note the mixture of serge jackets and denim trousers, confirmed by a report of a US observer in the National Archives. The crepe-soled were special to the commandos
A very good page with first hand stories of the fierce battle.
http://www.highlanders.freehosting.net/dieppe.htm
And here, honorable ladies and gentlemen, you have some German-made photos regarding this unrewarding Allied war effort. First one originates from famous “Signal” magazine, and it was presented with the following inscription:
“Soundless eyewitnesses of a dreadful combat” - “Signal” U. Nr. 10/42, PK: N.N.
The second one is - unfortunately - only a simple, black and white picture that was taken by an unknown German soldier who was a factual participant of the fierce struggle. However, she dispassionately conjures the factual moments after the end of the fierce combat, presenting the perspective from the other side of the hill.
Translation of the presented inscription: “They have landed in German captivity - They fought in vain.”
Picture taken from: “BERICHT VAN DE TWEEDE WERELD OORLOG”, 1975. Amsterdam Boek B. V. – Amsterdam, pp. 393.
This photo was taken in the grounds of the municipal hospital in the Rue Pasteur. Here is the same perspective in 1992.
This well-known shot was taken at the same spot. The photographer turned 90 degrees left.
Same view in 1992. This caused a bit of head scratching until I realised that the line of sight in the 1942 photo has superimposed the roof of the building behind onto the flat-roofed building in the foreground. The entrance with the Gothic-arch windows was pulled down after the war, doubtless to enable vehicular access to the courtyard behind.
Very good ones ¡
If you have more post it please.
G’day,
I’ve noticed very little mention of the air combat fought in conjunction with the Dieppe raid. Jubilee was to be Leigh Mallory’s effort to bring the luftwaffe to battle and inflict heavy damage. For this task he assembled a force of 56 fighter/fighter bomber squadrons, five bomber squadrons and four tactical reconnaissance squadrons, flying some 2,600 sorties throughout the day.
The German defence was about 350 fighters and 175 bombers. For the first four hours JG26 fought a lone battle until joined by JG2 and then later by KG2 which lost fourteen bombers. Total Luftwaffe losses were 48 aircraft against 99 Allied losses(8 were American aircraft). British aerial success was initially overstated until the loss figures were assessed and gound survivor testament that Allied air support was limited in it’s effect on the ground battle.
The air losses incurred over Dieppe were seen as a continuation of the blood letting being suffered by RAF Fighter Command on the Channel Front.
Regards to all,
Digger.
It’s a shame the Americans were not involved with armour. Maybe they would have learnt the same lessons we did about using armour to attack beaches. Do you think the British use of “Funnies” was down to this raid, and was the fact the Americans didn’t participate with armour the cause for their disaster on Omaha beach?
I think the lesson learn from this had a direct impact on the requirement for armour. Not just armour but the problems on getting armour ashore. This went from the type of ground that tanks could use to the obstacles they needed to overcome.
The raid also pointed out that armour was a must if the troops were to get off the beach. The need for direct SP for the infantry using guns larger than AT. We can see this in the AVRE and the Centaur 95mm.
You may be right in your assumption, how does this compare with the USMC in the pacific? They had similar problems.
You had say it right, in my opinion the victory of the Luftwaffe despite his numerical inferiority was because the JGs in the west still concentrate a large number of very skilled pilots not to mention the superiority showed by the Fw-190A over the Spitfire Mk-V ,Hurricanes, Typhoon and the Spitfire Mk-IX ( the mark IX was superior in altitude but over the beachheads it made no effect)
The most proficiente german pilot of that day was Josef Wurheller wich despite being wounded in combat destroyed 6 fighters and a british twin engined bomber.
http://www.luftwaffe.cz/wurmheller.html
The Allied Air force displayed many models for fisrt time over Dieppe, like the North American Mustang, the B-17 and the Spit Mk-IX.
North American Mustang Mk.I AG528
No.400 Sqn RCAF
G’day,
Much of the air fighting was at low and medium altitude which suited the Focke Wulfs. The British hadn’t quite got their tactics right with the Typhoon at that stage.
The unfortunate side effect for the Jagdwaffe over Dieppe was their success. It was felt JG26 and JG2 had proven they could adequately defend the Channel Front, so no urgency was placed on reinforcing fighter strength in the west.
Regards to all
Digger.
Probably but only until 1944 the jagwaffe was not overwelmed
G’day,
It’s now getting a bit off topic, but the decision not to massively reinforce
JG1, JG2 and JG26 for the day fighter defence of western Europe and the Reich was fatal for the Luftwaffe.
Is this line of thought worthy of a new thread?
Regards to all,
Digger.
With what ??
Even at this time it would have been a case of weakening another front to reinforce the day fighters in the west
Good point. Was there even a significant daytime (or nighttime) threat to even justify that at this time?
I suppose the Luftwaffe high command should have seen America’s involvement as an ever increasing threat, but could they have guessed at the day-time bombing campaign by this point? Could they have foreseen the around the clock bombing campaign of the RAF & USAAF?
G’day,
Okay guys this thread seems to be splitting and I want to answer your points, so I’ll post a new thread later tonite. It will be called A Roof Over The Reich, a title for an essay written by Johannes Steinhoff.
Regards to all,
Digger.
Librarian & Mk VII - thanks for the “then” and “now” pictures - I just love them!
The following is the account of a Canadian pilot who flew with a R.A.F. Spitfire squadron, and had escorted the B-17s to Abbeville. On the return flight, he flew over Dieppe at 10,000 feet:
"[i]A quick glance showed that there was terrific activity on land, on the water, and in the air. I saw a FW 190 alone about 1,500 feet below me. I did a barrel roll to lose height, levelled out about 150 yards behind the Hun, opened fire and closed to a range of about 25 yards. Pieces of the FW 190 about a foot square flew off from around the cowling. Just as both the enemy aircraft and I ran into a cloud, he blew up with a brilliant flash of flame and black smoke.
My wind-shield and hood were smothered in oil, and there was a terrific clatter as pieces of the Hun struck my plane. I broke away, hardly able to see through the hood. Afterwards my Number 2 told me that one of the pieces he saw break off the enemy aircraft was about ten feet long.
I did not realize at that stage that the debris of the exploded aircraft had done such serious damage to my Spitfire that I would have to bale out a few moments later. But, just as I was turning for home, flying at about 1,000 feet, my engine started to cough and the aircraft shuddered violently.
Realizing that I should have to bail out, I started to climb, and had reached low cloud at about 2,000 feet when my engine stopped completely. I took off my helmet, undid my straps, and opened the hood. Then I crouched on the seat and shoved the stick forward, but in some way my parachute became caught, and I figured that I was only about 250 feet above the water when I got clear.
The aircraft plunged into the water as my parachute opened. Almost at once I had to press my parachute quick-release gear, for I had also hit the water. But I inflated my dinghy and climbed into it without difficulty. Two Spitfires circled over me, while a third went for a rescue boat which was not far away".
I was rescued within fifteen minutes, the captain of the rescue launch estimating my position as 17 miles off Dieppe[/i]".
In here you can found a video of the assault, is an “Die deustche Wochenschau” one, but veridic…also crude.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXhNSL9jyP4
You need to be signed in there.