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HistO[Y. Caen Wars & Campaigns

► Boer War ► Firsivvorld War ► ► Western Front ►►►Trench Warfare: 1914-1916 ► ► ► Allied Offensive: 1916 ►►►Allied Offensives: 1917 ► ► ► German Offensive: 1918 ► ► ► Advance to Victory: 1918 ► ► Siberia ► Second World War ► ► War t,gainst Ja12an ► ► North Africa ► ► Italian Cam@ig!! ►►► SicilY. ► ► ► Southern ltalY. ► ► ► The Sangro and Moro ► ► ► Battles of the FSSF ►►►Cassino ►►► Liri\/alley ► ► ► Advance to Florence ► ► ► Gothic Line ► ► ► Winter Lines ► ► North-West Europe ► ► ► NormandY. ► ► ► Southern France ► ► ► Channel Ports ►► ► Scheidt ► ► ► tl_ijmegen Salient ► ► ► Rhineland ► ► ►FinaiPtia"se ► Korean War ► Cold War ► Gulf War

Operations

► GAUNTLET Aug 1941 (Spitsbergen) ► HUSKY Jul 1943 (Sicily) ►COTTAGE Aug 1943 (Kiska) ► TIMBERWOLF Oct 1943 (Italy) ► OViERLORD Jun 1944 (Normandy) ►MARKET-GARDEN SeR 44 (Arnhem) ► BERLIN Nov 1944 (Nijmegen) ► VERITABLE Feb 1945 (Rhineland)

Battle Honours

Boer War ► Paardeberg 18 Feb 00

First World War Western Front

Trench Warfare: 1914-1916 ► Y12res ,-1.fil§ ► Gravenstafel ► St. Julien ► Frezenberg ► Bellewaarde ► Festubert,-1.fil§ ► Mount Sorrel

22 Apr-25 May 15 22-23 Apr 15

24 Apr-4 May 15 8-13 May 15

24-25 fvlay 15 15-25 May 15

2-13 Jun 16 Allied Offensive: 1916

► Somme, 1916 1 Jul-18 Nov 16 ► Albert .1-13 Jul 16 ► Bazentin 14-17 Jul 16 ► Pozieres .23 Jul-3 Sep 16 ► Guillemont 3-6 Sep 16 ► Ginchy .9 Sep 16 ► Flers-Courcelette 15-22 Sep 16 ► Thie12val 26-29 Sep 16 ► Le Transloy . 1-18 Oct 16 ► Ancre Heights 1 Oct-11 Nov 16 ► Ancre, 1916 13-18 Nov 16

--Allied Offensives: 1917 ► Arras 1917 8Apr-4fvlay 17

Caen was a Battle Honour granted to units participating in the final battles to take the city of Caen during the Battle of Normandy, the first phase of the North-West Europe campaign of the Second World War.

Background

The city of Caen was the object of Allied attention from the moment the first soldier landed on D-Day.

To (General Bernard) Montgomery (commander of 21st Army Group, or all Allied land forces in Normandy) the capture of the city was a prerequisite for his advance onto the open plain to the south where he could deploy his armoured divisions to force a breakthrough towards Paris and the south-east. This was his original plan, outlined before the invasion, which he modified as his forces struggled unsuccessfully, week after week, to seize the city. He subsequently adapted his strategy, suggesting that he continue to batter at Caen, threatening a breakthrough and all the while drawing more of the German armour onto his front, ultimately allowing the Americans to effect a breakthrough further to the west against less formidable forces. 1

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NormandY. Landing - Authie - Putot-en-Bessin l'Orgueilleuse - Le Mesnil-Patry- Ca[Pjguet - Ca,

Bourguebus Ridg!! - Faubourg de Vaucelles - St. 1

Malt6t -Verrieres Ridge - 71IIY.-la-CamR§!g!!!! - Falai - Quesnay Wood - Clair 71zon - The Laison - C Lambert-sur-Dives - Dives Crossing - Foret de

Seine, 1944

Expansion of the Beachhea June 1944

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► Vimy, 1917 .9-1 4 Apr 17 The 3rd Canadian Infantry Division had already participated in the first attempts to take the city, that being the iniI :~:~;e, 1917

28;~! ;¼y;; beaches in the first days of Operation OVERLORD. The Canadian battles are described in the Normandx Landing, ► Hill 70 15-25 Aug 17 Bessin and Bretteville articles. When these initial movements to take the city failed, more elaborate operations beca1 ► Messines, 1917 .7-14 Jun 17 :;;i~::~917 3

;/~,-~~ ~avg Operation WILD OATS was planned as a pincer attack on Caen, with I Corps attacking on the east towards Cagny ► Langemarck, 1917 16~18 A~~ 17 on the west towards Evrecy, with the 1st Airborne Division assigned to make an airborne assault in the gap betwee ► Menin Road .20-25 Sep 17 once Cagny and the high ground above Evrecy had been reached, some time after the operations started on 10 Jui

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Sep-: g~: ; ; opposed by Air Marshal Leigh-Mallory, out of concern for the the airborne forces. 2

► Poelcapelle .9 Oct 17 ► Passchendaele .12 Oct 17 Operation PERCH went forward as a modified version of WILD OATS, with XXX Corps launching a wide flanking c

