battle of dieppe: August, 1942
Code-named “Operation Jubilee”, the Dieppe Raid was pre-planned in April, 1942. The Allies wanted to start a smaller raid to test new equipment and techniques. This raid also served as a test of enemy defences and as a reconnaissance mission for future invasions.
The main attack force chosen was the Second Canadian Division. They were to carry out the raid on the German-occupied Dieppe port in France.
The plan consisted of four pre-dawn attacks along the Dieppe coast, then another attack on the town of Dieppe half an hour later. Tanks would land in the town, and air force bombers would cover the Allies.
On August 19th, 1942, a fleet of 252 ships sailed to the coast of Dieppe. While sailing through, a ship with Canadian soldiers ran into a German convoy. The two sides battled briefly, and sank two German ships, but the Allies’ ship was left disordered. The sounds of the battle had alerted the Germans ashore, and the Allies lost the element of surprise. The Allies were also to disembark before dawn, but their ships had been delayed.
The Division went ashore, where the Germans were waiting for them. The goal of the Division was to destroy a set of shore batteries, a radio-location station, and take the German divisional head quarters. But communication between the land troops and ships was poor. More soldiers were being sent ashore, as the commanders thought the first sets of soldiers had made it the town, which they had not.
Although the RAF gave the Division air cover, the troops were trapped on the beaches and became easy targets for the Germans. The Allies’ tanks were left paralyzed, as they couldn’t get traction on the pebble beaches.
Overall, the Operation Jubilee lasted a total of nine hours. 907 Canadians were killed in battle, 586 were wounded, and 1874 were taken as prisoners. The Germans also lost 314 soldiers, 294 were injured, and 37 were taken prisoner to England.
The result of poor foresight, this battle was a severe failure for the Allies, but useful results could be drawn from it. The chief of Combined Operations, Lord Mountbatten, believed that Dieppe showed “need for fire support, and close support, during the initial stages of attack”. Many historians believe that the Germans learned more from the Dieppe Raid than the Allies did. This battle is significant because the Canadians thought they would be victorious, but it turned out they were not.
The main attack force chosen was the Second Canadian Division. They were to carry out the raid on the German-occupied Dieppe port in France.
The plan consisted of four pre-dawn attacks along the Dieppe coast, then another attack on the town of Dieppe half an hour later. Tanks would land in the town, and air force bombers would cover the Allies.
On August 19th, 1942, a fleet of 252 ships sailed to the coast of Dieppe. While sailing through, a ship with Canadian soldiers ran into a German convoy. The two sides battled briefly, and sank two German ships, but the Allies’ ship was left disordered. The sounds of the battle had alerted the Germans ashore, and the Allies lost the element of surprise. The Allies were also to disembark before dawn, but their ships had been delayed.
The Division went ashore, where the Germans were waiting for them. The goal of the Division was to destroy a set of shore batteries, a radio-location station, and take the German divisional head quarters. But communication between the land troops and ships was poor. More soldiers were being sent ashore, as the commanders thought the first sets of soldiers had made it the town, which they had not.
Although the RAF gave the Division air cover, the troops were trapped on the beaches and became easy targets for the Germans. The Allies’ tanks were left paralyzed, as they couldn’t get traction on the pebble beaches.
Overall, the Operation Jubilee lasted a total of nine hours. 907 Canadians were killed in battle, 586 were wounded, and 1874 were taken as prisoners. The Germans also lost 314 soldiers, 294 were injured, and 37 were taken prisoner to England.
The result of poor foresight, this battle was a severe failure for the Allies, but useful results could be drawn from it. The chief of Combined Operations, Lord Mountbatten, believed that Dieppe showed “need for fire support, and close support, during the initial stages of attack”. Many historians believe that the Germans learned more from the Dieppe Raid than the Allies did. This battle is significant because the Canadians thought they would be victorious, but it turned out they were not.