Dieppe Raid PDF

INTRODUCTION coast of France, however, could force the Germans Canada’s experiences in times of war have been to divert more of their military resources away from marked by great triumphs but also by harsh the Soviet Union and also help i...

INTRODUCTION coast of France, however, could force the Germans Canada’s experiences in times of war have been to divert more of their military resources away from marked by great triumphs but also by harsh the Soviet Union and also help in the planning for setbacks. The Dieppe Raid during the Second the full-scale Allied assault that would eventually World War was one of the darkest chapters in our have to take place. country’s military history but it was also marked Fallen soldiers amid damaged tanks and landing craft on the beaches of Dieppe. Photo: Library and Archives Canada C-014160 by great courage and helped lead to important Canadian soldiers had been training since the lessons being learned. outset of the war in 1939 and, except for the Battle of Hong Kong, had yet to see significant action. “FORTRESS EUROPE” There was political pressure at home to finally get By the summer of 1942, the Second World War the Canadians into battle, as well as impatience had been raging for almost three years and things within the army itself. looked grim; Nazi Germany had pushed east deep into the Soviet Union, enemy forces were Dieppe is a resort town situated at a break in the advancing in North Africa and u-boats were cliffs along the northwest coast of France and was making the Atlantic a deadly place for Allied selected as the main target of the raid partially shipping. The British Isles were the only Allied because it was within range of fighter planes from holdout after the Germans had invaded and Britain. The Allies’ plan was to launch a large-scale occupied much of Western Europe in 1940. The amphibious landing, damage enemy shipping and continent’s west coast was studded with enemy port facilities, and gather intelligence on German troops, machine guns, artillery, barbed wire, defences and radar technology. Recent research concrete pillboxes and offshore obstacles. It truly has suggested that the desire to capture a top was on its way to becoming “Fortress Europe.” secret Enigma code machine and accompanying codebooks was also an important factor in WHY RAID DIEPPE? mounting the raid. Many factors contributed to the decision to mount a large raid into occupied Europe in 1942. The OPERATION JUBILEE Soviet Union was pressuring the Allied forces The Dieppe Raid, code-named “Operation Jubilee,” to open a second front in Western Europe. The saw more than 6,000 men come ashore at five Allies, however, needed more time to build up different points along a 16 kilometre-long stretch their military resources before undertaking such of heavily defended coastline. Four of the attacks a massive effort. They felt that a large raid on the veterans.gc.ca  were to take place just before dawn at points Small groups from the Royal Hamilton Light east and west of Dieppe, while the main attack Infantry and the Essex Scottish Regiment were on the town itself would take place half an hour of Dieppe. It was clear, however, that the raid 5,000 Canadians, approximately 1,000 British could not continue and the retreat soon began. commandos and 50 American Army Rangers. Trying to evacuate everyone, however, would mean the probable destruction of the Allied naval early afternoon the last boat had departed. Left in a hopeless situation, the remaining Canadians at Berneval and Puys consequently were met with losses took place there. HEROISM Many acts of great courage took place during the Dieppe Raid and two Canadians would earn the achieved and the enemy gun batteries at Victoria Cross, our country’s highest award for Varengeville were destroyed. In Pourville, the military valour. Lieutenant-Colonel Cecil Merritt Soldiers about to head to shore during the Dieppe Raid. Photo: Library and Archives Canada PA-113247 South Saskatchewan Regiment and the Queen’s earned the medal for courageously leading his Own Cameron Highlanders came ashore and men from the South Saskatchewan Regiment across the River Scie at Pourville in the face of German resistance, however, would force them to heavy resistance. Once the regiment could go withdraw with heavy losses. no farther, he then led a dangerous retreat that allowed most of the men to escape back to Britain. Running behind schedule, the main force going Merritt himself was captured and spent the rest of ashore at Dieppe landed as daylight was breaking. down many Canadians as they waded in the surf. Honourary Captain John W. Foote, a chaplain Nevertheless, many of our soldiers fought their with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, also way across the cobblestone beach to the relative earned a Victoria Cross. For eight hours, he and seawall made it hard for the Allied tanks When his own landing craft was about to leave, prevented engineers from clearing the way for he intentionally stayed behind to be captured so them to push their way into the town. that he could minister to the many men who were going to be taken prisoner.  LESSONS LEARNED from the advancing Allied forces who otherwise 1942 was one of the darkest periods of the Second could have liberated them. World War. But the fact that the Allies had come ashore in occupied France gave the French people some hope and the Dieppe Raid let them know the ships and aircraft that supported the assault. that they had not been forgotten. August 19, 1942, saw the Allies’ worst single day © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Veterans Affairs, 2017. Cat. No.: V32-198/1-2017 ISBN: 978-0-660-07413-9 losses for aircraft of the entire Second World War, While the losses were heavy and the raid did not with 119 of their warplanes being shot down as meet most of its objectives, many historians feel they tried to protect the landing force. that the lessons learned there played an important role in the success of later actions. For example, LEGACY the Dieppe Raid and subsequent wartime beach assaults contributed to improvements in Allied were among the more than one million men and amphibious landing techniques. While the cost of women from our country who served in uniform gaining this knowledge was steep, it likely saved many lives on the beaches of Normandy when these brave Canadians helped the Allies eventually the Allies returned to the shores of continental Western Europe to stay on D-Day, June 6, 1944. of those who gave so much to restore peace and freedom to the world will never be forgotten. SACRIFICE CANADA REMEMBERS PROGRAM paid a great price. Of the 4,963 Canadians who Canadian soldiers captured at Dieppe. Photo: Library and Archives Canada C014171 embarked on the mission, only approximately 2,200 returned to England and many of those had been wounded. More than 3,350 Canadians made by those who have served—and continue became casualties, including a total of 916 who lost their lives as a result of the raid and to serve—during times of war and peace. As approximately 1,950 more who were taken well, it invites Canadians to become involved in prisoner. A total of 210 British and American remembrance activities that will help preserve personnel also lost their lives. their legacy for future generations. To learn more about Canada’s role in the Second World War, treatment in prisoner of war camps and most veterans.gc.ca or call 1-866-522-2122 toll free. would remain in captivity for more than two-and- Revised January 2017 a-half years. As the end of the war neared, many Printed in Canada of them also had to endure forced wintertime alternate formats. marches as the Germans moved the prisoners away