On the south side of the road.

Monument

The monument features a curved stone with an engraved plaque, positioned by the coast, symbolizing its connection to the landing operation. At the base, there's a large ship's anchor, emphasizing the naval aspect of the landings. The text is written in French. Below the text is the emblem of the 45th Infantry Division, which participated in the operation.

On August 15, 1944, the 45th Division, also known as the "Thunderbird" Division, as part of Operation Dragoon, landed near Sainte-Maxime. This operation aimed to open a new front against the Germans and support the Allied forces fighting in Normandy. The landing at Sainte-Maxime was part of a larger coordinated effort along the French Riviera, targeting German coastal defenses. The division landed early in the morning and faced light resistance compared to the Normandy landings, thanks to the element of surprise and air superiority provided by Allied forces. The goal was to quickly advance inland and capture key ports like Toulon and Marseille, which were vital for resupply operations.

The landings succeeded, and the 45th Division made swift progress, liberating towns and pushing back German forces. They contributed significantly to the rapid Allied advance through Provence and into northern France, eventually linking up with forces from Normandy. 

Source of information: www.operation-dragoon.com, warfarehistorynetwork.com

Source of photo: www.memorialgenweb.org

HERE

AUGUST 15, 1944

DISEMBARKED AT 6:30

THE ALLIED ARMIES

LIBERATING

IN HOMAGE TO THE

45th AMERICAN DI

English Translation:

HERE

ON AUGUST 15, 1944

THE ALLIED LIBERATING ARMIES

LANDED AT 6:30 AM

IN TRIBUTE TO THE

45th AMERICAN INFANTRY DIVISION