At Mauvanne, the bold assault of the Commandos d’Afrique

In August 1944, it is undoubtedly the coup de force of Mauvanne that best summarizes the bitterness of the final battles. After this feat of arms in taking the blockhouses on August 18, 1944, the episode would later be described as a 'fantastic feat' by General de Lattre de Tassigny. In the afternoon of August 18, Lieutenant-Colonel Bouvet ordered the 1st Commando to rush towards La Londe-les-Maures, while the other Commandos followed the seaside via Cap-Bénat and the Fort de Brégançon. The next day around 11 a.m., the Commandos took the road to Hyères. Near the château de La Pascalette, they came under fire from several large-caliber shells. And they met up with the American battalion and its tanks. Captain Ducournau was informed that 500 meters away, on a well-camouflaged peak, a strong position was blocking any progress. Despite this obstacle, the Commandos advanced through the woods and vineyards via the Vieux-Pin farm, the Pin-Neuf, and the Galoupet (...). And, 60 men attacked the first blockhouse. After several assaults, which went as far as hand-to-hand combat, the Germans finally surrendered. But Captain Ducournau discovered two other well-camouflaged blockhouses. The assault was once again very deadly. However, the determination of the Commandos was such that the last Germans surrendered at 5 p.m. The garrison consisted of 150 men of the Kriegsmarine. About a hundred men were taken prisoner, the others were dead, including the commander. Among the Commandos, 80 men were engaged, 5 died, and 30 were wounded.