Dieppe remembered, 70 years later

[Locutus]

‘We reached the beach, all hell broke loose’



Seventy years ago on Sunday, thousands of Canadians fought in the deadly battle of Dieppe. Their blood turned the ocean red, their bodies washed up on beaches of the occupied French port city. Many survivors became prisoners. German forces marched the captured in columns and shipped them to camps in boxcars alongside horses.


Today, seven Canadian Second World War veterans have returned to commemorate their disastrous mission and the catastrophic losses that were a huge blow to Canada’s war effort.

Before they left for what is likely to be their final visit to Dieppe, the veterans – the youngest of whom is 90 – told stories coloured with streaks of resentment, moments of pride and stretches of heartache for their fallen friends.

This trip will be about more than paying tribute. It may give them something they have never had before: answers. The veterans will watch a special screening of a documentary by historian David O’Keefe that presents a provocative new theory for the reasoning behind the near-suicidal mission.


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Dieppe remembered, 70 years later:

 

[MapleDog]

Hope the documentary tries to justify why canadians were sent to the grinder in 1942,and that back then we weren't just a bunch of redshirts for our so called allies.

 

[Goober]

An excellent commentary on Dieppe


WW1: Dieppe was a battle doomed to fail for all the wrong reasons | Full Comment | National Post

 

[WLDB]

Hope the documentary tries to justify why canadians were sent to the grinder in 1942,and that back then we weren't just a bunch of redshirts for our so called allies.

I've read that Dieppe taught the allies a lot about how to properly land large numbers of troops which saved many lives on D-Day. If true, it would have been worth it. Had D-Day been done the wrong way and ended with a slaughter it likely would have prolonged the war.

 

[MapleDog]

I've read that Dieppe taught the allies a lot about how to properly land large numbers of troops which saved many lives on D-Day. If true, it would have been worth it. Had D-Day been done the wrong way and ended with a slaughter it likely would have prolonged the war.

Still it doesn't justify why only canadians wew "sacrificed" in 1942.

 

[EagleSmack]

I've read that Dieppe taught the allies a lot about how to properly land large numbers of troops which saved many lives on D-Day. If true, it would have been worth it. Had D-Day been done the wrong way and ended with a slaughter it likely would have prolonged the war.

And I am sure glad Hitler didn't release the Panzers right away

 

[Goober]

I've read that Dieppe taught the allies a lot about how to properly land large numbers of troops which saved many lives on D-Day. If true, it would have been worth it. Had D-Day been done the wrong way and ended with a slaughter it likely would have prolonged the war.

Read the article I posted- Canadians were sent to die to get the Russians and public off the Allies backs for a second front.

 

[skookumchuck]

I am very glad that my Dad and uncles are not here to read from the fifth columnists all about how they were used as suckers when they immediately (no conscription in the ROC) prepared to give up their lives for their country.

 

[WLDB]

Still it doesn't justify why only canadians wew "sacrificed" in 1942.

Its war. You're looking for justice in war?

Read the article I posted- Canadians were sent to die to get the Russians and public off the Allies backs for a second front.

Ive read of that as well. They could have easily ignored them. Stalin was always whining about the lack of a second front. The allies were doing fine bombing cities. If that didnt satisfy the public, too bad.

 

[damngrumpy]

The Dieppe Raid is a bit of my personal history even though I was not born until
after the war. Sgt Fred Arthur Tromburg died that day on the beach. He was my
dad's best friend they had joined the South Saskatchewan Regiment together at
Wayburn as I recall Dad told me he was from Langbank but he is on the War
Memorial in Kipling.
There are all kinds of theories as to why this happened the way it did but I think the
government is still looking for justification. Lord Mountbatten wanted the raid and
some say it was well publicized as opposed to being kept a secret. Some say they
went ahead because they knew the Germans were waiting and they confirmed it
through the Enigma Machine that they didn't want the Germans to know they had.
It all comes down to conspiracy theories but the fact is our leadership was at best
incompetent.
Dad said many of our officers were totally incompetent. He was wounded in Italy
the same day as Smokey Smith was.
I am looking forward to see what the government serves up as an excuse this time.

