The Raid on Dieppe
Location: Dieppe France By: Jacob Bouwmeester
Date: 19th of August 1942
Result: German victory
People involved: Allies: Admiral Louis Mountbatten, Major General John Hamilton Roberts, Trafford Leigh- Mallory
Germans: General Gerd von Rundstedt
Objective: The main objective was to test the Germans beachhead defenses before declaring a further western invasion in to Western Europe. Also it was to capture intelligence from the German prisoners to gain intelligence of main German positions. Destroying German defenses were also an objective that was not achieved.
Historical Significance
The Battle of Dieppe/Operation Jubilee took place in 1942 August 19th and it started at 5:00 and ended around 11 that same day This as many as nearly about 900 Canadians were killed during this battle. About 900 soldiers, air men, merchant ships, and naval ship men were captured after the aftermath of the Battle of Dieppe. Many of these people that were captured were put into POW camps with poor living conditions. Some were even transported to death camps such as the Buchenwald camp were 50 000 people including soldiers were killed. This links to the larger narrative of the prisoners of war which resulted, in poor treatment such as physical and mental abuse, starvation/dehydration and the death of many civilians and soldiers.
Causes
One of the main causes of Dieppe was that the Canadians and allies wanted to test the German defenses, before they would declare a full scale invasion on Western Europe. Another cause was to make a stand at Dieppe for a short period of time just to prove that it is possible to win over German occupied territory. Even after their militarism arms race. Dieppe being in France which is almost at the borders of Britain, caused fear of attack so nationalism be a cause. Because for the duration of world war two we were not a part of Britain but we were still loyal to the British Empire. Another cause of the Battle of Dieppe was the public opinion. The Battle of Hong Kong was the last main battle that Canada had a significant role. Mackenzie King was placed with pressure by the public to have their soldiers participate in more battles. Planning played a major role in the cause of the Battle of Dieppe. Because of the quick planning and France being at the border of Britain, air strikes were available. This interplay is that Dieppe failure was caused from poor strategy and to many causalities and prisoners of war deeming this battle failure with little victory.
Consequences
The consequences were that nearly 900 Canadians were killed in action. There were almost 2000 Canadians that had become Prisoners of War after being captured during the retreat. Another consequence was that the Germans had been able to keep Dieppe and prove that their militarism defenses can be proven superior. However this battle did teach the Canadians and allies better strategy when approaching these defenses. The Canadians used these strategies to win future such as the success on D-Day in Normandy at Juno Beach. They gained knowledge of ways to put into action the new strategies for approaching a beachhead battles
Continuity
Germany has still continued their militarism arms race. This had a huge impact on the outcome of the battle. Because of this militarism the Germans were able to gain an upper hand over Canada and the allies. Alliances had been a major part of how this which had continued from the way war was fought in the First World War. Also it is a continuity of the failure and casualities that Canada had faced when the Japenese had begun their militarism arms race.
Change
Certain changes to the battle were that this whole battle was a plan to test the defences of the Germans. From the after effect of the militarism arms race. What changed was the planning and thinking that the Germans, Canadians and allies had put into play and that really changed the outcome of the battle in the end. The success of the battle on the Germans side and being able to conceal Dieppe’s control while being attacked by Canadians and the allies.
Ethical Dimensions
The failure in Dieppe was it worth it the loss of life and the loss of respect and dignity of other countries. This battle was a great tradegy that will be remembered nearly 900 Canadians died at this battle while barely accomplishing any objectives. A battle thats losses could have been prevented with better strategy and better timing. At this time before the battle it was about acting orders that they had used in the First World War. In my opinion I feel that this battle could have been a prevented loss. Through better strategy in the combat field and better planning of were and when an attack would be placed, to test the German defenses. Without this battle Canada and the allies, could have possibly not been able to make D day successful.
Primary Source
In this source hundreds of Canadians are being lead away, by German officers from the after math of the Battle of Dieppe. In this source this picture shows the hardships of becoming a prisoner of war, you are at the mercy of the enemy. Many of these Canadians were led to work camps in Nazi occupied Germany, others were sent to death camps such as the Buchenwald camp were nearly 50 000 soldiers and civilians were killed. Referenced by http://www.google.ca/search?q=veteran+affairs+dieppe+pows&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1&redir_esc=&ei=diR_UcD3F_TE4APakoCYCg It was that casualties were heavy. Number of Canadians taken prisoners but also many killed and wounded. One felt inclined to question the wisdom of the raid unless it were part of the agreement reached when Churchill was with Stalin. As said by Mackenzie King in a diary about the sadness towards all of the deaths and prisoners of war. He also feels that this was not up to him as a justified answer towards whether Dieppe was a loss that could have been prevented.
World War Two 