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► Cambrai, 1917 20 Nov-3 Dec 17 of Caen with the 7th Armoured Division. The attack famously met disaster at Villers-Bocage, but much of the opera1 ► Som~-t:,':~tfensi;7~~~~: ,Apr 18 well; the eastern fla~k of the attack on the other side of the Seulles had been counter-attacked by Panzer Lehrwhc ► st Quentin .21-23 Mar 18 the 8th Armoured Brigade. ► Bapaume, 1918 .24-25 Mar 18 ► Rosieres .26-27 Mar 18 ► Avre 4 ,Apr 18 ► Lys 9-29 ,Apr 18 ► Estaires .9-11 ,Apr 18 ► lvlessines, 1918 .10-11 ,Apr 18 ► Bailleu! 13-15 ,Apr 18 ► Kemmel .17-19 ,Apr 18

Advance to Victory: 1918 ► Amiens 8-11 Aug 18 ► Arras, 1918 .26 Aug-3 Sep 18 ► Scarpe, 1918 26-30 Aug 18. ► Drocourt-Queant .2-3 Sep 18 ► Hindenburg Line .12 Sep-9 Oct 18 ► Canal du Nord 27 Sep-2 Oct 18 ► St Quentin Canal .29 Sep-2 Oct 18 ► Epehy 3-5 Oct 18 ► Cambrai, 1918 .8-9 Oct 18 ► Valenciennes .1-2 Nov 18 ► Sambre 4 Nov 18 ► Pursuit to Mons .28 Sep-11 Nov

Second World War War Against Japan

South-East Asia ► Hong Kong 8-25 Dec 41

Italian Campaign Battle of Sicily

► Landing in SicilY. 9-12 Jul 43 ► Grammichele 15 Jul 43 ► Piazza Armerina 16-17 Jul 43 ► \/alguamera 17-19 Jul 43 ► Assoro 20-22 Jul 43 ► Leonforte 21-22 Jul 43 ► 691@ 24-28 Jul 43 ► Adrano 29 Jul-7 Aug 43 ► Catenanuova 29-30 Jul 43 ► Regalbuto 29 Jul-3 Aug 43 ► Centuri~ 31 Jul-3 Aug 43 ► Troina \/alley 2-6 Aug 43 ► Pursuit to Messina 2-17 Aug 43

3 Sep 43 Southern Italy

► Landing at Regg)Q ► Potenza 19-20 Sep 43

1-3 Oct 43 3-6 Oct 43 6-7 Oct 43 7-8 Oct 43

► Motta Montecorvino ►Termoli ► Monte San Marco ► Gambatesa ► Cam12obasso ► Baranello ► Colle d'Anchise

11-14 Oct 43 17-18 Oct 43 22-24 Ocl 43 24-27 Oct 43

The Sangro and Moro ► The Sang[Q 19 Nov-3 Dec 43 ► Castel di Sang[Q .23-24 Nov 43 ► The Moro 5-7 Dec 43 ► San Leonardo ► The Gull\( ► Casa Berardi ► Ortona ► San Nicola-San

Tommaso.

8-9 Dec 43 ,, 10-19 Dec 43 .. 14-15 Dec 43 20-28 Dec 43

.31 Dec 43

► Point 59/ 29 Dec 43-Torre M.Jcchia 4 Jan 44

Battles of the FSSF ► Monte Camino .5 Nov-9 Dec 43 ► Monte la Difensa- 2-8 Dec 43

Monte la Remetanea, ► Hill 720

► Monte Vischiataro ► Anzio

► Rome ► Advance

to the llber. ► Monte Arrestino ► Rocca Massima ► Colle Ferro

25 Dec 43 3-8 Jan 44.

4 Jan 44 8 Jan 44

22 Jan-22 lvlay 44 .22 May-4 Jun 44

.22 May-22 Jun 44

25 May 44 27 May 44

2 Jun 44 Cassino

► Cassino II 11-18 lvlay 44 11-18 lv1ay 44

13 lvlay 44

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► Gustav Line ► Sant' Angelo in

Teodice ► Pignataro 14-15 May 44

Liri Valley ► Liri \/alleY. 18-30 May 44 ► Hitler Line 18-24 May 44 ► Aquino 18-24 May 44 ► Melfa Crossing 24-25 May 44

On this flank a bitter head-on contest developed in the narrow lanes and deeply hedged orchards with m giving way. On the other flank too, the tanks of 7th Armoured Division soon found themselves involved in clo. in thick bocage in conditions quite outside their previous experience in the Western Desert. Here smc detachments, each with a tank or anti-tank gun or two and a couple of 88s lurking in the background, cou cause interminable delays ... The 10th was a bad day for XXX Corps, the going was undeniably slow - it wa~ on the 11th: Tilly was indeed entered but the tanks failed to make progress round the flank. East of the Se1 was equally severe and confused fighting. By dawn on the 12th June the commander of XXX Corps, Bue realised that no more was to be gained from direct head-on contests in dense bocage with Panzer Lehr. 3

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www.canadiansoldiers.com

► Ceprano 26-27 May 44 ► Torrice Crossroads 30 May 44

Advance to Florence ► Advance 17 Jul-10 Aug 44

► Trasimene Line 20-30 Jun 44 ► Sanfatucchio 20-21 Jun 44 ► Arezzo 4-17 Jul44 ► Cerrone 25 - 31 Aug 44

Gothic Line ► Gothic Line 25 Aug-22 Sep 44 ► Monteciccardo 27-28 Aug 44 ► lvlontecchio 30-31 Aug 44 ► Point 204 (Pozzo Alto) 31 Aug 44 ► Monte Luro 1 Sep 44 ► Bargo Santa Maria 1 Sep 44 ► Tomba di Pesaro 1-2 Sep 44 ► Coriano 3-15 Sep 44

Winter Lines ► Rimini Line 14-21 Sep 44 ► San Martino- 14-18 Sep 44

San Lorenzo ► San Fortunato ► Casale

► Sant' Angelo in Salute.

