Battle of Marseille

The Battle of Marseille refers to the combat and other actions from August 21–28, 1944 which led to the liberation of Marseille by French forces in World War II. The groundwork was laid by the Allied invasion of southern France in Operation Dragoon on 15 August 1944 by the United States Seventh Army, with major support from the French First Army.

Along with Toulon, the main port for the French Navy (French: Marine nationale, "national navy"), informally "La Royale", the Port of Marseilles was a vital objective. The port, its facilities and the rail and road links leading up the Rhone valley, being essential to the liberation of southern France and the ultimate defeat of German forces.

After the successful execution of Operation Overlord, the Normandy landings, attention shifted to the south. Most ports in the north were unusable, or too heavily fortified (e.g. Cherbourg, Brest, Lorient, Saint Nazaire), which made seizure and control of the French ports at Marseille and Toulon increasingly attractive. The French leaders pressed for an invasion in southern France, too. Finally, after many delays, on 14 July 1944, Operation Dragoon was authorized by the Allied Combined Chiefs of Staff.

The groundwork was laid by the Allied invasion of southern France in Operation Dragoon on 15 August 1944 by the United States Seventh Army under General Patch, with support from the French First Army who began landing on 16 August and would within days amount to two thirds of the Dragoon troops on the ground.

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