 

[MapleDog]

Its war. You're looking for justice in war?

Np but apparently the only ones from who we received some respect,were the enemies.

 

[damngrumpy]

Maple Dog that is in more than one case. Most people don't realize a few things.
On D'Day for example Canadians were the only ones to achieve their assigned
duties apparently we were twelve miles inland and that is something the rest did
not do. Now mind you we had an easier time with no cliffs but there was heavy
fire.
Many of those movies and documentaries showing Allies American British etc
coming ashore with all those two buildings are really showing Canadians troops
while talking about the accomplishments of others. If you think about it either they
came in where there were cliffs of buildings and Canadians came ashore and moved
inland quickly with heavy losses.
The Italian campaign was a tough one too and we got little credit for some of the action
there as well.

 

[Goober]

I am very glad that my Dad and uncles are not here to read from the fifth columnists all about how they were used as suckers when they immediately (no conscription in the ROC) prepared to give up their lives for their country.

Not suckers- thrown to the wolves - Political pressure at home and abroad for a second front in Western Europe ceased.

 

[BaalsTears]

The Dieppe Raid is a bit of my personal history even though I was not born until
after the war. Sgt Fred Arthur Tromburg died that day on the beach. He was my
dad's best friend they had joined the South Saskatchewan Regiment together at
Wayburn as I recall Dad told me he was from Langbank but he is on the War
Memorial in Kipling.
There are all kinds of theories as to why this happened the way it did but I think the
government is still looking for justification. Lord Mountbatten wanted the raid and
some say it was well publicized as opposed to being kept a secret. Some say they
went ahead because they knew the Germans were waiting and they confirmed it
through the Enigma Machine that they didn't want the Germans to know they had.
It all comes down to conspiracy theories but the fact is our leadership was at best
incompetent.
Dad said many of our officers were totally incompetent. He was wounded in Italy
the same day as Smokey Smith was.
I am looking forward to see what the government serves up as an excuse this time.

My mother's family was from Kipling, Sask. My mother's sister married a guy named Blatchford who died at Dieppe.

 

[Cabbagesandking]

Still it doesn't justify why only canadians wew "sacrificed" in 1942.

But it was not only Canadians. The RAF lost hundreds killed and the Navy lost many landing vessels and their crews. This persecution complex is a figment of the anti-British.

Also, a British Commando raid preceded the attempted landing.

Why is always that Canada, or Australia, was 'picked on' for some event that did not turn out well. There were many instances of every element of the Allied Armies doing things with their own units.

Dieppe was not expected to be a disaster; rather the opposite and it was Canadian Commanders that agreed to, and wanted, the operation.

Time we grew up with respect to military affairs.

 

[Goober]

But it was not only Canadians. The RAF lost hundreds killed and the Navy lost many landing vessels and their crews. This persecution complex is a figment of the anti-British.

Also, a British Commando raid preceded the attempted landing.

Why is always that Canada, or Australia, was 'picked on' for some event that did not turn out well. There were many instances of every element of the Allied Armies doing things with their own units.

Dieppe was not expected to be a disaster; rather the opposite and it was Canadian Commanders that agreed to, and wanted, the operation.

Time we grew up with respect to military affairs.

And exactly what did they expect- no naval cover- No air cover- heavily fortified - WTF would you expect from that but fine Soldiers being mowed down.

 

[The Old Medic]

Dieppe was just ONE of the factors that prodded Canada into effectively declaring its "Independence" in 1947, and deciding to have its own separate citizenship.

Great Britain had a policy of using "Colonial" Troops for the most hazardous operations during World War II. Dieppe was one of the many occasions where the Canadians were excluded from the planning, but charged with carrying out the mission. It was a very badly planned operation, and only the extreme bravery, and refusal to give up, enabled any of the troops involved to get out of there.

On D-Day, once again, Canadian troops were in the forefront, but had NO say in the planning, etc.

In addition, too many Canadian war dead were buried in British Cemeteries, which infuriated the Canadian leadership.

Canada should ALWAYS remember Dieppe, just as Texans will always, "Remember the Alamo".