► Bulgaria Village ► Cesena ► Pisciatello ► Savio Bridgehead ► fvlonte La Pieve ► fvlonte Spaduro ► lvlonte San Bartolo ► Lamone Crossing ► Capture of Ravenna ► Naviglio Canal ► Fosso Vecchio ► FOSSO fvlunio ► Conventello-

Cornacchio.

18-20 Sep 44 23-25 Sep 44 11-15 Sep 44

13-14 Sep 44 15-20 Sep 44 16-19 Sep 44 20-23 Sep 44 13-19 Oct 44 19-24 Oct 44 11-14 Nov44 2-13 Dec 44

3-4 Dec 44 12-15 Dec 44 16-18 Dec44 19-21 Dec 44

2-6 Jan 45

► Granarolo 3-5 Jan 44 Northwest Europe

► DieP.~ 19 Aug 42 Battle of Normandy

► NorrnandY. Landing 6 Jun 44 ► Authie 7 Jun 44 ► Putot-en-Bessin 8 Jun 44 ► Bretteville 8-9 Jun 44

-l'Orgueilleuse ► Le Mesnil-Patrv. ► CarR!_quet

► Caen ► The Orne (Buron) ► Bourguebus Ridgg ► Faubourg-de-

Vaucelles ► St. Andre-sur-Ome ► Mallat ► Verrieres Ridge-lilly.::

la-CamP-lJQ!lll ► Falaise ► Falaise Road ► Quesnay Road ► Clair 11zon ► The Laison ► Chambois ► St. Lambert-sur-

Dives

11 Jun 44 4-5 Jul 44

4-18 Jul 44 8-9 Jul 44

18-23 Jul 44 18-19 Jul 44

19-23 Jul 44 22-23 Jul 44

25 Jul 44

7-22 Aug 44 7-9 Aug 44

10-11 Aug 44 11-13 Aug 44 14-17 Aug 44 18-22 Aug 44 19-22 Aug 44

► Dives Crossing 17-20 Aug 44 ► Foret de la Londe 27-29 Aug 44 ► The Seine, 1944 25-28 Aug 44

Southern France ► Southern France 15-28 Aug 44

Channel Ports ► Dunkirk, 1944 8-15 Sep 44 ► Le Havre 1-12 Sep 44 ► fvloerbnuggg 8-1 O Sep 44 ► fvloerkerke 13-14 Sep 44 ► Boulog!Jll, 1944 17-22 Sep 44 ► Calais, 1944 25 Sep-1 Oct 44 ►l/l/y.!]llghem 21-22 Sep 44 ► Antwem-Turnhout 24-29 Sep 44

Canal. The Scheidt

► The Scheidt 1 Oct-8 Nov 44 ► LeOP-Old Canal 6-16 Oct-44 ► Woensdrecllt 1-27 Oct 44 ► Savojaards Platt 9-1 O Oct 44 ► Breskens Pocket 11 Oct -3 Nov 44 ► The Lower Maas 20 Oct -7 Nov 44 ► South Beveland 24-31 Oct 44

http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/history/battlehonours/northweste ...

___ ,.. Front Line 11 Jun,

lllllk )I Operations 12 Jun ► Operations 13-14,

Front Line 15 Jun ii German Counter-1

► Walcheren 31 Oct-4 Nov 44 The 7th Armoured Division fought into Livry on 12 June and advanced slowly the next day towards Villers-Bocage. Causewav.. their advance column were ambushed by heavy tanks of the 2nd Company, SS Heavy Tank Battalion 101 under

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Nijmegen Salient ObersturmbannfOhrer Michael Wittmann; attacking alone at first, he single-handedly shot up the British column, d, ~ ~e Veer 31 g:~ :Jan

45 St~art and Cromwell reconnaissance tanks, as well as two 17-pounder Shermans and a number of carriers ant 21Jan 45 arrival of a handful more German tanks made for a long day and the 7th Armoured Division eventually withdrew at ti

► The Roer 16-31 Jan 45 having exchanged over two dozen tanks for at most 15 German AFVs.4 Rhineland

► The Rhineland ► The Reichswald ► Waal Flats ► I\/loyland Wood ► Goch-Calcar Road ► The Hochwald

