The City remembers the heroes of the Bataillons de Marche

In August 1944, two units, mainly, participated in the Liberation of the city: the Bataillon de Marche N°11 (BM 11) of the 2ème Brigade and the 22ème Bataillon de Marche Nord-Africain (22ème BMNA), belonging to the 1ère Brigade. Indeed, it was the 1ère Division Française Libre, commanded by General Brosset, which received the mission to liberate Toulon and therefore passed through La Crau before reaching the prefecture city. Thus, the Bataillon de Marche N°5 crossed the Réal Martin, at the level of Les Mesclances, on the morning of August 20 and immediately captured mont Redon, under a deluge of shells. At the same time, the BM 11 crossed the Réal Martin, further north of the commune, and occupied the hills overlooking Montbel. Then, it seized the road connecting Les Martins to Solliès-Pont. On August 21, the BM 11 resumed its advance towards La Crau and La Castille. After several assaults, the French soldiers captured Maraval and, after a tough day of combat, La Monache. On the evening of August 21, the first soldiers of the 5ème compagnie entered the village via rue du Gapeau, renamed today avenue de la Libération. During the night, the village was finally liberated from German occupation.