France Honors 85,000 Moroccans dead to liberate Europe from Nazism

France paid tribute on Sunday to 256,000 African soldiers, including 85,000 Moroccans, who fought 60 years ago in the "Dragoon operation" for the liberation of France from the rule of Nazism.

The contingent of Moroccans were among the major architects of Europe's victory against nazism and fascism during the Provence landings.

In 1939, Hitler launched his army against France and Europe in his attempt to build great Germany. France was then weak and divided. On September 3 of the same year, the late King Mohammed V called Moroccans, in a letter that was read out in all of Morocco's mosques, to help France out of the Nazi grip.

"Starting from this date and until the flag of France and its allies is victorious, we owe them unreserved help, we should not spare none of our resources nor save any sacrifice," the sovereign had urged in his call for mobilization.

Indeed, from 1939 to 1945, the Moroccan valiant soldiers were part of all the battles and wrote with their blood and sacrifices glorious pages in the history of the liberation of France and of Europe, showing exceptional qualities and abilities to brave dangers.

Moroccan fighters were "solid and brave soldiers," says Jean Jabouly, now 82, who fought alongside Moroccans, recollecting how their offensive helped capture the Cassino Mount, reputed as a bulwark of the German defense.

The Moroccan soldiers were thus deployed in battles where other troops had failed, displaying exceptional qualities, albeit at the expense of significant losses.

Called by the Germans "swallows of death," Moroccans were at the front ranks in all battles. Various epics bear testimony to the significant contributions made by the Moroccan soldiers, from the 1939-1940 campaign to that of Tunisia (1942-1943), to the 1943-1944 Italy campaign when the allied recaptured Sicily, leading to the fall of Mussolini and the withdrawal of the Italian army from the war, thanks mostly to the courage of the Moroccans, the France campaign (1944-1945) and that of Germany (March-May 1945).

In recognition to his engagement on the side of the allies and to the sacrifices made by the Moroccans to liberate France, the late King Mohammed V was made "companion of liberation" by French president Charles De Gaulle.

Later on in July 1999, the late King Hassan II took part in the military ceremony marking the French independence day and a detachment of the Moroccan prestigious Royal Guard paraded in Paris, as other testimonies of France's recognition to the Moroccans who died for France.

The ceremonies held this year were another opportunity for the French to remember the sacrifices and courage shown by Moroccan, Algerian, Tunisian and African soldiers during WWII.

French president chaired the ceremonies, in the presence of 16 heads of state and government.