The Normandy Campaign about:reader?url=https://www.junobeach.org/canada-in-wwii/article ... junobeach.org The Normandy Campaign 22-27 minute s Canada in the Second World War The Normandy Campaign Extending the Bridgehead, June 7th - July 4th, 1944 Personnel of the Royal Canadian Artillery with a 17-pounder anti­ tank gun in Normandy, 22 June 1944. Photo by Ken Bell. Department of National Defence I National Archives of Canada, PA- 169273. The day following the Normandy landing, the 9th Infantry Brigade led the march towards Carpiquet where an airfield had been designated as the objective. The North Nova Scotia Highlanders, supported by the 27th Armoured Regiment (Sherbrooke Fusiliers) captured the village of Buron but a few kilometres further south ran into a German counter-offensive. The Canadians were facing the 12th SS Panzer Division (Hitlerjugend), a unit of young - mostly 18- year olds - but fanatical soldiers. The North Nova Scotia Highlanders put up a fierce fight but were finally forced to pull back. Near Authie, a neighbouring village, black smoke rose in column from the burning debris of the Sherbrooke Fusiliers' tanks, decimated by the German Panthers. rThe enemy then engaged our fire from BURON with 75, 88s, 1 of 12 2021-03-02, 4:13 p.m. The Normandy Campaign about:reader?url=https://www.junobeach.org/canada-in-wwii/article ... mortars and everything they had. Under this fire enemy infantry advanced and penetrated the forward slit trenches of D Company. It was impossible to stop them ... North Nova Scotia Highlanders, War Dia[Y. 7 June 1944 During the next couple of days, Canadians could hardly move without meeting with stubborn resistance from German divisions. Fierce fighting ensued, and costly for both sides in human lives and in material. • June 8th: counter-offensive at Putot-en-Bessin and Norrey. Putot was captured by the Germans during the afternoon and retaken by 7th Brigade units. • June 8th-9th: counter-offensive at Bretteville-l'Orgueilleuse. Eventful night combat where Canadians with their PIAT successfully drove back the Panther tanks, retaining Bretteville. • June 11th: Canadian assault on le Mesnil-Patry. Canadians were driven back after violent combat; the Queen's Own Rifle and the 1st Hussars suffering heavy casualties. I am writing this at the request of my Squadron Leader for information it may give to him and others re missing persons and tactical and technical data. I knew nothing of the situation, saw little of the action, and was quite unnerved and exhausted when I left my tank ... Account of ersonal ex eriences in action on Sun 11 Jun 44 by_ Troo12er AO. Dodds, 6 Canadian Armoured Regiment (1st Hussars Lance Corporal W.J. Curtis, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps, fixes the burned leg of a French boy, while his young brother looks on. Between Colomby-sur-Thaon and Villons-les-Buissons, Normandy, 19 June 1944. Photo by Ken Bell. Department of National Defence I National Archives of Canada, PA-141703. After the failure of the operation at le Mesnil-Patry, Canadian troops consolidated their positions, taking a pause for several weeks. Actually June 11th was a turning point in Allied operations: the US, 2 of 12 2021-03-02, 4:13 p.m. The Normandy Campaign about:reader?url=https://www.junobeach.org/canada-in-wwii/article ... British and Canadian bridgeheads were now linked to one another. Some 326,000 men, 45,000 vehicles and over 104,000 tonnes of supplies had been shipped to the continent, and artificial harbours being built at Arromanches and Saint-Laurent were nearing completion. The air force had its own airfields on French soil, from which Spitfire and Typhoon fighters could take off and target any enemy position or vehicle they may encounter on the road or in the countryside. In the last two weeks of June, the Anglo-Canadian front hardly moved, to the extent that public opinion began to question the success of the operation and the importance of casualties. Actually the slowing down was part of General Montgome[Y.'s strategy: by retaining elite Panzer divisions on the Anglo-Canadian front, he would help the breakthrough planned by the US forces, the capture of Caen being a key element of that strategy. That city was still occupied by the Germans and was an obstacle to the progression of the 21st Army Group towards the Seine. No 412 Squadron Spitfires at Field