Social Studies 10 Lessons 📖

By: Gen L

In partnership with Hyperion University, 2023

Lesson 8: The War in Europe, Part II & III

8.1: Part II

Dieppe: A Bloody 9 Hours

  • Allied command felt a small scale attack would prove valuable
  • It would test equipment, techniques and German defences
  • The Second Canadian Division was chosen as the main attack force for an assault on the French Port town of Dieppe.

Dieppe, cont.

  • There were four diversionary attacks at other locations.
  • The main attack at Dieppe would be before dawn.
  • Supported by air cover and assisted by tanks landed on the beach.
  • 19 Aug, 1942: Dieppe Raid begins.

Dieppe's 9 Hours

  • The ships were delayed, causing the troops to land in daylight.
  • The Germans were alerted to their arrival.
  • Gr. machine guns prevented soldiers from getting off the beach.
  • Bad communications meant reinforcements were sent too soon
  • Tanks were nearly immobilized by the pebbled beach.

Aftermath

  • 907 Canadians died, 586 were wounded and 1874 were taken prisoner.
  • Attack was a failure, but not a complete loss.
  • The Allies learned much about the German defenses and how they might make a more successful attack.
  • Argued that these lessons made D-Day a success.

Italy

  • Nazis expanded territory as far as North Africa
  • US, British and Commonwealth forces drove the Nazis out of N. Africa between 1942 & 1943
  • Allies began to advance towards the continent
  • Attacked the most vulnerable: the "Soft Underbelly" of Europe.

Invasion of Italy

  • 10 July, 1943: Canadians were part of the invasion of Sicily.
  • By Sept, attacks shifted to the mainland.
  • The advance was slow against bad weather and tough Germans.

Ortona: Canada's "Stalingrad"

  • The largest battle involving Canada was for the Italian town of Ortona.
  • Canadians fought there for about a month, with a final assault on 20 Dec.
  • Fighting was from house to house, through walls (Canada's first Urban Battle)
  • 28 Dec, 1943: Ortona was taken by the Canadians, after such heavy losses it was known as the "Western Stalingrad"

Italy's Defeat

  • 4 June, 1944: Rome falls to the Allies
  • Allies continued to push north, but events in Normandy would overshadow gains in Italy.

8.2: Part III: Overlord

The Second Front

  • 1944: Allies are ready to open a second front.
  • After Dieppe, lessons had been learned and plans rehearsed.
  • Extreme measures were taken to maintain the secret
  • Gr. knew it would eventually happen, but didn’t know where, fortifying the entire coast, but expected the attack at Calais.
  • Thousands of Allied soldiers waited for the signal.
  • Weather, tides & poor moonlight delayed the attack
  • 6 June, 1944: The Allies attack.

The Landing

  • Five landing beaches were designated on the Normandy coast.
  1. Utah: US
  2. Omaha: US
  3. Gold: Br.
  4. Juno: Canada
  5. Sword: Br.
  • The night before, Paratroopers landed in Normandy, artillery pounding the beaches.

Juno: Canada's Beach

  • Over 30,000 Canadians landed at Juno, 359 died and 715 wounded.
  • With surprise on their side, they were successful in establishing a foothold, and began to push inland.

Road to the Netherlands: Caen

  • After Juno, the next major task for the Canadians was to continue to engage the enemy; then take the city of Caen.
  • 9 Jul, 1944: they took Caen, but almost a month later than planned
  • In taking Caen, they suffered higher losses than on D-Day.

Road to the Netherlands: Beyond Caen

  • Further advances beyond Caen brought more casualties.
  • In one four day period, Canadians suffered 2,000 casualties.
  • 25 Jul, 1944: Canada suffered 1500 casualties, 450 of them were deaths.
  • After Dieppe, it was Canada’s
    bloodiest day in the war.

Road to the Netherlands: The Coast

  • Canadians then moved north to clear the French port towns like Dieppe, Boulogne & Calais.
  • British troops took the port of Antwerp, Belgium and Canadians were sent to secure the Scheldt estuaries (port access lanes).
  • The Battle of the Scheldt (1 Oct - 8 Nov) cost 6,000+ casualties.
  • Antwerp was the primary port that supplied the Allied offensive.

Road to The Netherlands: Rhine

  • Feb & March 45 saw a major push to drive Gr. across the Rhine
  • In late March 1945, Canadian troops crossed the Rhine River.
  • Rather than continue into Gr., Canadians moved north, to clear the Netherlands, the coast of Germany, and western Holland.

The End in Europe

  • Early April, Canadian Troops enter the Netherlands.
  • Conditions were especially bad, people were starving to death.
  • Canadians were greeted enthusiastically by the liberated Dutch
  • 5 May: Canadian Generals accepted the surrender of German armies in their sectors.
  • 7 May: Germany surrendered.

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