Drop Zone Organization of Units

We will conclude our examination of unit organization with a look at the Allied Special Forces, involved in the campaign. Today, the United States Army Special Forces have five primary missions: (1) unconventional warfare (the original and most important mission of Special Forces), (2) direct action, (3) special reconnaissance, (4) foreign internal defense, and (5) […]

Next, we examine the French Resistance and French Paratroopers involved in the campaign.

We will continue or analysis of unit organization with a look at the German Army, Corps, Divisions and Kampfgruppe involved. The German Nineteenth Army was responsible for defending the entire Mediterranean coast of France. The Army was comprised of three corps, the LXII, LXXXV and IV Luftwaffe. In the diagram below, the divisions comprising each

During World War II, the US Army activated five Airborne Divisions (the 11th, 13th, 17th, 82nd and 101st) but only two (the 82nd and 101st) were available in Europe in August 1944, and none in the Mediterranean. So, as 7th US Army staff planned the airborne portion (Operation RUGBY) of the DRAGOON invasion, their request

This is the second article on the organization of Allied and German units in Drop Zone: Southern France. Part 1 was a discussion of the organization of the Allied and German infantry from squad level moving up to battalion level. Part 2 will focus on regiment and brigade level organization.

This will be the first of many articles on the history of the campaign and design notes for Drop Zone: Southern France. We will begin with a discussion of the organization of the Allied and German armies in August 1944, beginning with the infantry from squad level moving up to battalion level.