► Veen

► Xanten

8 Feb-10 Mar45 8-13 Feb 45 8-15 Feb 45

14-21 Feb 45 19-21 Feb 45

26 Feb-4 Mar45

6-10 lv1ar 45 8-9 Mar45

Final Phase ► Toe Rhine 23 Mar-1 Apr 45 ► Emmerich-Hoch 28 lv1ar-1 Apr 45

Elten. ► Twente Canal 2-4 Apr 45 ► ZutRhen 6-8 Apr 45 ► Deventer 8-11 Apr 45 ►Arnhem, 1945 12-14Apr45 ► 8fleldoom 11-17 Apr45 ► Groningfil) 13-16 Apr 45 ► F riesoyjhe 14 Apr 45 ► ljselmeer 15-18 Apr45 ► Kusten Canal 17-24 Apr 45 ► Wagenborgfil] 21-23Apr45 ► Delfzijl Pocket 23 Apr-2 May 45 ► Leer 28-29 Apr 45 ► Bad Zwischenahn 23 Apr-4 May 45 ► Oldenburg 27 Apr-5 May 45

Korean War ► !Si:!P.Y.Q!Jg 21-25 Apr 51

Domestic Mssions

► FLQ Crisis

International Mssions

\iietnam 1973 Sinai 1986-

PeacekeeRi!Jg

► UNMOGIP India 1948-1979 ► UNTSO Israel 1948-► UNEF Egypt 1956-1967 ► UNOGIL Lebanon 1958 .... ► ONUC Congo 1960-1964 ► UNYOM Yemen 1963-1964 ► UNTEA W. N. Guinea 1963-1964 ► UNIFCYP Cyprus 1964-► DOMREP D. Republic 1965-1966 ► UNIPOM Kashmir 1965-1966 ► UNEFME Egypt 1973-1979 ► UNDOF Golan 1974-► UNIFIL Lebanon 1978 ► UNGOMAP Afghanistan 1988-90 ► UNIIMOG Iran-Iraq 1988-1991 ► UNTAG Namibia 1989-1990 ► ONUCA C. America 1989-1992 ► UNIKOM Kuwait 1991 ►MINURSO W. Sahara 1991 ► ONUSAL El Salvador 1991 .... ► UNAMIC Cambodia 1991-1992 ► UNAVEM II Angola 1991-1997 ► UNPROFOR Yugosla. 1992-1995 ►UNTAC Cambodia 1992-1993 ► UNOSOM Somalia 1992-1993 ► ONUMOZ Mozambiq. 1993-1994 ► UNOMUR Rwanda 1993 ► UNAMIR Rwanda 1993-1996 ► UNMIH Haiti 1993-1996 ► UNMIBH Bosnia/Herz.1993-1996

The British 7th Armoured Division Action at Villers-Bocage on 13 June 1944. CLY=Countyof London Yeomanry; RB-Rifle Brigade; QRR=Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey)

SS s.Pz.Abt 101=SS schwere Panzer Abteilung 101 (SS Heavy Tank Battalion 101)

It became clear to Montgomery that the difficult Normandy bocage, which was characterized by network. fields surrounded by extremely substantial hedgerows with sunken lanes running between, was practi< ground for any force to defend ... Montgomery decided ... the next offensive would be a big one. He would wo, completely fresh units untried in battle, consisting of two infantry divisions, one armoured division and two in< armoured brigades, against a narrow front and bludgeon his way through the German line. The main effort to be to the west of Caen and it would unleash 60,000 men, 600 tanks and 300 guns on the enemy. l commander of 21st Army Group could assemble this force, however, the weather turned against him. 5

► UNMOP Prevlaka 1996-2001 The worst summer storm to break in the channel in 40 years blew in on 19 June and caused disruptions in supply ur ► UNSMIH Haiti 1996-1997 and a half days, bringing to a halt major operations on the Continent. Aside from also ceasing air support mission ► MINUGUA GuatemHala_1

199994-7

1997 artificial harbours erected in Normandy was put out of commission and the second, in the British sector, v ► UNTMIH aItI ....

6 ►MIPONUH Haiti 1997 .... damaged. ►MINURCA C.Afr.Rep. 1998-1999 ► INTERFET E. Tim or 1999-2000 ► UNAMSIL Sie. Leone 1999-2005 ► UNTAET E. Timar 1999-2000

Exercises

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Operation EPSOM kicked off what is referred to in the Canadian official histories as the Battle of the Odon in summer storm. The plan was to encircle Caen by seizing high ground between Fontenay and Rauray with XXX Co1 firm base between the rivers Odon and Orne for the 11th Armoured Division to exploit. The second phase of the ope the 3rd Canadian Division and 51st Highland Division, under I British Corps, taking Carpiquet and encircling Caen the event, only the first phase of the operation was executed; Cheux was taken and XXX Corps reached the Odo They did not however reach Evrecy, nor establish a strong position between the Odon and Orne, though the positions created did manage to draw even more German armour to the British front. While the second phas1 cancelled, the plan to take Carpiquet with the 3rd Canadian Division was only postponed, and on 4 July, went WINDSOR.7

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The Canadians in Normandy in Early July

By early July 1944, then, Caen still remained in German hands. The last major Canadian offensive action had be Pat!)'. in the middle of June. while the tactical headquarters of 1st Canadian Army had arrived on the Continent in June, there had been no room in the bridgehead to activate it. The 2nd Canadian Infantry Division was also begir France, and the first combat units would disembark on 7 July along with the headquarters of 2nd Canadian Corps.

