The Germans and The Dieppe Raid

The Germans And The Dieppe Raid is a true gem, providing Second World War history enthusiasts with a unique look at how in August of 1942 a hardly imposing German defensive grouping defeated a far better trained and equipped Allied raiding force. What's more, the book offers excellent insight into how the course and outcome of this battle shaped the German approach to defending occupied France against the far more famous Allied invasion set to come in June of 1944.

The August 19, 1942 Dieppe Raid is pretty well known. However, the German defensive effort that crushed this raid (code named Operation JUBILEE) has been poorly understood in the English speaking world. That is no longer true, and thanks to the admirable research and work of James Shelley. The author also crafts a gripping narrative, even though the outcome of this single-day battle was never in doubt. The brainchild of Lord Louis Mountbatten, Operation JUBILEE couldn't have failed worse than it did. Of the 6,100 soldiers and marines dispatched by the Allies, the majority were killed or taken prisoner of war. The Canadian infantry forming the bulk of the raiding party suffered particularly grievous losses; with fewer than half able to retreat from the invasion beaches and return to England (a mere 2,211 of the 4,963 Canadians in the raid were able to escape).

The Allied raid also featured elite American rangers, British commando's, and enormous advantages in naval and air power. And yet, a decidedly second-rate "static" infantry division of the German army (backed by considerable air support - including the elite aircrews from the famed JG26) had no trouble throwing the Allies back into the sea. But how? The great strength of Shelley's book is in not only answering that question, and analyzing the decision-making of those involved in the battle; but providing a detailed look at the lessons the Germans drew from this experience. Lessons they put to use in turning the "Atlantic Wall" into something more than a mere propaganda slogan (with Joseph Goebbels’ impressive propaganda apparatus and its efforts to trumpet the victory and shape public opinion also covered in depth within these pages).

This is a thoroughly enjoyable and well-researched book. One I have no hesitation in recommending.