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    South of France

    The Killing Fields of Provence: Occupation, Resistance and Liberation in the South of France



    The Killing Fields of Provence: Occupation, Resistance and Liberation in the South of France
    With James Bourhill
    Part of our Operation Dragoon and South of France series

    Also part of our 80th Anniversary Series

    In the South of France, the most memorable event of the Second World War was the sea and airborne invasion of 15 August 1944. Perhaps because it went relatively smoothly, this “Second D-Day” was soon relegated to the back pages of history. Operation Dragoon and the liberation is however only a small part of the story. The arrival of the Allies was preceded by years of suffering and sacrifice under Hitléro-Vichyssois oppression.

    Provençale people still struggle to come to terms with the painful past of split-allegiances and empty stomachs, which epitomize les années noirs (the dark years). Deportations, requisitions, forced labour, and hunger provoked some level of resistance by a courageous minority. Many actively colluded with the enemy, but most just waited for better days. By sea and air, Allied agents and Special Forces were infiltrated to fan the flames, but wherever the Resistance rose up prematurely, the reprisals from the Nazis and their auxiliaries were ferocious.

    James Bourhill schooled at St John’s College in Johannesburg, South Africa. Bourhill did national service in a mounted infantry unit. His tertiary education began at Cerara College of Agriculture, after which he went farming in Rhodesia and North America before returning to Rustenburg where he lives today.

    James’ previous appearance on WW2TV
    Come Back to Portofino: Through Italy with the 6th South African Armoured Division

    Buy the book:
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    View 23 Comments

    23 Comments

    2. @jonb3311 on

      My uncle parachuted in and took 81 Germans prisoners, all from their HQ. That, after being taken prisoner himself!
      I attempted to join the chat and was blocked. Members only?

    9. @davidlavigne207 on

      I feel as if I have taken a trip back in time with the way James described the events accompanied by those photographs. When in future I read about Operation Anvil, I can better envision what I am reading. Thanks for the trip guys.

    14. @Mycenius on

      Nancy Wake was a New Zealander, born in Wellington. She later spent some of her childhood in Australia (Sydney), but was always known as a New Zealander AFAIK.

    15. @iancarr8682 on

      Supreme Allied Commander Mediterranean, Henry Maitland 'Jumbo' Wilson was a strong advocate for the Allied US Force Commander for Operation Bragoon – Gen. Lucien Truscott.

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