Centrally mounted above the ground-floor entrance, between the upper windows.

A rectangular white plaque commemorates the paratrooper landings in La Motte on August 15, 1944, during Operation Dragoon. It marks the location in Le Mitan where General Robert T. Frederick established his command post in this building shortly after the landings. This moment marked La Motte as the first village liberated in Provence. The plaque, written in French, was installed on August 15, 1980.

Source of photo: Richard Campbell

AUX PREMIÈRES HEURES DU 15 AOÛT 1944

LES TROUPES ALLIEES FURENT PARACHUTÉES

DANS LA PLAINE DE LA MOTTE

LE GENERAL ROBERT T. FREDERICK

INSTALLAIT SON POSTE DE COMMANDEMENT

DANS CETTE FERME DU QUARTIER DU MITAN

PROPRIETE DE Mr JULIEN LAVAGNE

EN SOUVENIR DE CET EVENEMENT QUI FIT DE

LA MOTTE LE 1er VILLAGE LIBERE DE PROVENCE

CETTE PLAQUE COMMEMORATIVE

A ETE APPOSEE LE 15 AOÛT 1980

English Translation:

IN THE EARLY HOURS OF AUGUST 15, 1944,

THE ALLIED TROOPS PARACHUTED

INTO THE PLAIN OF LA MOTTE.

GENERAL ROBERT T. FREDERICK SET UP HIS COMMAND

POST IN THIS FARM IN THE MITAN DISTRICT,

OWNED BY MR. JULIEN LAVAGNE.

IN MEMORY OF THIS EVENT,

WHICH MADE LA MOTTE THE FIRST VILLAGE IN PROVENCE TO BE LIBERATED,

THIS COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE WAS PLACED ON AUGUST 15, 1980.