Naval Logistics The British 2nd Parachute Brigade was part of the Operation Rugby airborne landings in August 1944.

As a British withdrawal from France at the earliest opportunity had been the original intent, the brigade boarded ships bound for Italy eleven days after landing.

Commanded by Brigadier Charles Hilary Vaughan Pritchard, the 2nd Parachute Brigade formed in 1942 and was assigned to the 1st Airborne Division.

At the end of 1943, when the 1st Airborne Division returned to the United Kingdom, the brigade remained behind fighting in the Italian Campaign.

[2] To provide additional manpower, the experienced 2nd Parachute Brigade, was attached to the task force.

They would then hold the high ground and junctions along the main road through the Argens valley from Frejus to Toulon.

This plan had the units widely separated and any German resistance or counterattack could cut off and destroy the task force piecemeal before help arrived from the landing beaches.

The new plan placed all the task force drop zones around 2 miles (3.2 km) from Le Muy.

[24] In the Argens valley area, where the 2nd Parachute Brigade would be landing, was the 242nd Infantry Division commanded by Generalleutnant Johannes Baessler.

Their primary objective, Le Muy, was only around 400 yards (370 m) from the southern edge of the drop zone, but they would have to cross the river to reach it.

[13] By 04:30 the pathfinders had set up two Eureka beacons and landing lights to guide the transport planes to the correct drop zone.

The other fifty-three aircraft scattered their loads, mostly from the 5th (Scottish) Parachute Battalion, over the countryside, some landing 20 miles (32 km) away at Cannes and Fayence.

[26][nb 2] Only Brigade Headquarters arrived at the drop zone in one piece, Brigadier Pritchard landing only 15 yards (14 m) from the Eureka beacons.

[28] By 06:30 Brigade Headquarters was established at Le Mitan and radio contact made with the American 36th Infantry Division, which at the time was still on their transports out at sea.

The battalion then assaulted and captured the bridge over the River Naturby, which carried the road to Le Muy, taking twenty-nine prisoners.

[29] The second group occupied the village of Tourettes, and soon after attacked a German convoy, damaging several vehicles and causing heavy casualties among the occupants.

Then they met with the 3rd Battalion of the 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment and both units headed south towards Le Muy.

One lone sergeant arrived at brigade headquarters with eighty prisoners, having convinced them that they were surrounded and should surrender.

The thirty-five larger Horsa gliders, transporting the 300th Airlanding Anti-Tank Battery and its equipment, failed to arrive, turning back to Italy due to an overcast sky at the landing zone.

There were only enough men of the 5th (Scottish) Parachute Battalion to guard the approach roads leading to the drop zone from the north.

At the LXII Corps headquarters, several reports of the landings exaggerated their strength, causing the Germans to believe they were faced with a far greater force.

The smaller group commanded by the battalion intelligence officer observed a German convoy heading south towards Le Muy.

[39] On 17 August the leading units of the 36th Infantry Division reached Le Muy, which should have effectively ended the brigade's participation in the operation; however, two of the brigade's companies defending roads in the area were attacked by retreating Germans and forced to withdraw to the high ground.

Having no transport other than a small number of Jeeps, mostly to tow their artillery guns, the brigade commandeered several trucks, tractors, buses and horse-drawn wagons and was in place within twenty-four hours.

[44] The Soviet Red Army advance in the east had forced the Germans to withdraw from the country or risk being cut off from any support or reinforcements.

[1] The task force advanced eastwards and reached the Franco-Italian border in the Menton area and the French Alps along part of what was the Maginot line.