The invasion was launched on August 15, 1944, with Allied troops landing on the beaches of southern France near the city of Toulon. The landings were supported by a massive naval and aerial bombardment, which helped to soften up German defenses. Allied troops quickly overwhelmed the German forces and advanced rapidly inland, capturing several key cities and ports, including Marseilles and Toulouse.
The success of Operation Dragoon helped to accelerate the Allied advance in Europe and contributed to the eventual liberation of France. It also played a significant role in weakening the German military, which was forced to divert troops from other fronts to deal with the new threat in the south.
Here are some specific reasons why Operation Dragoon was undertaken:
* To divert German troops away from Normandy. By opening a second front in France, the Allies could force the Germans to spread their forces thinner, which would make it easier for the Allied forces to advance in Normandy.
* To secure southern France. The southern part of France was still under German control, and the Allies wanted to secure this region to prevent the Germans from using it as a base for attacks on Allied shipping or as a staging ground for further invasions.
* To support the French Resistance. The French Resistance was a group of French citizens who were fighting against the German occupation of their country. The Allies wanted to support the French Resistance by providing them with supplies and resources, and by launching military operations that would help to weaken the German occupiers.
Operation Dragoon was a success on all of these fronts. It helped to divert German troops away from Normandy, it secured southern France, and it supported the French Resistance.