The Raid on Dieppe: August 19, 1942

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The Allied situation in the spring of 1942 was grim. The Germans had penetrated deep into Russia, the British Eighth Army in North Africa had been forced back into Egypt, and in Western Europe the Allied forces faced the Germans across the English Channel.
Since the time was not yet ripe for mounting Operation Overlord, the full-scale invasion of Western Europe, the Allies decided to mount a major raid on the French port of Dieppe. Designed to foster German fears of an attack in the west and compel them to strengthen their Channel defences at the expense of other areas of operation, the raid would also provide an opportunity to test new techniques and equipment, and be the means to gain the experience and knowledge necessary for planning the great amphibious assault.

Accordingly, plans were drawn up for a large-scale raid to take place in July 1942. It was called Operation Rutter. Canadians would provide the main assault force, and by May 20 troops of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division were on the Isle of Wight to begin intensive training in amphibious operations. When unfavourable weather in July prevented Rutter from being launched, it was urged that the idea of a raid should be abandoned. However, the operation was revived and given the new code name Jubilee. The port of Dieppe on the French coast remained the objective.

The attack upon Dieppe took place on August 19, 1942. The troops involved totaled 6,100 of whom roughly 5,000 were Canadians, the remainder being British Commandos and 50 American Rangers. The raid was supported by eight Allied destroyers and 74 Allied air squadrons (eight belonging to the RCAF). Major General J.H. Roberts, the Commander of the 2nd Canadian Division, was appointed Military Force Commander, with Captain J. Hughes-Hallett, R.N. as Naval Force Commander and Air Vice Marshal T.L. Leigh-Mallory as Air Force Commander.

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Responsibility for the Dieppe Slaughter

We already know that Dieppe was a complete failure. The sad fact that 2 CID Commander, MG Ham Roberts has been used as the scapegoat is truly unforgivable. While he holds a lot of the responsibility for the planning failure he is not the only man that was guilty for the end result of this raid.
The senior Canadian brass-LTG McNaughton and LTG Harry Crerar failed in protecting the Canadian soldiers from this slaughter. While McNaughton actually did take sole responsibility for the failure, LTG Crerar refused just as he had when he agreed to send a poorly armed Canadian contingent to Hong Kong.
Both men went on to higher levels of command, McNaughton to become Minister of Defence, and Crerar to CG,1st Canadian Army while MG Ham Roberts left the Army a disgraced man to settle to the Jersey Islands.
 

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