80th ANNIVERSARY OF THE ALLIED INVASION OF PROVENCE  

On 15 August 1944, between Cavalaire and Saint-Raphaël, the Allies launched Operation Dragoon, an invasion of the south of France to mirror the Normandy landings of 6 June. Parachutists from the US 509^th Parachute Infantry Battalion of the 1^st Airborne Task Force, led by General Robert Frederick, were dropped north of Le Muy on 15 August 1944. Once they had consolidated the beachheads in the Var, the Allies - notably the Americans - advanced to liberate the Alpes-Maritimes. The liberation of Nice began on 28 August with the help of the local resistance, and Monaco was liberated on 3 September. General Frederick’s role in the operation and his post-war career are considered outstanding. Winston Churchill described him as “the greatest fighting general of all time”.

• Design and line-engraving: Pierre BARA
• Printing process: 3 colours steel-engraving
• Size of the stamp: 40 x 31,77 mm horizontal
• Quantity of issue: 40 000 stamps
• Sheet of 10 stamps with illuminations
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