Inscriptions of Cagnes-sur-Mer

American and Canadian Victims of Liberation

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In a charming green square, a plaque commemorates US and Canadian victims of the liberation of the south of France.

Photo Cagnes-sur-Mer: the park

The park

Photos: Hans-Rudolf Hower, 2004

Photo Cagnes-sur-Mer: plaque of commemoration

The plaque

Inscription

Original Text (Latin / French language)

In memoriam

Le 27 août 1944.

Au cours de la campagne menée pour chasser l’ennemi du sud de la France, la First Special Service Force des Etats-Unis et du Canada, avec le concours de la résistance française, atteignit Cagnes-sur-Mer.

Après avoir libéré cette charmante cité, la First Special Service Force poursuivit sa route jusqu’à la frontière franco-italienne.

Au cours de cette campagne, 66 combattants de cette force furent tués et plus de 200 blessés.

C’est à nos camarades américains, canadiens et français tombés au cours de ces combats que nous dédions ce mémorial.

First Special Service Force Association

8 mai 1995

[horizontal badge: USA, vertical badge: Canada]

Translation

For commemoration

27th August, 1944.

During its campaign destinated to drive the enemy out of the south of France, the US and Canadian First Special Service Force, with the cooperation of the French Resistance, reached Cagnes-sur-Mer.

After the liberation of this charming town, the First Special Service Force continued its way to French Italian border.

During this campaign, 66 combattants of this force were killed and more than 200 were wounded.

We are dedicating this memorial to our American, Canadian, and French comrades that fell during those battles.

First Special Service Force Association

8th May, 1995

[horizontal badge: USA, vertical badge: Canada]

Comment

The military operations mentioned on the plaque were part of the Operation Dragoon, which had begun on August 15, 1944, and would last until september of the same year. The plaque commemorates the allied troops' victims in a politically and socially difficult area.

Compared with other regions of France, the Côte d'Azur had not been suffering so much from World War II when the real troubles of war came there with the arrival of allied forces of liberation and the French resistance fighters. This caused large parts of the local population to have a wrong vision of things. Allied bombings and the advancing of the allied forces as well as the French partisans' underground operations were not always accepted as measures that were necessary for the liberation of the country, because heavy destructions, loss of near relatives and all sorts of German reprisals were their immediately visible consequences.

Hence the importance of commemoration - and of making things clear.

Internet

Be aware of our legal reservation concerning any Internet reference.

Address / Owner	Content / Subjects
Western Front (World War II) In the English Wikipedia.	Detailed encyclopaedic article on the Western Front and the operations of liberation (in France, among others).
Operation Dragoon In the English Wikipedia.	Detailed encyclopaedic article on this military operation whose result was the liberation of the Côte d'Azur.
Special Service Force In the English Wikipedia.	Encyclopaedic article on this military force, which the 1st Special Service Force (or First Special Service Force) mentioned in Cagnes-sur-Mer belonged to.

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Arrival by Public Transport

For the arrival in Cagnes-sur-Mer see Inscriptions of Cagnes-sur-Mer.

Leaving the railway station of Cagnes-sur-Mer, turn to the right and then go straight ahead until you see a charming green square on your right side, just before entering the modern centre of the town. There is also a communal bus stop in front of the square.

Indications concerning the arrival correspond to our personal knowledge or even experience, but we cannot assume any responsibility for their rightness. When you are reading this page, things may have changed in reality.

Hans-Rudolf Hower, 2004

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Last updated: November 20, 2019