Lecture - The French Army's African Commando Units

The speaker, Roger GIBERT Son of winemakers, a native of Saint-Tropez from the class of 1947. He attended elementary and secondary school in Saint-Tropez. He was an apprentice at the Torpilles factory, then pursued higher education in engineering, which took him to Toulon, Brest, and Grenoble.

He served at the Cherbourg facilities in the submarine division and at the Saint-Tropez facilities in the torpedo division, from which he retired in 1998. He participated in numerous sports, including sailing, and went on to become a referee with the French Sailing Federation. He continues to race for fun.

1943–1945 The French Army’s African Commandos

The mission of the African Commandos on August 15, 1944, was to establish a beachhead at Cap Nègre in the town of Rayol Canadel under the command of Captain DUCOURNAU; an operation that would enable the Allied fleet to land in force on the coast of Provence seven hours later.
These valiant men would inscribe on their pennant the names of Mauvannes and Fort Coudon, which would join those of Pianosa and the Island of Elba and precede those of Belfort, the Vosges, and the Black Forest.
An elite and exceptional unit, made up of men whose diversity of opinion will never undermine their unity in battle, whose role is to always lead the way.

Saturday 7 November 2026 between 5.30 pm and 9 pm.

Free entry.