Operation CHARNWOOD

Planning for Operation CHARNWOOD had begun before WINDSOR (the attack on Carpiquet which occurred on 4 J conference had taken place on the 2nd of July. The order by I British Corps outlining the plan for the attack was iss July, describing the objective as clearing Caen south to the Caen-Bayeux rail crossings over the Orne, then alon intersection with the Canal de Caen and along the canal. Three divisions were to advance on the city - 3rd (Staffordshire), newly arrived in Normandy, and the 3rd British. Artillery support in addition to the divisional artille and 4th Army Groups, Royal Artillery as well as naval gunfire from HMS Rodney, Roberts, Belfast and Emerald. tactical bombers on the British front in Normandy had comeon 30 June 1944 when 1100 tons of bombs were dn Bocage to interdict German tanks assembling to take part in the Odon fighting. Controversially, heavy bombers wer assault on Caen as well.

Field-Marshal Montgomery has written, "The plan involved an assault against well organized and mutually i

positions based on a number of small villages which lay in an arc north and north-west of the city, and, in v strength of these defences, I decided to seek the assistance of Bomber Command RAF in a close support r battlefield .... The Supreme Commander supported my request for the assistance of Bomber Command, an was readily accepted by Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Harris."

This part of the operation has proved to be controversial, both as to timing and targets. It was considere "bombline" for the heavy bombers should be at least 6000 yards from our leading troops. This probably large the decision as to the target to be assigned to Bomber Command, which was definedas four map squa, northern outskirts of Caen, amounting in fact to a rectangle some 4000 yards long by 1500 wide. This an include the fortified villages in the front line which our troops had to capture in the early stages of the opera/ were to be dealt with by the artillery. It appears that there were not actually a great many enemy defences i, attacked by the heavy bombers; but in Lord Montgomery's words, "In addition to the material damage, 1

hoped for from the effects of the percussion on the enemy defenders generally, and from the tremendous m on our own troops." It would obviously have been desirable that the Bomber Command attack should t immediately before the troops on the ground advanced; however, Lord Montgomery states that "owing to th forecast" it was necessary to carry out the bombing the previous evening. This point has been disputed. Th issued in Normandy on the morning of the 7th was not unfavourable, and in fact large forces of Bomber , operated over France during the following night. Be this as it may, the heavy bombers attacked between 10:30 p.m. on 7 July, while the ground operation began only at 4:20 the following morning.

In the fading light of evening the air attack came in. Like all such operations, it was tremendously impressiv1 Command "employed 467 bombers to drop 2,562 tons of bombs". In reply to an urgent inquiry from the Corps as to the results, the 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade replied, "Smoke and flame wonderful for morale",, later, "Everything to our front seems to be in flame. Cannot get anything more accurate." No bombs had falle1

There was no doubt at all of the bombing's results among our own troops. A message from The Highland Lig of Canada said, "The stuff going over now has really had an effect on the lads on the ground. It has impr morale 500 per cent." The effect on the enemy is more doubtful. The available contemporary German reco, do not include the diaries of the divisions and corps concerned) throw little direct light on the matter. The s officer of the 12th S.S. Panzer Division states that his formation "suffered only negligible casualties despii that numerous bombs fell in the assembly areas of the 2nd Panzer Battalion and the 3rd Battalion 26 Grenadier Regiment. Some tanks and armoured personnel carriers were toppled over or buried under d, houses, but after a short while nearly all of them were again ready for action." A 21st Army Group ii summary of 11 July, undoubtedly based upon the interrogation of prisoners, asserts, "The heavy bombing of decisive. 31 GAF [German Air Force} Regiment lost its headquarters and 16 GAF and 12 SS Panzer Divis deprived of rations and ammunition for the crucial morning which followed." The moral effect upon the Germ and particularly upon the Luftwaffe division, was probably very considerable. But the matter had a tragic at lamentable damage done to the city of Caen, and the inevitable casualties among French civilians. The t great, the city's university being among the buildings lost. Fortunately, the inhabitants had been partly evacL

the areas most heavily struck. The number of French casualties was apparently between 300 and 400. 8

Histories of the 12th SS note that "(t)he Allied aerial strike, meant to cut off the German troops defending Caen fror and supplies, did not disturb the main battle line of the 12th SS. And although numerous bombs fell in the assembly Panzer Battalion, the 3rd Battalion 26th Regiment and the divisional escort company, these formations incurred onl equipment and/or personnel." By now, in the wake of the loss of Carpiquet, this battle line was stretched thin in fr, division's last infantry reserves, the 3rd Battalion of Panzer Grenadier Regiment 26 and the divisional escort battalio behind the line of the 25th Panzer Grenadier Regiment. The right flank of the division proper had remained for the since 7 June and held a line from the Caen-Lue-sur-Mur rail line, extending in an arc to the west to Franqueville EPSOM the division was forced to extend the left flank south to Eterville. One regiment of the 1st SS Panzer D

loaned to the division to make up infantry losses, and one battalion was placed at Bretteville-sur-Odon at the start of

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BtettevUle~suriC>dt>p Hitler Youth positions in front of Caen. Divisional headquarters had moved to the Abbaye aux Dames in Caen.

