An international ceremony was held at the Boulouris necropolis, where 464 French soldiers are laid to rest. Despite the rain, the event proceeded with HSH Prince Albert in attendance, paying tribute to the brave soldiers who fought for freedom.
Operation Dragoon marked the Allies’ first major entry into southern France, paving the way for the Normandy landings and leading to the liberation of the region from German occupation.
In La Motte, the first village liberated by American paratroopers between Fréjus and Draguignan, Monaco’s Minister of State, Pierre Dartout, attended the unveiling of a statue honouring Robert Frederick, the commander of the 1st Airborne Task Force. The bronze sculpture, standing over 1.9 meters tall, was partially funded by Monaco.
On August 15, 1944, the Allies launched Operation Dragoon, landing on 18 beaches along the Var coast between Toulon and Cannes. Eighty years later, on August 15, 2024, dignitaries and veterans from France, Monaco, and Africa, including French President Emmanuel Macron, former President Nicolas Sarkozy, and veteran Herbert Traube, gathered to commemorate this pivotal moment in history.
Featured image courtesy of Axel Bastello / Prince’s Palace: HSH Prince Albert and President Emmanuel Macron
