The Landing in Provence “is even more African than French”, underlines historian Jean Garrigues

On August 15, 1944, “90% of the troops” of the Provence landing “were Africans,” the historian specifies.

The Landing in Provence, on August 15, 1944, was a landing which “is even more African than French”recalled historian Jean Garrigues on franceinfo on Thursday, August 15, as Emmanuel Macron celebrated the 80th anniversary of the event alongside African heads of state.

The role of the colonies was “totally major”says the historian. After the American landing on August 15, there was “Army B, led by General de Lattre de Tassigny”the historian recalls. In this army, “90% of the troops come from the colonial infantry or the infantry of Algeria, which was France at the time, so 90% of the troops are Africans”. In detail, it is about “North Africans, mainly, there is also a part of Europeans from Algeria, but essentially Muslims from Algeria. But also troops from sub-Saharan Africa, who are about 10%”. 12,000 soldiers of the Free French Forces (FFL) loyal to General de Gaulle and 12,000 Corsicans also landed that day.

France’s recognition of the commitment of African troops “was late” And “caused riots in Dakar as early as 1944”explains Jean Garrigues. He tells the “massacres by French colonial troops” of“rioters who demanded pensions commensurate with their sacrifice”. From, “We see more and more recognition, especially from the 50th anniversary” of the Landing, he observes.

More generally, Jean Garrigues explains that this Landing was the victim of a “memory sorting”in favor of that of June 6, while “It’s an important moment”. “This landing decisively accelerated the departure of the Germans. It was not celebrated much, even though for General de Gaulle it was the most important thing.”points out the historian. Indeed, unlike that of Normandy, that of Provence, “was done with the French armies”.