The Battle for Caen

After the aerial bombardment of Caen on the night of 7 July, artillery of the British 8th Corps on the western part oft engage in long-range harrassment missions to interdict movement into the city from the south and southwest. At 2: supporting the 1st Corps started firing on villages behind the front line, including St. Contest, St. Germain-I, Lebisey, and Authie. Known German artillery batteries were also targeted.

At 0420hrs, 93 minutes before sunrise on 8 July, the artillery shifted to pre-assault barrage and concentration missio of the attack of the 59th and 3rd British Infantry Divisions. The day's attack was planned as follows:

• Phase I - British 3rd and 59th Divisions to capture Galmanche, La Bijude and Lebisey Wood.

• Phase II - 3rd Canadian Division, not involved in Phase I, to capture Chateau de St. Louet, Authie, immediately south of Buron. British divisions to advance in line.

• Phase Ill - 3rd Canadian Division to advance to line Franqueville-Ardenne. British divisions to advance in line

• Phase IV - all three divisions to secure Caen to the line of the Orne/Canal de Caen; 3rd Canadian Division to to clear remained of Carpiquet airfield

• Phase V - 3rd Canadian Division to complete Phase IV, British divisions to secure bridgeheads across 1

discretion .1 0

Affairs on the extreme left, about Lebisey, went well but in the centre the 12th SS Panzer Division fought and parties held out against the 59th in la Bijude and Galmanche. Similar struggles were soon developin~ and St. Contest, while no progress was being made between them where the way was barred by a trench s_ west of la Bijude. Seeing this, General Crocker told the 3rd British Division to push some armour forward on I ground (Point 64) just north of Caen and later in the morning he put his reserve (the 33rd Armoured Brigade) division's command.11

The earliest reports had been encouraging enough at 0630hrs to persuade General Crocker, the commander of Phase II to begin at 0730hrs. The 59th Division moved on St. Contest, Malan and Epron while the 3rd Canadian [

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http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/history /battlehonours/northweste ...

its attack on Gruchy and Buron, sending the 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade forward over the same ground on v. defeated on 7 June.

"Unbelievable" artillery concentrations on the enemy positions in the villages and in front of them prepared ti the brigade's advance. On the right, The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders had the mission Gruchy. The place was reported in Canadian hands at 9:38. Taking it had not been easy; but it was easie task in the adjoining sector on the left.

The forward companies of The Highland Light Infantry of Canada, advancing towards Buron, came un, artillery, mortar and machine-gun fire. They cleared the enemy's positions in front of the village, losing her; process, and then fought their way across the built-up area, assisted by tanks of the 27th Armoured Regim, arrival had been delayed by mines. Although it was reported at 8:30 a.m. that the H.L.I. 's forward troops were some of the enemy fought on all day among the rubble, and in fact the last survivors were not rooted oi following morning. In this area the 3rd Battalion, of the 25th S.S. Panzer Grenadier Regiment was fightin bitterness expected of the 12th S.S. Panzer Division; and the Canadians got the impression that the g Gruchy when evicted had retired into Buron to strengthen the defence there. The Highland Light Infantry we their first real battle at Buron, and it proved to be, like the North Shore's at Carpiquet, their bloodiest of the , The battalion's casualties on 8 July amounted to 262, of which 62 were fatal; its commander, Lt.-Col. F. M was among the wounded, but the day also brought him the D.S.O. Not only was Buron taken, but a very 1 armoured counter-attack late in the morning was beaten off with the efficient assistance of two troops of the ~ Tank Battery Royal Artillery and the supporting squadron of the Sherbrooke Fusiliers Regiment. Fourtee1 tanks were reported destroyed. 12

At 0955hrs the Canadian divisional commander ordered the 9th Canadian Brigade to proceed to the next stage despite the fact that resistance was still being offered from Buron, the attack on Authie and the Chateau de St. Le The Chateau fell to The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders in the early afternoon, and The No Highlanders took Authie, where they had suffered so heavily on 0+1. The Canadians at Carpiquet now sa·

withdrawing in disorder and the 7th Brigade was free to initiate Phase Ill, stepping off at 1830.13

The Canadian Scottish, like the previous units that day; were caught by heavy fire as they moved up to the , As they began their attack they came under severe flanking fire from the village of Bitot which the 59th Di not yet captured. With insouciant elan the Can Scots charged the last 100 yards as the barrage lifted and pit the enemy position. Then, to add to their problems, the Victorians came under fire from the Abbaye Adrenne Reginas had not yet silenced. The street fighting was bitter and grim. The 1st Hussars' tanks and Can S, teams operated to great effect, knocking out half a dozen enemy tanks and capturing another. By nightfall cost, Gussy was theirs. 14

As at Buron, after the infantry had been defeated at Cussy, German tanks had counter-attacked, per their stc doctrine. The 12th SS were showing a proclivity not to surrender; the official history noted that at Cussy, the C

"buried more than one German officer who had fought among his troops "to the bitter end"."15

The Abbaye d'Ardenne, while no longer the divisional headquarters (which had moved to the city of Caen sina Canadian prisoners in June), was still the command post of the 25th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment, and wa company of Panther tanks and the remnants of the 3rd Battalion, 1st SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment (of the 1st S~ ("Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"). Under the personal direction of divisional commander Kurt Meyer, the attack by

