Second Invasion of Europe WWII?

[rjbhutton]

I'm reading "A Bridge too Far" by Cornelius Ryan. In the first few chapters the scene is set with regard to German's retreating and Allied forces advancing. The book mentions, very briefly, the "second invasion" of France, around Marseille, and a southern flank on the push into Germany.

Does anyone have any good book references that describes this "second invasion" which is rarely mentioned, and completely overshadowed by the Normandy invasion? When did it happen? Was it a cake walk and un-opposed and therefore not worthy of mention? Does anyone know anything about this and would like to share with the forum?

I appreciate this. If I find any good info in my search, I will post.

cheers

[AROUETLJ]

I'm reading "A Bridge to Far" by Cornelius Ryan. In the first few chapters the scene is set with regard to German's retreating and Allied forces advancing. The book mentions, very briefly, the "second invasion" of France, around Marseille, and a southern flank on the push into Germany.

Does anyone have any good book references that describes this "second invasion" which is rarely mentioned, and completely overshadowed by the Normandy invasion? When did it happen? Was it a cake walk and un-opposed and therefore not worthy of mention? Does anyone know anything about this and would like to share with the forum?

I appreciate this. If I find any good info in my search, I will post.

cheers

Just search for "Operation Dragoon"

[rjbhutton]

Just search for "Operation Dragoon"

Arouetlj!! Thanks mate!!

Here's the most relevant mp.net thread... thanks to Buckeye67

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?t=88735

[Gentleman Ranker]

I was in Marseilles this summer and visited the cathedral above the city, wher eone can clearly see the bullet and shrapnel marks on the walls of the cathedral, left from the liberation of the city in 1944, when the cathedral hill was used as a strongpoint by the Germans. Also, about halfway up the hill, in the middle of a city street, is a Sherman tank (75MM) with US markings, which was apparently damaged in the assault on the hill. The tank is still intact, and has been surrounded by a little fence with flowers planted around it.

[rjbhutton]

I was in Marseilles this summer and visited the cathedral above the city, wher eone can clearly see the bullet and shrapnel marks on the walls of the cathedral, left from the liberation of the city in 1944, when the cathedral hill was used as a strongpoint by the Germans. Also, about halfway up the hill, in the middle of a city street, is a Sherman tank (75MM) with US markings, which was apparently damaged in the assault on the hill. The tank is still intact, and has been surrounded by a little fence with flowers planted around it.

Cool, sounds like it is worth a visit one day. From the stuff I read on Buckeye67's thread, I did not get a sense of whether there were many casualties and whether the beaches were difficult to take... were there any war cemetaries or other memorials in the area?

[Buckeye67]

Hey, it looks like I was good for something around here. p-)

From what I've read about it, the beach landings were fairly easy (compared to the June 6th ones). There was only one landing that met with any kind of serious opposition. In my Dragoon thread, the army.mil history of the operation gives a fairly full accounting of that sort of thing, iirc.