Royan Pocket | |||||||
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Part of the Liberation of France | |||||||
The USAAF's 447th Bomb Group helped raze the nearby city of Royan. | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Germany |
France United States | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Hartwig Pohlmann Hans Michahelles |
Edgard de Larminat Henri Adeline Jean de Milleret | ||||||
Units involved | |||||||
Atlantic Army Detachment USAAF | |||||||
Strength | |||||||
8,000-9,000 men[1] |
France : 73000 men[1] United States : Aerial support | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
circa 1,000 killed 800 wounded 8,000 taken prisoner[1] |
364 killed 1,560 wounded 13 missing (attack from 13 until 20 april)[1] 1,500 civilians killed |
The Royan pocket (French: Poche de Royan) was one of the Atlantic pockets towards the end of World War II, an isolated position held by German troops left behind as the German army retreated from occupied France. It became important to the German High Command that these pockets be held to deny port facilities to the advancing Allies.