ITALY

SMOKE RISING FROM WATERFRONT INSTALLATIONS as Liberators bomb Genoa, Italy, prior to the invasion of southern France. This was part of a plan to keep the enemy guessing as to where the assault would come. At the time of the Normandy landings most of the Allied troops intended for the simultaneous invasion of southern France were fighting in Italy.

ITALY

DOCKS AND U-BOAT PENS during an air attack at Toulon, a major French naval base. Allied air attacks destroyed U-boats awaiting repairs in their pens and crippled production facilities. By the end of July 1944 the Mediterranean Sea was almost cleared of German naval power.

ITALY

BOMBING OF RHÔNE RIVER BRIDGES at Tarascon by Allied planes. Pre-D-Day bombardment wrecked all but one bridge across the Rhône, which helped to hamper large-scale movement of enemy troops. The Allied forces were to advance through the Rhône River Valley which passes between two mountain masses, the Massif Central and the Alps, and forms a great natural corridor connecting the Mediterranean coast with the Paris basin.

FRANCE

B-24 0VER THE GOLFE DE LA NAPOULE. Smoke rising in distance, near village of Théoule-sur-Mer, is caused by bombing of railroad, highway, and bridges. At right is Cannes. The air offensive in support of the invasion actually began as early as 28 April 1944 when heavy bombers attacked Toulon. Between that time and August, the Mediterranean Allied air force dropped more than 12,500 tons of bombs on southern France. Beginning on 10 August the offensive was continued by attacking coastal batteries and radar stations, harassing coastal defense troops, and isolating the target area by destroying bridges across the Rhône.

ITALY

WATERPROOFED PRIEST undergoing test in preparation for the invasion. The invasion training center at Salerno, Italy, established a school of one week’s instruction in waterproofing vehicles for the coming assault. The 105-mm. howitzer motor carriage M7 was the principal artillery weapon of the U. S. armored division.

ITALY

VEHICLES ASSEMBLED AT THE PORT OF NAPLES for the invasion of southern France. The troop list of those landing during the first four days included over 155,000 personnel and 20,000 vehicles of all types, including personnel and cargo carriers as well as armored vehicles.

ITALY

LOADED LST’S IN NAPLES HARBOR in August 1944 before the invasion. By this time the Germans had been pushed north of Florence, their air force had been greatly reduced, and their airfields in the Po Valley were under constant air attacks by medium and heavy bombers.

ITALY

MEN ON A BEACH NEAR NAPLES waiting for water transportation to take them to near-by landing craft and transports in the Bay of Naples. This was the final loading before the invasion. Although the Germans were aware of the concentration of troops and shipping and knew that the invasion was in preparation, no enemy bombings interfered with the loading operations. The Allied air forces had rendered most of their airfields within range of Naples inoperative for all practical purposes.

ITALY

MEN RECEIVING CARTRIDGES OF CARBON DIOXIDE for their life preservers, prior to boarding ships for the invasion. Rations for the first days were also issued, each man receiving one K ration, one D ration, one small bottle of Halazone tablets to purify water, one bottle of salt tablets, and two packages of cigarettes.

ITALY

FULLY EQUIPPED INFANTRY SOLDIER, armed with both a carbine and a rocket launcher, boarding a transport. (2.36-inch rocket launcher M1A1, known as the bazooka.)

EN ROUTE TO SOUTHERN FRANCE

LST’S APPROACHING THE COAST OF FRANCE. Ships carrying men and equipment for the invasion sailed from ports in Africa, Italy, and Corsica, the most important loading port being Naples. In all, 853 vessels from the Allied navies formed the task force with an additional 1,267 small landing craft, deck-loaded. Several hours prior to the main assault amphibious landings were made on both flanks of the invasion area and airborne landings were made in the rear in order to isolate the beachhead from the enemy. French commandos landed at Cap Nègre and French marines landed near Cannes.

EN ROUTE TO SOUTHERN FRANCE

ON BOARD AN AMERICAN CRUISER men pass ammunition to gunners firing on the beaches of southern France. Naval ships commenced long-range bombardment of prearranged targets at 0530 on D Day. Until 0800 this fire was almost continuous, lifting only when Allied bombers were over the targets. In all, naval guns fired over 15,900 projectiles into the beach area prior to the assault landings.

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DROPPING SUPPLIES TO PARATROOPERS on D Day, 15 August 1944. An Anglo-American airborne task force landed at various hours on D Day beginning at 0430 near le Muy and le Luc to establish road blocks, to prevent enemy movement toward the beaches, and to help reduce the defenses in the Frejus area. No air opposition was encountered and the paratroopers landed and came in contact with the enemy immediately, but resistance was light, primarily small arms fire. Preparations were made by the paratroopers for the landing of the glider-borne elements.

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DUST RISING FROM FIELDS AS GLIDERS LAND. The tow planes and gliders took off from airfields in the Rome area. No gliders were lost from enemy action, but many were wrecked in landing, causing some casualties. The first glider serial landed about 0930 on 15 August 1944, and by late afternoon the whole force had landed. By nightfall four small villages had been occupied and 103 prisoners taken. A protective screen was established over the road net connecting the invasion coast with the interior.

