[3] La Rochelle and other harbours such as Royan and Saint-Nazaire, became "Atlantic pockets" still occupied by the Germans, which were bypassed by the main thrust of the Allied invasion, as was Dunkirk on the North Sea.

[4] In total 39,500 French civilians were under the rule of Vice-Admiral Ernst Schirlitz, who served as the Naval Commander Atlantic Coast, from 1943 in La Rochelle until the end of the war.

During the siege the Allies still allowed for electricity, wood and some supplies to be delivered in order to alleviate the ordeal of the civilian population inside the walls of the city.

[8] From spring 1945, General Edgard de Larminat was put in charge of French forces in the region, with the objective of capturing La Rochelle.

[10][11] La Rochelle escaped this fate only because Royan was at the time considered a higher priority, due to its commanding position on the Gironde River.