SAVOIE 1944–1945 – A Long Liberation

The Liberation of metropolitan France began on 6 June 1944 with the landings in Normandy. However, it was not until 15 August, with the landings in Provence, that the German occupation forces began to withdraw eastward through France.

In Savoie, the elements of the 157e Reserve-Division occupying the département received orders to make for Italy via the Maurienne or Tarentaise valleys. The various Maquis groups, armed thanks to the major weapons drop on 1 August 1944 at Les Saisies, attempted in vain to block their passage. Numerous ambushes were laid, resulting in the destruction of several villages and the execution of civilians. The enemy withdrew from Aix-les-Bains, Chambéry, Montmélian, Albertville, Moûtiers and Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to fall back on the upper valleys. In the Maurienne, they systematically destroyed factories and civil engineering infrastructure. The intervention of Tirailleurs units from the 1re Armée Française made it possible to seize Séez on 4 September 1944 and Modane on the 14th.

From that point on, the situation became entrenched. The German-Italian forces held the border and portions of national territory. Bourg-Saint-Maurice, Modane and the surrounding villages were subjected to enemy artillery fire and became the scene of numerous patrols.

In late December 1944, the 27e Division Alpine was formed. After a winter of reconnaissance operations and skirmishes, its various Chasseurs Alpins battalions launched their offensive in spring. In the Tarentaise at the Roc-Noir and the Roc de Belleface, in the Maurienne at Mont-Froid and the col du Petit-Mont-Cenis.

In early May 1945, French troops crossed into Italy. The liberation of Savoie was complete after more than nine months of fighting. It had cost the lives of 199 FFI fighters, 165 military personnel and 158 civilians.