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WOUNDED AND INJURED AIRBORNE TROOPS in an aid station at la Motte. The enemy opposition to the Anglo-American air drops and glider landings was relatively slight but this method of warfare, in itself dangerous, resulted in unavoidable accidents such as broken arms and legs and, in some cases, more serious injuries.

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ROCKET SHIP CONVERTED FROM AN LCT. Ahead of the first wave of assault troops in landing craft were rocket ships mounting tiers of rocket launchers. As these drew within range of the beach defenses they discharged their rockets. The first troops landed immediately afterward. Rocket ships were equipped with launchers for up to 1,000 rockets.

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SOLDIERS DESCENDING A LADDER into waiting assault craft. Climbing down along the high vertical side of a transport into a heaving and swaying assault craft while loaded down with ammunition, equipment, and rations was in itself a difficult task. The ladder shown here, constructed of chains separated by wooden pieces, was a great improvement over the old rope nets. The latter tended to bunch and stretch, making the descent extremely difficult and slow.

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INFANTRY MAN AND MEDICS in the LCVP nearing a beach. Advancing at full speed, the assault craft approached the beaches in the immediate wake of the rocket ships. Other landing craft can be seen on the beach. At right is an LST. Overhead are three barrage balloons.

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PART OF THE BEACH ON BAIE DE CAVALAIRE. On the left of the invasion coast in the U. S. sector, one division was to assault the beach area from Cap Cavalaire to the Cap de Saint-Tropez, including the town of Saint-Tropez. One battalion landing on the beach shown above advanced along the coastal road and cleared the town of Cavalaire-sur-Mer (portion of town is at left in photo), and by 1330 on D Day reached a road block, in the vicinity of Cap Negre, held by the French.

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BEACH ON THE ANSE DE PAMPELONE. All beach defenses were reduced in forty minutes after landings were made. The engineers started clearing the beaches of mines and laying beach pontons since the gradient was too shallow for ships to come up to the beach. One battalion attacked inland and seized the high ground north of the town of Rainatuelle (upper left). Two battalions moved north and northeast and seized the hills (upper right). Saint-Tropez is just behind these hills.

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THE CAP SARDINEAU BEACHES. Another of the three assault divisions landed here in the center of the corps invasion area at H Hour (0800) on D Day. The three small beaches (shown above) lay along a curving bay between Cap Sardineau and Pointe de l’Arpillon. The divisional area extended inland 15 to 20 miles to le Luc and le Muy where the airborne troops had previously landed. After clearing the beaches, the division’s mission was to contact the paratroopers to the north and the divisions on each flank.

FRANCE

POINTE D’ANTHÉOR BEACH. On the extreme right of the invasion coast, this beach at an inlet near Pointe d’Anthéor was small and not well suited for a major landing. The landings took place on the beaches on both sides of the inlet which ends where the highway runs beside the railroad bridge. Here the Germans directed their fire upon the assault boats and made several direct hits, causing casualties. The assault troops placed a road block across the coastal highway and occupied the ground northwest of Rade-d’Agay.

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CAP DRAMMONT BEACH. The third division of the three in the U. S. assault area had the mission of securing the right of the invasion beaches. The divisional area extended from Pointe de Saint-Aygulf along the coast line to Théoulesur Mer on the Golfe de la Napoule. The first assault was over this beach west of Cap Drammont and was considered large enough only for the initial operations. The beach consisted of narrow strips of rocky shale between the water and steep embankments.

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DUPLEX-DRIVE TANK. Amphibian tanks were launched from LCT’s about 2,000 yards offshore to support infantry on the Saint-Tropez peninsula assault. By means of the duplex drive a regular medium tank was converted into an amphibian. When the canvas screen was raised and held in place by mechanical means the tank floated. The DD tank was vulnerable to mines and underwater obstacles. Offshore at right an amphibian 2½-ton truck is bringing a 105-mm. howitzer to the beach.

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INFANTRYMEN LANDING ON BEACH FROM AN LCI. In the center of the U. S. assault area troops landed under almost ideal amphibious conditions, four battalions abreast with little hindrance by mines and underwater obstacles and with light enemy resistance.

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A SMOKE SCREEN is laid to cover landing operations on the left flank of the American assault area. While engineers, using a mine detector (SCR 625), clear the beach of enemy mines, a DUKW with a 105-mm. howitzer approaches the shore.

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EXPLODING MINE. On D Day morning no fire on ships or craft from coast defense guns was reported, and on the beaches resistance consisted mostly of small arms and mortar fire. Underwater obstacles and land and marine mines were insufficient to delay the landings materially. The first waves of assault troops located and removed many of these obstacles. Note wire matting in lower left used to form a roadbed over loose sand.

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ENEMY TRENCHES ON BEACH and two American casualties. A waterproofed 2½-ton 6 x 6 truck offshore. Shortly after U. S. troops landed the enemy came out of shelters and opened fire with small arms and mortars. However, amphibian tanks, tank destroyers, and howitzers which had landed from DUKW’s were in position to meet this fire, and the infantry continued to advance inland against scattered and light opposition. The first enemy prisoners seemed dazed and well shaken by the preliminary naval and aerial bombardment.

