DieppeDieppe

Disaster at DieppeDisaster at Dieppe

A quick raid becomes one of the A quick raid becomes one of the worst disasters in Canadian worst disasters in Canadian military historymilitary history

August 19, 1942August 19, 1942

Five thousand Five thousand Canadians Canadians soldiers made soldiers made up the bulk of up the bulk of the assault the assault force. force.

The attack on Dieppe was supposed The attack on Dieppe was supposed to be a quick in-and-out raid. to be a quick in-and-out raid.

It was intended to placate the Soviet It was intended to placate the Soviet allies who were fighting the Germans allies who were fighting the Germans alone on the Eastern Front.alone on the Eastern Front.

The raid was also planned to test The raid was also planned to test German defences. German defences.

The Raid was suppose to be a The Raid was suppose to be a surprise.surprise.

It was not. Canadian forces were It was not. Canadian forces were spotted by a small German convoy, spotted by a small German convoy, that alerted the German defenses. that alerted the German defenses.

The raid was suppose to take place The raid was suppose to take place before sunrisebefore sunrise

It did not. Rough waters delayed the It did not. Rough waters delayed the raid until just after sunrise.raid until just after sunrise.

Air support was suppose to control of Air support was suppose to control of the skies and take pressure off the skies and take pressure off Canadian troops.Canadian troops.

It did not. The RAF and RCAF lost 119 It did not. The RAF and RCAF lost 119 aircraft - the highest single-day total aircraft - the highest single-day total of the war (62 fatalities) while the of the war (62 fatalities) while the Luftwaffe lost just 46. Luftwaffe lost just 46.

Troops were suppose to be support Troops were suppose to be support by tanks and artilleryby tanks and artillery

They were not. Slippery stones on They were not. Slippery stones on the beach prevented tanks from the beach prevented tanks from getting traction making them easy getting traction making them easy targets for German guns. targets for German guns.

Troops were suppose to quickly Troops were suppose to quickly advance up the beaches and into advance up the beaches and into selected safe areasselected safe areas

They did not. They did not. Soldiers were cut Soldiers were cut down by German down by German defences in defences in elevated areas.elevated areas.

Dieppe was a pathetic failure as a Dieppe was a pathetic failure as a result of poor planning, leadership result of poor planning, leadership and communicationand communication

Or was there more to the raid than first meets the eye

This we knowThis we know

Of the 5,000 Canadians who landed Of the 5,000 Canadians who landed at Dieppe, 907 were dead, 586 at Dieppe, 907 were dead, 586 wounded. 1,946 were taken prisoner. wounded. 1,946 were taken prisoner.

Important lessons were learned from Important lessons were learned from Dieppe that would help save lives in Dieppe that would help save lives in the D-Day invasion 2 years laterthe D-Day invasion 2 years later

In 2012 we learned that the In 2012 we learned that the Dieppe raid had a secret Dieppe raid had a secret

purposepurpose

The Real ReasonThe Real Reason

The Enigma The Enigma

The Enigma coded The Enigma coded all German orders all German orders including U-Boat including U-Boat locations. locations.

The allies had deciphered the 3 The allies had deciphered the 3 cylinder enigma but the German’s had cylinder enigma but the German’s had introduced the 4 cylinder in 1941.introduced the 4 cylinder in 1941.

Canadian forces created a diversion on Canadian forces created a diversion on the beach while British commandos the beach while British commandos tried to steal a 4 cylinder enigma from tried to steal a 4 cylinder enigma from the German Naval HQ in Dieppe. the German Naval HQ in Dieppe.

The Commandos were repelled and The Commandos were repelled and unsuccessful in their attempt.unsuccessful in their attempt.

Canadian soldiers died in a valiant Canadian soldiers died in a valiant attempt to capture the enigma and attempt to capture the enigma and save the lives of countless otherssave the lives of countless others