Chaired by the French Head of State Emmanuel Macron, this ceremony, which took place at the Boulouris Necropolis, where the bodies of 464 soldiers who died for France rest, in the presence of several leaders and heads of government, notably African, veterans as well as other personalities from different backgrounds, highlighted the role played by the valiant African soldiers during the landing in Provence, on the night of August 14 to 15, 1944.
The Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch, represented His Majesty King Mohammed VI at this ceremony, which was marked in particular by a memorial sequence of tributes, songs by the French Army Choir and an air show by the Patrouille de France.
Speaking on this occasion, the French President expressed “unwavering gratitude” to the heroes of August 15. He paid tribute in particular to the brave Moroccan soldiers among their African brothers in arms who participated in the Liberation of France.
On this occasion, President Macron decorated three veterans who fought alongside the Allies during the Second World War, including Moroccan Larbi Jawa, made a Knight of the Legion of Honor.
This commemoration is part of the cycle of international tributes organized throughout this year to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the landings, the Liberation of France and the Victory which began with D Day in Normandy, on June 6, which was a key event of the Second World War which marked the beginning of the liberation of France and the gradual withdrawal of the German occupying forces.
Less well known than that of Normandy, the Landing in Provence, on August 15, 1944, contributed to changing the course of the Second World War, by allowing the Allies to liberate Toulon, Marseille and the Rhone Valley, as part of Operation Dragoon intended to open a second front on French territory.
The operation was aimed in particular at pinning down enemy troops, securing deep-water ports and then protecting the right flank of the American army coming from Normandy.
The 2024 commemorative programme includes two other major events: the Liberation of Paris on 25 August and the Liberation of Strasbourg on 23 November.
2024-08-16 01:35:50