My reflections on traveling through the region of France that was invaded on D-Day June 6, 1944 by Canadian, British and American forces.
A man and a woman, separated by a large cross, all carved of dull black volcanic rock. They are clearly mourning the 21 500 men buried here!.
Dieppe France Aug19th, 1942
Further down the Normandy coast I stopped at Dieppe, a small harbour city nestled between towering chalk cliffs. It was here on August 19, 1942 five thousand Canadians and one thousand Brits launched a "raid in strength" on the town. This was partly a ill conceived attempt to satisfy Stalin's demands for attacks that would draw German resources and take the pressure off the Russian front. Mismanagement is too kind a word for the events of the day. It was a bloody disaster.
The bombardment of the guns on the cliffs overlooking the beach was completely ineffectual. Many of the tanks landed on the beach by the new LCTs (Landing Craft Tank) could not climb the steep flint pebble beach which jammed and broke the sprockets of their tread drive wheels. Naval fire and fighter support was woefully inadequate. The men were trapped on the beach, sitting ducks for the overwhelming fire power of the machine guns of the shore defences and the heavy guns on the
surrounding cliffs. By the end of the day, of the 3367 casualties, 907 Canadians were dead, and a further two thousand captured. "They" said many lessons were learned that made the D day invasion, two years later, a success.
Further down the Normandy coast I stopped at Dieppe, a small harbour city nestled between towering chalk cliffs. It was here on August 19, 1942 five thousand Canadians and one thousand Brits launched a "raid in strength" on the town. This was partly a ill conceived attempt to satisfy Stalin's demands for attacks that would draw German resources and take the pressure off the Russian front. Mismanagement is too kind a word for the events of the day. It was a bloody disaster.
The bombardment of the guns on the cliffs overlooking the beach was completely ineffectual. Many of the tanks landed on the beach by the new LCTs (Landing Craft Tank) could not climb the steep flint pebble beach which jammed and broke the sprockets of their tread drive wheels. Naval fire and fighter support was woefully inadequate. The men were trapped on the beach, sitting ducks for the overwhelming fire power of the machine guns of the shore defences and the heavy guns on the
surrounding cliffs. By the end of the day, of the 3367 casualties, 907 Canadians were dead, and a further two thousand captured. "They" said many lessons were learned that made the D day invasion, two years later, a success.
View of Dieppe beach from the German gun positions. The truth is that Stalin was threatening to sue for peace with Hitler on the verge of taking Moscow, Stalingrad, and Leningrad.
Not only that but Roosevelt did not like Churchill's plan to go to North Africa first. He wanted to take on Hitler in France right away.
Churchill gave Mountbatten the job of mounting a mini invasion.... AND PROVE IT COULD NOT BE DONE YET. (source Gen. Denis Whitaker in his book Dieppe Tragedy to Triumph)
So the bombing of the guns by Bomber Harris was called off at the last minute, no battle ship was sent to provide fire support and the Canadians were slaughtered.
Not only that but Roosevelt did not like Churchill's plan to go to North Africa first. He wanted to take on Hitler in France right away.
Churchill gave Mountbatten the job of mounting a mini invasion.... AND PROVE IT COULD NOT BE DONE YET. (source Gen. Denis Whitaker in his book Dieppe Tragedy to Triumph)
So the bombing of the guns by Bomber Harris was called off at the last minute, no battle ship was sent to provide fire support and the Canadians were slaughtered.
The chalk cliffs bordering both sides of Dieppe beach. There are many small caves in which the Germans had mounted machine guns. On the top of the cliffs they had large artillery pieces.
Cape Gris
Dieppe's Chert (flint) Stone Beach
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