The 1st Free French Division
Contact details
Presentation
It was at the crossroads of the four roads that the troops were directed towards Hyères and Pierrefeu on 19 August 1944 by officer Pierre Pasquini.
Before that, the elements of this unit, crowned by their victory at Bir Hakeim, waited in the harbour of Taranto on board several ships and continued training for a landing that everyone knew was near. On the morning of August 16, the onboard radio announced the landing. At 5 p.m. the bay of Cavalaire was identified. Since the day before it had been in the hands of Franco-American paratroopers who had cleared the coast like the African commandos between Le Canadel and Le Lavandou.
General Brosset commanding the Division landed with the 2nd brigade. On 17 August the whole Division was landed and regrouped at La Croix Valmer. On 18 August, under the orders of General de Larminat, it took the direction of Hyères.
On 19 August it crossed La Londe, the marine fusiliers of the Savary squadron branched off towards the Borrels and the Pas du Cerf to regroup at the Domaine de la Clapière. From there they took the road to Pierrefeu to liaise between the other elements of the 1st DFL and the 9th D.I.C. which had liberated Collobrières.
Pierrefeu was liberated, the marine fusiliers joined the Clapière estate to await news concerning Mont Redon before liberating La Crau.
The other units headed for Hyères to relieve the African commandos chosen to seize Mont Coudon after the capture of the Mauvanne blockhouses.
The German defence zones were the objectives.
Before entering Toulon, the Division suffered heavy losses (298 men lost their lives, more than 300 were wounded).