WWII - Complete French Liberation.

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#1

I’m trying to find out if there’s a specific date France was considered completely liberated in WWII? I’m assuming the nothern sector was considered liberated more or less in Aug '44 after Paris was liberated, and maybe the southern (Vichy) section liberated by September/October 1944? Any confirmation of these dates please?

One area I’m particularly interested in is the French/Swiss border. When was this area if France in total allied control?

As an extra, I understand pockets of German troops were left (by-passed) by the allies) on the western coast of France until late in the war. Any confirmation of this?

Thanks in advance

#2

I may be wrong but I think France was free of German troops after Colmar was liberated on the 2nd of February 1945.
To give you an idea of the progress in France:
22nd of August Grenoble is free
23rd of August Toulon
28th ,Montelimar
29th,Marseille
3rd of September liberation of Lyon in the Rhone valley and Lille in the north
12th of September ,armies of General Leclerc and De Lattre de Tassigny(from the invasion of Provence) finally met in the Burgundy region in Montbard.
22nd of November ,Metz is liberated by Patton’s army
24th of November ,Strasbourg is liberated.

#3

Very interesting, Kamehouse. Thanks.

I’m currently in France at the moment, thus the interest in this topic. Is this data you’ve collected over time or are there specific references, as it would be fascinating to know more.

#4

A bit of both but if you are in France ,just type liberation france 45(or44) in google(fr) and you should find a few sites.
http://www.crdp-reims.fr/cddp10/ressources/mediatheque/dossiers/liberation/default.htm
http://www.ac-nancy-metz.fr/pres-etab/GTour57/Pages/TL3_0199/liberafra.htm
and the usual wiki:
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libération_(histoire)
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opération_Anvil_Dragoon
It’s all in French (sorry)