Dieppe Raid

The **Dieppe Raid**, also known as the **Battle of Dieppe**, '*Operation *Rutter*** and later **Operation Jubilee*', was an Allied attack on the German-occupied port of Dieppe, France. The attack took place on the northern coast of France on 19 August 1942, during World War II.

The attack began at 5:00&nbsp;a.m., and by 10:50&nbsp;a.m. the Allied commanders had toretreat. Over 6,000 infantrymen, mostly Canadian, were supported by a Canadian armoured regiment. They were also helped by a strong force of the Royal Navy and a smaller Royal Air Force group.

The goal was to capture a major port for a short period and to gather information. Upon their retreat, the Allies also wanted to destroy coastal defences, port structures and important buildings. The raid was also intended to improve morale and demonstrate the United Kingdom's commitment to attack the Western front in Europe.

None of the goals was achieved since there was not enough Allied artillery support. The troops were trapped on the beach by obstacles and German gunfire. After less than 10 hours since the first landings, the last Allied troops had been killed, evacuated or captured by the Germans.

Instead of showing the British commitment, the terrible number of Allied deaths showed that the Allies would not be ready to invade France for a long time. The attack helped the Allies gather some information.

A total of 3,623 of the 6,086 men (almost 60%) who went ashore were killed, wounded or captured. The Royal Air Force did not get the *Luftwaffe* to start a battle. The Royal Air Force lost 96 aircraft (at least 32 to being shot down or accidents), compared to 48 lost by the *Luftwaffe*.

The Royal Navy lost 33 landing craft and one destroyer. The events at Dieppe affected the plans for the North African (Operation Torch) and Normandy landings (Operation Overlord).

## Background
The British decided that the Dieppe attack could be planned within a month. They were very careful to keep the attack secret. No records were kept of the plans.

After the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Forces from Dunkirk in May 1940, the British started to plan an attack force. It would use new ways of doing sea landings on beaches (amphibious warfare).

The British started planning to see if they could capture a port. That would allow them to test out how to use ships in the attack and to test new equipment.

Dieppe, a coastal town in France, is built along a long cliff by the English Channel. In 1942, the Germans set up two large artillery batteries at Berneval-le-Grand and Varengeville. One important consideration for the British planners was that Dieppe was within range of the Royal Air Force's fighter aircraft.

There was also pressure from the Soviet government to attack the Germans in Western Europe. By early 1942, the Wehrmacht's Operation Barbarossa attacks had not destroyed the Soviet Union.

However, the Germans moved into southern Soviet territory and pushed toward Stalingrad. Joseph Stalin demanded that the Allies attack in France to force the Germans to move 40 divisions away from the Eastern Front, which would make the fighting easier for the Red Army.

## Plan
The Dieppe Raid was a major attack planned by Vice-Admiral Lord Mountbatten.

The attacking force would consist of  5,000 Canadians, 1,000 British troops, and 50 United States Rangers.

It was originally planned in April 1942 and codenamed Operation Rutter. The Allies planned to do a major attack on a German-held port on the French coast and to hold it for two tides. They would destroy enemy buildings and defences before withdrawing.

This plan was approved in May 1942. It included British parachute units attacking German artillery batteries. The Canadians would land on the beaches and attack. The parachute operation was cancelled, and instead, No. 3 Commando and No. 4 Commando would land by sea and attack the artillery batteries.

The Dieppe landings were planned on six beaches. Four were in front of the town, and two to the eastern and western sides.  
 *département*, Normandy]]
Armoured support was provided by the 14th Army Tank Regiment (The Calgary Regiment (Tank). and 58 of the new Churchill tanks would be sent ashore using the new landing craft tank (LCT). In addition, three of the Churchills had flame-throwers and all could operate in the shallow water near the beach.

### Naval and air support
The Royal Navy would supply 237 ships and landing craft.

## German forces
 medium machine gun emplacement]]
The German forces at Dieppe were ready for the attack. They had been warned by French double agents that the British were planning some action in the area. They had also detected increased radio talk and landing craft being gathered together in the southern British coastal ports. and Captain Patrick Porteous No.&nbsp;4 Commando, was awarded the Victoria Cross.

### Blue beach
 machine guns in a German bunker. The bunker firing slit is visible in the distance, just above the German soldier's head.]]

The naval battle between the small German convoy and the craft carrying No.&nbsp;3 Commando had made the German defenders at Blue beach aware of the attack.

Nissenthall and his men could not enter the radar station because of the strong German defences. Nissenthall managwed to cut all of the telephone wires.

## References