August 15, 2024. Eighty years ago, at the cost of immense sacrifices, the forces of Liberty continued their assault to break the machine of death and hatred which, in contempt of the essential values of humanity, had undertaken to enslave our homeland and Europe.
After North Africa, Sicily, Corsica, Normandy, here, on our beaches, on August 15, 1944, a new stage of this merciless struggle began that would decide the fate of the world. Under the orders of Generals Patch and de Lattre de Tassigny, galvanized by exceptional leaders, thousands and thousands of fighters set foot on the sand to open a new major front in the enemy’s system.
BLOOD VERSE
General Patch’s 7th American Army, which included the French forces commanded by de Lattre-de-Tassigny, arrived in sight of the coast during the night of 14-15 August. That same evening, the French Forces of the Interior (FFI) received 3 messages from London, the last of which “the leader is hungry” signified the launch of operations. On 15 August at 8am, the 3rd, 36th and 45th American Infantry Divisions landed on the beaches between Cavalaire and Saint-Raphaël. The day before, on 14 August, it was the African Commandos who landed at Rayol Canadel and Lavandou in order to neutralise the enemy batteries.
On this day of commemoration, Philippe Leonelli launched: “Gentlemen representatives of the United States and the United Kingdom, Cavalaire will never forget the blood shed by your children for its freedom and that is why we commemorate today the memory of the allied soldiers who fell under enemy fire. On this day of August 15, 1944, for all French women, for all French men, what joy, deep, intense, unforgettable, what pride to see the army of fighting France engaged, alongside its allies, for the liberation of our territory! As General de Gaulle, Head of Free France, had wanted, our soldiers were there for History.”
IDEAL COMMUN
The mayor added: “A common ideal had transcended them, essential values had brought them together: Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.
Freedom!
She guided the fighters, as she encouraged those who had just broken through the front in Normandy, but also the Resistance fighters from within, who were finally coming out into the open and providing decisive support to the landed forces.
Equality!
It was, in the ordeal of fire, the very mark of the destiny of these same fighters.
Equality in the face of fear, suffering, death.
Equality also in honor and glory.
A glory won in Tunisia, from 1942, then in Sicily and Corsica, the first metropolitan department to be liberated.
A glory confirmed, and with what self-denial, what tenacity, throughout the terrible Italian campaign.
Brotherhood at last!
Fraternal pages were written during this landing in Provence.
Alongside these troops coming from the South, from the other side of the Mediterranean, there was the army of arms, which united in the same spirit, under the same French flag, these fighters of all origins.
These valiant soldiers came from the mainland and from all over the French overseas territories.
Young people from Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, sons of West Africa or Equatorial Africa, of Madagascar or the Indian Ocean, of Asia, America or the Pacific Territories, all distinguished themselves magnificently in the battles of our Liberation.
They will pay a very heavy price for victory.
Exemplary fighters, admirable in their courage, audacity and loyalty, they were the tireless artisans of victory.
We are gathered to pay tribute to all the fighters of this heroic epic.
Since August 15, 1944, the wind of History has continued to blow. And yet, these tragic and glorious hours shared in trials and pain remain in our memories and in our hearts. They have sealed an indissoluble bond between us.
UNFORGETTABLE DAY
“Let us never forget those who fought to defend our freedom, generals, officers, soldiers of the French or allied troops, fighters and resistance fighters. On that unforgettable day of August 15, 1944, on the Var coast, an unprecedented act of bravery and determination marked History and sealed forever the destiny of Freedom. Do the children who play and laugh in the waves and sand of the Landing beach know that one night in August 1944, other children cried out their pain as heroes? The sacrifice and commitment of all these men were the symbol of heroism and solidarity, paving the way for victory, peace and respect. Let us therefore continue, more than ever, to pass on their memory,” concluded the mayor of Cavalaire.
Photos of the town of Cavalaire-sur-Mer.
PLEASE NOTE…
In the presence of:
The deputy for the 4th constituency of Var, Philippe Lottiaux,
The sub-prefect, Myriam Garcia representing the Prefect of Var,
The senator of Var, Jean Bacci,
The President of the Var Departmental Council, Jean-Louis Masson,
Elisabeth Morin Chartier, former Member of the European Parliament,
Gérard Hébert, regional councilor of Île-de-France,
Bernard Jobert, Mayor of Croix-Valmer,
Jean Plénat, mayor of Rayol-Canadel,
Frédéric Burnier, Framboret, mayor of Albertville, 1st vice-president of the Arlysère agglomeration,
Mr. Le Doare, Mayor of Pont Labbé,
Catherine Venturino, Mayor of Barjols,
Guy Partages, mayor of Varages,
Dominique Richard, mayor of Brue Auriac,
The first deputy of Croix Valmer, René Carandante,
The 1st deputy mayor of Ponteves, Thierry Lebourques,
Cavalaire’s first deputy, Olivier Corna,
Master of ceremonies Philippe Vandevelde,
The elected officials of Cavalaire,
The elected representatives of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez,
The elected officials,
Colonel Deck Piluek, representing the Embassy of the United States of America,
Major Christophe Cuenin, commander of the territorial gendarmerie brigade of Croix Valmer,
Major Christophe Bertoli, deputy commander of the Sainte-Maxime gendarmerie brigade,
Lieutenant Vincent Schwalm, head of the Cavalaire Fire and Rescue Center,
Claude Boymond, President of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez Committee of the Society of Members of the Legion of Honor,
Commander Denis Benoist, head of the Navy recruitment service for the Rhone Alpes region
Yves Chalon, treasurer of the Lattre de Tassigny Foundation,
Raymond Lefebvre, head of the municipal police,
Annie Roussilhon and the crews of the Cavalaire SNSM station,
The CCFF of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez,
Vincent Dujarric, president of the French Remembrance of Hyères,
Gérard Jacomet, president of the French souvenir of Cavalaire,
Yves Fournier, president of the international association of combatants and sympathizers of the intelligence services,
The association of former legionnaires of Var,
The Union of Harkis of Var,
The delegation of the XV of the Pacific,
Representatives of patriotic and memorial associations,
The flag bearers,
Members of the families of fighters who landed at Cavalaire,
Children from the Municipal Youth Council (CMJ) and young people from the Universal National Service.
