Délivrance WTO (id:#61841)

(Vae Victis # 108 ID: VV 82)   [next]   [previous]

Digne, France 1944-08-19 (14 others)

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Overview:

"Deliverance" -- 6th June, 1944 gave the release signal for the much of France. If the Resistance experienced several bloody setbacks, at the same time several regions of France came under their effective control. Re-supplied by air drops, armed and trained by members of the British SOE and American OSS and even detachments of special forces, the Marquisards forced the Germans to retreat in many localities. The isolated Occupiers lived with a general feeling of insecurity, even if their communications were less disrupted. In the Alpes de Haute Provence, Digne was a major logistical base. In early August, the Germans did not dare go out of town, waiting for the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons almost as a deliverance. On 15th August, the Allies landed in Provence. Two days later, Hitler authorized a general withdrawal, whilst a mechanized American group rushed to the north. Indeed, Task Force Butler had cut the opponents retreat from the Rhone Valley through the Provence-Alps. After arriving at Sisteron, Colonel Butler wanted to secure Digne, and sent B Troop of the 117th Cavalry Squadron, reinforced by tanks and self-propelled lightweight Priest howitzers.

Defender: German (Verbingdungsstab 792 and Sicherungsregiment. Stab.z.b.V)  

Errata (source)