Dieppe

The Cost of Lessons Learned…

Operation Rutter

Incredible pressure from Russian forces to alleviate Eastern forces.

Desire to get a foothold on the European continent.

Test the ability of Allied forces to capture a beachfront.

Test the capabilities of amphibious vehicles and weapons.

Test enemy beach defenses.

The Plan

Hit and run attack – destroy German positions and installations and then retreat before high-tide arrived.

Two-stage attack – First, groups will flank the beach by surprise and destroy artillery positions on the beach. Second, the main beachhead will be attacked and German defenses destroyed. Four main beaches were to be attacked – blue, green, red and white.

No air bombardment was issued to maintain element of surprise and because Air Force was engaged in action over Germany

6000 infantrymen (almost exclusively Canadian) with limited support from Royal Navy and Royal Air Force

What Went Wrong?

Poor intelligence of beach and German defenses

Element of surprise? British double-agents, premature smoke screens and unexpected German Convoy.

Royal air force failure to lead Luftwaffe into open air battle.

Tanks were unable to overcome the beaches and the tank obstacles placed by German forces.

Results

Of the 5000 Canadian men deployed, over 3500 were killed, wounded or captured. A casualty rate of 68%. Normandy was 10% Vimy was 16%

106 Allied aircraft were lost, including 70 spitfires and 20 Hurricane bombers.

Lessons Learned

Importance of preliminary air support

Element of surprise

Importance of comprehensive reconnaissance and intelligence gathering

Dangers of a frontal attack on a raised or fortified port or town

Importance of increased communication between forces

Letters from Dieppe

Groups of 3 or 4

Read your letter and pull out 5 interesting points

Present your points to the class

Thoughts..? Things weren’t working the way they were supposed to

Timing was off

Strategic errors

Canadian bravery Bridge destroyed

Improper organization

Canadians in the RAF

German’s were waiting

Canadians were pinned down

Taken to camp run by Hitler youth

Not enough boats for retreat

Germans had guns ranged perfectly