Regiment on the Abbey was brought to a standstill, and remained in enemy hands until after dark, when the survivo1

The 16th Luftwaffe Field Division was being as roughly handled as the 12th SS had been. The 16th was the first ( division to meet the enemy in North-West Europe (although several of the German Air Force parachute units against the Americans). The 16th Field Division had moved from the Netherlands via Paris by rail in mid-June w even delay, replacing part of the 21st Panzer Division in the line north of Caen. Point 64, mentioned above, , dominating the sector of the 16th Division and was bombarded by naval vessels 25,000 yards distant on the afterr part of the opening preparation for CHARNWOOD. The troops of the division were "badly mauled" in the words official history and in the wake of the 3rd British Division the 16th Division was "virtually destroyed" in the words o which noted that " ... the division has a whole lost 75 per cent of its strength in the few days of fighting (around Cae1

of the division retreated across the Orne River and encamped with 21. P(anzer) D(ivision)."17

Another historian further analyzed the losses of the 16th Luftwaffe Field Division:

Those elements of the division that were involved in Operation Charnwood were badly hit. It was reported infantry units commited west of the Orne River suffered 75% casualties. This is a high percentage, but tt probably only deployed one regiment west of the Orne, or eight companies (of its two component regiments) source discusses) the companies only had a rifle strength of 60-70 men each, there were only about 5( involved from the division. The infantry strength was probably somewhat higher, since reinforcements may I brought forward during the operation. On 9 July eight Sturmgesch0tz Ills were (also) sent to the division. 18

In hopes of reaching the Orne River bridges before the Germans could destroy them, Major-General Rod Keller, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, ordered armoured cars from the British Inns of Court Regiment and his 0111

Reconnaissance Regiment (17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars) to push down the Caen-Bayeux higt

Germain-la-Blanche-Herbe, which it did before being stopped by mines and snipers at nightfall.19

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Night was falling: the two wings of the attack were now a bare two miles apart and approaching each c situation of the Germans in Caen was desperate and made nonsense of the Filhrer's policy of nev circumstance permitting any withdrawal. Rommel (commander of Army Group B) had come forward to E (commander of Panzer Group West) headquarters that very afternoon. By nightfall it had become clear th6 Luftwaffe Division had 'suffered seventy-five percent casualties': in actual fact all its battalion commanders either killed or wounded and it had lost twenty tanks. 12th SS Panzer Division had Jost sixty-five out of its 15( its anti-tank guns and all its infantry except the equivalent of a battalion. Kluge (Oberbefehlshaber West Army Command in the West) refused Eberbach permission to commit the 1st SS Panzer Division in Caen t the situation there. Rommel therefore ordered what remained of the heavy weapons in Caen to pull back bank of the Orne that very night and to save everybody's face, forbade what remained of the two divisions tc except 'in the event of an enemy attack with superior forces. •20

On the morning of 9 July, the 59th Division settled into the villages north of Caen, "pinched out" by the 3rd British Canadian Division, which was meeting little opposition as it worked into the city. One squadron of the 7th Canadian working under the Inns of Court reached the Orne bridges by 1700hrs, finding one intact, but blocked by rubble enemy fire, denying I British Corps their bridgehead over the river. The infantry were not far behind, and The Storm Glengarry Highlanders had been first to enter the city with tanks of The Sherbrooke Fusilier Regiment in support. T Carpiquet airfield - Operation TROUSERS - had finally gone off during the morning, with troops reported on tt 1115hrs, with little opposition having been faced.

Thirty-three days after intended (it had been a D-Day objective), Caen was in Allied hands. Much of central Caen h on D-Day and D+1 to prevent German road and rail movement, and on 7 July additional damage had levelled Caen.

Happily, however, one portion of the city had been little damaged. This was the "island of refuge" about church of St. Etienne (Abbaye-aux-Hommes) and the Hopital du Bon Sauveur. As early as 12 June, it ap, Resistance forces and the French authorities in Caen contrived to send messengers through the lines to command, informing it that thousands of refugees were gathered in this area and begging that it should be The French record that assurances were duly given, and in fact this part of the city went almost untouched struggle, and great numbers of Jives were saved in consequence.

In spite of their dreadful experience, the people of Caen greeted their liberators in a manner which our tro very moving. And the Caennais were apparently particularly delighted to find their city freed in part by Canada. The historians of Caen during the siege thus describe the events of 9 July:

At 2:30 p.m., at last, the first Canadians reached the Place Fontette, advancing as skirmishers, hugg the walls, rifles and tommy guns at the ready.

All Caen was in the streets to greet them. These are Canadians, of all the Allies the closest to us; m, of them speak French. The joy is great and yet restrained. People-the sort of people who conside the battle of Normandy nothing but a military promenade-have reproached us for not having fallen the necks of our liberators. Those people forget the Calvary that we had been undergoing since the of June.

