Figure 1.-- |
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Allied units on August 19, 1942 raided the French coastal port of Dieppe. The operation was called "Operation Jubilee". The raid proved to ba killing ground for the invasion force comprised primarily of Canadians with a smaller force of Ameriocan Rangers and British Comandos. The cliffs and high ground commanding landing zone provided perfect sites for German gun positions. The stony beach impeded the movement of tanks. The objectives of the raid was announced as to to gather intelligence, test the German defences, destroy German defenses, and demonstrate to the hard-pressed Russians on the Eastern front that the planning for a "second front" was making progress. The cost was high. About 3,000 of the 5,000 Canadians involved in the operation were killed or captured. About 120 mostly RAF planes were lost. While a sharp defeat, the lessons learned at Dieppe played a major role in the later Allied victory at Normandy. At Dieppe there had been no surprise and no softening of beach defenses by air strikes and naval gun fire. The Allies had not achieved air superority over the invasion beaches or the rear areas through which reinforcements flowed.
The Allied plan was intially to launch the strike on Dieppe in July 1942. The plan was code na,ed Operation Rutter. The Canadians were chose to provide the bulk of the assault firce. The Canadian 2nd Division began intensive training on the Isle of Wight (May 1942). They were ready by July. The weather was not and the planned landing had to be called off. Allied commanders were still determined to strike the Germans so the operation was rescheduled for August.
Allied units on August 19, 1942 raided the French coastal port of Dieppe. The operation was called "Operation Jubilee". The raid proved to ba killing ground for the invasion force.
The Canadian Army's first real engagement came at Dieppe on the French coast. The Allied force was comprised primarily of Canadians with a smaller force of American Rangers and British Comandos. About 6,100 men were involved. About 5,000 were Canadians, the rest were over 1,000 British Commandos. A small force of 50 American Rangers also participated. The raid had only light naval support--eight Allied destroyers. There was substantial air cover--74 Allied air squadrons. Eight of these were Royal Canadian Air Force squadrons. The operation was overseen by Major General J.H. Roberts, Commander of the 2nd Canadian Division. Captain J. Hughes-Hallett, R.N. was the Naval Force Commander and Air Vice Marshal T.L. Leigh-Mallory was the Air Force Commander.
The cliffs and high ground commanding landing zone provided perfect sites for German gun positions. The stony beach impeded the movement of tanks.
The objectives of the operation as announced was to to gather intelligence, test the German defences, destroy German defenses, and demonstrate to the hard-pressed Russians on the Eastern front that the planning for a "second front" was making progress.
It was later descriped as a raid, although the British had hoped for more.
The battle plan was to attack at five different points along front of about 16 kilometres (km) around Diappe. The battle was to be initiated at dawn by four simultaneous attacks on both sides of Dieppe by the British comandos.
The British were to demolish the coastal batteries at Berneval east of the port
and at Varengeville to the west. Then an half an hour, the main Canadian force would seize the port of Dieppe itself. The Canadians would also attack the cliffs at Pourville 4 km west of the port and Puys east of the port.
Virtually anything that could go wrong, did go wrong. The Canadians and British units were badly mauled at the poorly conceived landings. The cost was high, especially for the Canadians. About 3,000 of the 5,000 Canadians involved in the operation were killed or captured. The Canadian assault team totaled 4,963 men. Only 2,210 made it back to Britain, many wounded. The Germans took 1,946 prisoners of war and killed 907 Canadians in the fighting. About 120 mostly RAF planes were lost.
Dieppe underscored just how hazardous an amphibious operation was against a prepared, well armed ememy force.
While a sharp defeat, the lessons learned at Dieppe played a major role in the later Allied victory at Normandy. At Dieppe there had been no surprise and no softening of beach defenses by air strikes and naval gun fire. The Allies had not achieved air superority over the invasion beaches or the rear areas through which reinforcements flowed.
While the Canadians paid nearly, the lessons learned at Dieppe were put to good use in Normandy 2 years later. One especially important lesson was that the Germans would heavily fortify the ports and the Allies would probably not be avle to seize an important port with the initial invasion..
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