CANADA'S NINE HOURS IN HELL DIEPPE RAID

In August 1942 an Allied force made up largely of Canadian soldiers raided the French seaport of Dieppe, with disastrous consequences

- ALEX BOWERS

The Dieppe Raid took place on 19 August 1942 during one of the darkest periods for the Allies. Organised by Vice-Admiral Lord Mountbatten and his staff at Combined Operations Headquarters (COHQ), a predominantly Canadian force landed at the German-held seaport of Dieppe tasked with occupying the French coastal commune, destroying fortifications, damaging harbour facilities and gathering enemy intelligence – all within a few hours.

A series of blunders, including a gross underestimation of the German defences, a failure to take the enemy by surprise and issues navigating the terrain led to what is today perceived as a debacle. The Allies suffered over 3,000 casualties, most of whom were Canadian. Both sides nevertheless spun it as a victory in what became a propaganda war, and the raid remains a topic of considerable debate among veterans and historians.

The summer of 1942 was a dark time for the Allies. In the Far East, the Japanese had dealt several blows against the British and Commonwealth forces. Meanwhile, in the Soviet Union, the German invasion of Russia under Operation Barbarossa had cost tens of thousands of lives. Hoping to relieve pressure on the Eastern Front, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin pleaded with his British and American counterparts to open the so-called Second Front in the west.