No Canadian unit recorded any complaint of the warmth of the welcome; and the 1st Corps situation report f remarked, "Inhabitants enthusiastic at Allied entry," The people of Caen had suffered; the liberators had su; The final phase of the battle for the city had been as bloody as its predecessors. The losses of The High Infantry of Canada on B July have already been noticed (above, page 161); no other unit lost so heavily, bu; battalions of the 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade together had 547 battle casualties on 8 July and 69 more c Total Canadian casualties for the theatre on the two days were 1194, of which 330 were fatal. This was he the Joss on D Day. Although the greater part of Caen had been liberated, the enemy was sti/1 in the souther. of the city, across the Orne. The only foothold the Allies possessed beyond the river was that seized by th, troops on 6 June. The task of breaking out into the open country to the south-east, so Jong desired by the air airfields, was still ahead. 21

Aftermath

The American July Offensive had started on 3 July, prompting German forces to shift westward as they reali; offensive was underway. Nonetheless, still wary of a direct assault from Caen to Paris, the Germans prepared for th operations in the Caen area on 8 July while still anticipating a second amphibious landing in the Pas de Calais. Re in place in the Calais area, while the Germans struggled to relieve their armoured forces of the burden of mannin! order that they might be concentrated to the rear and assembled for a major counter-offensive. On 7 July, Panz1 west to deal with the American offensive on the Vire, joining the 2nd SS Panzer Division. These movements ran cc Montgomery's policy of drawing armour to the east and Caen, and the tempo of operations was therefore not slacke

The bridgehead across the Odon, established in EPSOM, was ordered expanded and on 10 July Operation JUPIT towards Hill 112. The Germans defended it fiercely and prevented the British 43rd Division from fully taking either it Maltot to the east. The 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade had come under command for the operation, but played a min

On 11 July, the 2nd Canadian Corps became operational, taking over 8,000 yards of front, with the 2nd and 3rd C Divisions, 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade, and 2nd Canadian Army Group Royal Artillery under command.22

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The 8th Canadian Reconnaissance Regiment (14th Canadian Hussars), the reconnaissance unit of the 2nd C Division, landed in France on 6 July, moved to Carpiquet on 11 July, and took up positions at Le Mesnil, as dismou a week, the regiment fought as infantry, suffering heavy casualties before moving to Le Villoneuve, then to Ifs infantry. They also received a battle honour for "Caen."

Battle Honour

The following Canadian units were awarded the Battle Honour "Caen" for participation in these actions:

• 2nd Canadian Division

• 8th Canadian Reconnaissance Regiment (14th Canadian Hussars)

• 3rd Canadian Division

• 7th Canadian Reconnaissance Regiment (17th Duke of York:s Royal Canadian Hussars) • The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (MG) -

• 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade

• The Royal Winnipeg Rifles • The Regina Rifle Regiment • The Canadian Scottish Regiment -111 ath Canadian Infantry Brigade

• The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada • Le Regiment de la Chaudiere • The North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment -

• 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade

• The Highland Light Infantry of Canada • The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders • The North Nova Scotia Highlanders

Notes

1. Ford, Ken Caen 1944: Montgomery's Breakout Attempt (Osprey Publishing Ltd., Botley, Oxford, UK, 2004) ISBN 1-84176-625-9 p.8 2. Ellis, L.F. Victory in the West: Volume I The Battle of Normandy (Queen's Printer, 1962 - reprint by The Naval and Mlitary Press Ltd, UckliE

2004) ISBN 1-845740-58-0 p.247 3. Essame, H. Normandy Bridgehead (Ballantine Books Inc., New York, NY, 1970) ISBN 345-02071-5-100 p.62 4. Sources vary on losses, the figure of 15 German losses is the highest and comes from Fortin, Ludovic British Tanks in Normandy (Histoin

France, 2005) ISBN 2-915239-33-9 p.6 5. Ford, Ibid, p.34 6. Stacey, C.P. Canada's Battle in Normandy: The Canadian Army's Share in the Operations, 6 June - 1 September 1944 (King's Printer, Otta 7. McKay, A Donald Gaudeamus Jgitur "Therefore Rejoice" (Bunker to Bunker Books, Calgary, AB, 2005) ISBN 1894255534 pp.143-144 8. Stacey, C.P. Official History of the Canadian Army in the Second World War: Volume Ill: The Victory Campaign: The Operations ii

1944-45 (Queen's Printer, Ottawa, ON, 1960) pp.159-160 9. Luther, Craig W.H. Blood and Honor: The History of the 12th SS Panzer Division "Hitler Youth", 1943-1945 (R. James Bender Publishing

ISBN 0-912138-38-6 pp.221-223; Luther cites Meyer, H. Kriegsgeschichte, p.253; Fragebogen, Willy Kretzchmar. 10. Stacey, Ibid, p.160 11. Ellis, Ibid, p.314 12. Stacey, Ibid, pp.160-161 13. Ibid, p.161 14. McKay, Ibid, p.148 15. Stacey, Ibid, p.161 16. Ibid 17. Ruffner, Kevin Courtney Luftwaffe Field Divisions 1941-45 (Osprey Publishing Ltd., London, UK, 1990) ISBN 1-85532-100-9 p.21 18. Zetterling, Niklas Normandy 1944: German Military Organization, Combat Power and Organizational Effectiveness (J.J. Federowicz Put

MB, 2000) ISBN 0-921991-56-8 p.227 19. Stacey, Ibid, p.162 20. Essame, Ibid, p.110 21. Stacey, Ibid, p.163 22. Ibid, pp.163-166

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