Operation Fusilade was the plan for a set-piece assault on the French port of Dieppe during the Second World War. In the event, the German occupiers, not having received orders to hold the town, evacuated shortly before Fusilade, which was cancelled. The 8th Reconnaissance Regiment (14th Canadian Hussars) of the 2nd Canadian Division entered the town unopposed on September 1, 1944, to a warm welcome from the French inhabitants.[1] The planned bombing of the town was hastily cancelled.[1] The nearby small fishing port of Le Tréport was taken on the same day by the 3rd Canadian Division.[2] Some days later, there was a memorial ceremony at the nearby Canadian military cemetery to honour the interred men killed in the 1942 Dieppe Raid.[3]
Aftermath
editThe Germans had only partly demolished the port facilities, and bridges and the first ships unloaded on 6 September.[2] A train left on 9 September with petrol and oil for Brussels.[4] Dieppe was able to supply a quarter of the needs of the 21st Army Group.[2]
References
edit- "REPORT NO. 183; CANADIAN PARTICIPATION IN THE OPERATIONS IN NORTH WEST EUROPE, 1944. PART IV: FIRST CANADIAN ARMY IN THE PURSUIT (23 AUG - 30 SEP)" (PDF). HISTORICAL SECTION, CANADIAN MILITARY HEADQUARTERS. Retrieved 9 July 2009.
- ^ a b Report 183, para.157
- ^ a b c "The Campaign in North-West Europe: The Channel Ports, September 1944". The Canadian Army, 1939–1945. Department of National Defence. p. 224. Archived from the original on 2010-07-06. Retrieved 5 Jan 2010.
- ^ Report 183, para.158
- ^ Report 183, para.160
See also
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