INFANTRY AND TANKS ADVANCE ALONG A COASTAL HIGHWAY. Failure of the defending forces to hold the invaders in the immediate coastal area was due to several facts: the enemy had disposed his divisions too far west; additional troops were committed in a piecemeal fashion; coastal units in general were weak, and lacked air support, armor, and heavy artillery. It is also estimated that about half the enemy troops were Russian, Czech, Turkish, Polish, and other non-Germanic people who were not inclined to put up a determined stand. The German corps headquarters, near Draguignan, became isolated from its command. The French Forces of the Interior constantly harassed the defending troops from the rear.
FRANCE
INFANTRYMEN PATROL NORTH OF MONTELIMAR (top). An American tank passes wrecked German equipment north of Montelimar (bottom). American troops advanced on Montelimar from the south and northeast in an attempt to cut off and destroy the German army in that area. After eight days of hard fighting the town was taken, but a large portion of the enemy troops had succeeded in escaping north from the triangle formed by the Rhone, Drome, and Roubion Rivers, along Highway 86 west of the Rhone River and Highway 7 east of the river.
FRANCE
GERMAN EQUIPMENT BURNING IN THE MONTELIMAR AREA as U. S. artillery shells enemy convoys attempting to withdraw to the north (top). Wreckage of enemy vehicles after being hit by artillery fire (bottom). By the end of August the Germans had succeeded in withdrawing the greater part of their personnel north of the Drome River, but left behind were destroyed vehicles, guns, and heavy equipment, which reflected the eight days of heavy fighting. American destruction of enemy equipment included between 2,000 and 3,000 vehicles, over 80 artillery pieces, and 5 large-caliber railway guns.