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AID MEN ADMINISTER PLASMA TO A FRENCH WOMAN wounded during the invasion, using the rear of a DD tank for shelter. Men and women of the French Forces of the Interior assisted the advancing troops and made the countryside untenable for the isolated enemy detachments. By midnight, the corps reported that 2,041 prisoners had been taken.

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LITTER BEARERS EVACUATING WOUNDED MAN. A medical battalion attached to the beach group set up collecting, clearing, and aid stations. The wounded were evacuated from the beach by Army and Navy medical personnel to hospital ships by LCVP’s. The casualty rates were low and the inland advance of troops rapid.

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ENEMY PILLBOX. On the morning of 16 August 1944 troops moved through Saint-Raphaël clearing most of the resistance. There was considerable improvisation on the part of the enemy, such as the mounting of tank turrets on concrete to form pillboxes. (Schmeiser machine gun and 20-mm. cannon mounted in pillbox.)

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THE FIRST FRENCH PARTISANS (French Forces of the Interior) to meet the invading U. S. troops at the beach in the Saint-Tropez area. The partisans had been given a list of priority targets to be attacked on and after D Day. They were to intensify their activities in the rear of the enemy forces, with special emphasis on the destruction of bridges, cutting and blocking highways and railroads, and seizing or controlling telephone and telegraph centers.

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FRENCH TROOPS TAKE OVER A GERMAN GUN IN TOULON. At 2000 on D plus 1 a French army, consisting of seven divisions, began landing on the beaches in the Saint-Tropez area, with the initial mission of capturing the port cities of Toulon and Marseille. The divisions assigned the taking of Toulon began the encirclement of the city on 20 August. Because of formidable enemy defenses, the combined efforts of the French army, the tactical air command, and the Allied naval task force were required before complete occupation of the city was accomplished. The German garrison surrendered to the French army on 28 August 1944. (German gun, 7.5-cm. Pak. 40.)

FRANCE

THE FRENCH BATTLESHIP STRASBOURG. This ship was scuttled and then damaged by Allied bombing on D plus 3, 18 August 1944, in Toulon harbor. The enemy made maximum use of artillery for coastal defense purposes. Batteries included railway guns, heavy coast artillery, German field pieces, old French and Italian equipment, and even naval guns transferred from French warships scuttled in Toulon harbor.

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DAMAGED DOCKS AT MARSEILLE, the second largest city in France, the most important port on the Mediterranean, and one of the three cities in southern France with facilities for handling 10,000-ton Liberty ships. (The others are Toulon and Nice.) Marseille capitulated to the French army on 28 August 1944, particular emphasis being placed on preserving port installations which the Germans had hoped to render useless by large-scale demolitions.

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INFANTRY AND TANKS ADVANCE ALONG A COASTAL HIGHWAY. Failure of the defending forces to hold the invaders in the immediate coastal area was due to several facts: the enemy had disposed his divisions too far west; additional troops were committed in a piecemeal fashion; coastal units in general were weak, and lacked air support, armor, and heavy artillery. It is also estimated that about half the enemy troops were Russian, Czech, Turkish, Polish, and other non-Germanic people who were not inclined to put up a determined stand. The German corps headquarters, near Draguignan, became isolated from its command. The French Forces of the Interior constantly harassed the defending troops from the rear.

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INFANTRYMEN PATROL NORTH OF MONTELIMAR (top). An American tank passes wrecked German equipment north of Montelimar (bottom). American troops advanced on Montelimar from the south and northeast in an attempt to cut off and destroy the German army in that area. After eight days of hard fighting the town was taken, but a large portion of the enemy troops had succeeded in escaping north from the triangle formed by the Rhone, Drome, and Roubion Rivers, along Highway 86 west of the Rhone River and Highway 7 east of the river.

FRANCE

GERMAN EQUIPMENT BURNING IN THE MONTELIMAR AREA as U. S. artillery shells enemy convoys attempting to withdraw to the north (top). Wreckage of enemy vehicles after being hit by artillery fire (bottom). By the end of August the Germans had succeeded in withdrawing the greater part of their personnel north of the Drome River, but left behind were destroyed vehicles, guns, and heavy equipment, which reflected the eight days of heavy fighting. American destruction of enemy equipment included between 2,000 and 3,000 vehicles, over 80 artillery pieces, and 5 large-caliber railway guns.

FRANCE

A LITTLE FRENCH GIRL giving a soldier a bottle of wine as a gesture of welcome as U. S. troops march through the streets of a liberated French town.

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SOLDIERS OF THE SOUTHERN INVADING ARMY meeting soldiers from the northern invading army. At 1500, 11 September, elements of a French armored division of the southern forces made junction with a French armored division near Sombernon, 150 miles southeast of Paris. The two invasion forces thus joined to form a continuous Allied front from the North Sea to the Mediterranean.