] region.
| result            = Allied victory
| combatant1        = {{flag|United States|1912}}<br />{{flagdeco|France|1830}} [[Provisional Government of the French Republic|France]]
* {{flagdeco|France|1830}} [[French Algeria]]
{{flag|United Kingdom}}<br />{{flag|Canada|1921}}{{ref label|A|a|a}}<br />'''Air support:'''<br />{{flag|Australia}}<br />{{flagcountry|Union of South Africa}}<br />'''Naval support:'''<br />{{flagcountry|Kingdom of Greece|state}}<br />{{flagcountry|Dominion of New Zealand}}
| combatant2        = {{flagcountry|Nazi Germany}}
| commander1        = {{flagdeco|United States|1912}} [[Jacob L. Devers]]<br />{{flagdeco|United States|1912}} [[Alexander Patch]]<br />{{flagdeco|France|1830}} [[Jean de Lattre de Tassigny|Jean de Tassigny]]<br />{{flagdeco|France|1830}} [[Edgard de Larminat]]<br />{{flagdeco|France|1830}} [[Joseph de Goislard de Monsabert|Joseph de Monsabert]]<hr/>{{flagdeco|United States|1912}} [[Henry Kent Hewitt]]<hr/>{{flagdeco|United States|1912}} [[John K. Cannon]]
| commander2        = {{flagdeco|Nazi Germany}} [[Johannes Blaskowitz]]<br />{{flagdeco|Nazi Germany}} [[Friedrich Wiese]]
| strength1         = '''Initial landing'''<br />151,000 personnel{{sfnp|Clarke|Smith|1993|p=92}}<br />'''Entire invasion force'''<br />576,833 personnel{{sfnp|Tucker-Jones|2010|p=92}}<br />'''French Resistance'''<br />75,000 personnel{{sfnp|Clarke|Smith|1993|p=42}}
| strength2         = '''Initial landing'''<br />85,000–100,000 personnel{{sfnp|Clarke|Smith|1993|p=70}}<br />1,481 artillery pieces{{sfnp|Clodfelter|2017|p=474}}<br />'''Southern France'''<br />285,000–300,000 personnel{{sfnp|Clarke|Smith|1993|p=70}}
| units1            = {{flagdeco|United States|1912}} [[Sixth United States Army Group|Sixth Army Group]]
* {{flagdeco|United States|1912}} [[U.S. Seventh Army|Seventh Army]]
* {{flagdeco|France|1830}} [[First Army (France)|Armée B]]
{{flagdeco|Free French}} [[French Forces of the Interior|FFI]]<hr/>{{flagdeco|United States|1912}} [[United States Eighth Fleet|Eighth Fleet]]<br />[[File:Mediterranean Allied Air Forces.png|25px]] [[Mediterranean Allied Air Forces|MAAF]]
| units2            = {{flagdeco|Nazi Germany}} [[Army Group G]]
* {{flagdeco|Nazi Germany}} [[19th Army (Wehrmacht)|19th Army]]
| casualties1       = {{flagdeco|United States|1912}}
15,574 casualties<ref name=stat>”Statistical and accounting branch office of the adjutant general" p. 93</ref>
* 7,301 killed<ref name=stat/>
{{flagdeco|France|1830}} more than 10,000 casualties{{sfnp|Clarke|Smith|1993|p=195}}{{sfnp|Vogel|1983|pp=604–605}}<br />'''Total: ~25,574'''
| casualties2       = {{flagdeco|Nazi Germany}} 7,000 killed<br />~21,000 wounded<br />131,250 captured{{sfnp|Vogel|1983|pp=604–605}}{{sfnp|Zaloga|2009|p=88}}{{sfnp|Clarke|Smith|1993|p=197}}<br />1,316 artillery pieces{{sfnp|Clodfelter|2017|p=474}}<br />'''Total: ~159,000'''
| campaignbox       = {{WWIITheatre}}{{Campaignbox Western Europe (1944-1945)}}
{{Campaignbox Operation Dragoon}}
{{Campaignbox Western Front (World War II)}}
{{Campaignbox Mediterranean and Middle East Theatre}}
{{Campaignbox Free French}}
}}

'''Operation Dragoon''' (initially '''Operation Anvil'''), known as '''Débarquement de Provence''' in French ("Provence Landing"), was the code name for the [[landing operation]] of the [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] invasion of [[Provence]] ([[Southern France]]) on 15{{nbsp}}August 1944. Although initially designed to be executed in conjunction with [[Operation Overlord]], the June 1944 [[Normandy landings|Allied landing in Normandy]], the lack of enough resources led to the cancellation of the second landing. By July 1944 the landing was reconsidered, as the clogged-up ports in Normandy did not have the capacity adequately to supply the Allied forces. Concurrently, the high command of the [[French Liberation Army]] pushed for a revival of the operation, which would involve large numbers of French troops. As a result, the operation was finally approved in July to be executed in August.

The invasion sought to secure the vital ports on the French Mediterranean coast and increase pressure on the German forces by opening another front. After preliminary commando operations, the US [[VI Corps (United States)|VI Corps]] landed on the beaches of the [[Côte d'Azur]] under the protection of a large naval task force, followed by several divisions of [[French Army B]]. They were opposed by the scattered forces of the German [[Army Group G]], which had been weakened by the relocation of its divisions to other fronts and the replacement of its soldiers with third-rate ''[[Ostlegionen]]'' outfitted with obsolete equipment.

Hindered by Allied [[air supremacy]] and a large-scale uprising by the [[French Resistance]], the weak German forces were swiftly defeated. The Germans withdrew to the north through the [[Rhône]] valley to establish a stable defense line at [[Dijon]]. Allied mobile units were able to overtake the Germans and partially block their route at the town of [[Montélimar]]. The ensuing battle led to a stalemate, with neither side able to achieve a decisive breakthrough, until the Germans were finally able to complete their withdrawal and retreat from the town. While the Germans were retreating, the French managed to capture the important ports of [[Marseille]] and [[Toulon]], soon putting them into operation.

The Germans were not able to hold Dijon and ordered a complete withdrawal from Southern France. Army Group{{nbsp}}G retreated further north, pursued by Allied forces. The fighting ultimately came to a stop at the [[Vosges mountains]], where Army Group{{nbsp}}G was finally able to establish a stable defensive line. After meeting with the Allied units from the American [[United States Army Central|Third Army]], the Allied forces were in need of reorganizing and, facing stiffened German resistance, the offensive was halted on 14{{nbsp}}September.

The Americans considered Operation Dragoon a success. It enabled them to liberate most of Southern France in just four weeks while inflicting heavy casualties on the German forces, although a substantial part of the best German units were able to escape. The captured French ports were put into operation, allowing the Allies to solve their supply problems quickly. The British disagreed with the American assessment due to the weak political impact and lack of movement in Italy.