The Dieppe Raid

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• 1. Why Dieppe?
• 2. The plan and the players
• 3. Changes and security
• 4. Initial assault
• 5. Main assault
• 6. Who to blame?
• 7. Find out more
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Why Dieppe?

On 19 August 1942, a disastrous seaborne raid was launched by Allied forces on the German-occupied French port of Dieppe. Why was such a raid ever undertaken? Because, with Germany operating deep in the Soviet Union, the Russians were urging the Allies to relieve the pressure on them by opening a second front in north-west Europe.

At the same time the British Chief of Combined Operations, Rear Admiral Louis Mountbatten, was agitating for a practical trial beach landing, against real opposition, for his troops. In the face of this pressure, Churchill decided that Operation Rutter, a 'hit and run' raid on Dieppe, should go ahead.

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Published: 2004-05-12