Base B4 near Beny-sur-Mer, shortly after D-Day. National Defence Image Library, PL 30268. Combat-tested Canadian soldiers had by then little in common with the nicely lined-up troops that generals proudly inspected a month earlier. They were now experienced, rugged-looking men who knew how to hide, how to disperse rapidly when needed, how to spot snipers and landmines. When shells and bullet rained around them and there was nothing left but to pray, they still knew how to avoid the worst. They had become survivors. Caen, July 4th - 21st, 1944 On July 4th, 1944, in preparation for the move on Caen, Major­ General Rod Keller sent four regiments against the village of Carpiquet and its airfield: the North Shore Regiment, the Queen's Own Rifles, the Regiment de la Chaudiere and the Royal Winnipeg Rifles. They were supported by the tanks of the Fort Garry Horse and by the whole artillery of the 3rd Division. As they moved through wheat fields, Canadian infantrymen encountered a massive barrage of artillery and mortar fire. Soldiers fell, mowed down by death. Near the hangars, concealed in concrete pillboxes and bunkers that defended the airfield, Germans fired relentlessly at the 3 of 12 2021-03-02, 4:13 p.m. The Normandy Campaign about:reader?url=https://www.junobeach.org/canada-in-wwii/article ... approaching Canadian troops. The village and some hangars were finally captured by the 3rd Division after intense combat and retained despite the following counter-attacks. Victory was still incomplete, though, as hangars on the southern side remained in enemy hands. Canadians held fast for several days under intermittent mortar and artillery fire before the Germans finally abandoned their position and the Carpiquet airfield. Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa machine gunners firing through a hedge during the attack on Carpiquet, July 4th, 1944. Photo by Donald I. Grant. Department of National Defence I National Archives of Canada, PA-138359. In preparation for the assault on Caen, the Allies ordered massive air strikes. On July 7th at 2230, waves of heavy bombers dropped 2,561 tonnes of bombs on the city. At dawn, only smouldering ruins could be seen; a useless destruction since German troops had already retreated and settled in the vicinity. After the bombings, British artillery continued pounding Caen as well as every enemy artillery position that could be located . In the morning of July 8th, the British divisions started off, and a few hours later, on signal, the 3rd Canadian Division did the same thing, attacking Gruchy and Buron . Canadian troops recaptured familiar sites such as Authie and the Abbaye d'Ardennes. Resistance was fierce; on the battlefield flesh was torn by exploding landmines, shredded by shrapnel, pierced by bullets or charred in burning tanks. The Germans gave orders to evacuate Caen on July 9th around 0300. The city was liberated but only in part: the enemy still held the southern sector on the other side of the Orne River. Canadian losses during this operation amounted to 330 men killed and 864 wounded , more than on D-Day. A glimmer of hope: the church of Saint-Etienne at the Abbaye-aux-Hommes, where thousands of civilians had taken refuge had been spared. 4 of 12 2021-03-02, 4: 13 p.m. The Normandy Campaign about:reader?url=https :/ /www.junobeach.org/ canada-in-wwii/ article ... While fighting continued around Caen, Lieutenant-Colonel Gu Y. Simonds set up the HQ of II Canadian Corps in Amblie. Under Major-General Charles Foulkes, the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division also was stationed in Normandy, thus completing the Corps' strength. Canadian forces were therefore quite significantly increased when they prepared their assault on the region south east of Caen , towards Bourguebus and Falaise. For the first time in history, Canadian soldiers were fighting under their very own colours. The Canadian Flag in Normand,'. Canadian troops of the 3rd Infantry Division entering Caen, Normandy, after heavy bombing by Allied aircrafts and artillery, 10 July 1944. Photo by Harold G. Aikman. Department of National Defence I National Archives of Canada, PA-116510. On July 18th, 1944, at day break, an air raid that dropped 7,700 tonnes of bombs, synchronized with counter-battery fire from 33 artillery regiments preceded the crossing of the Orne River by the British and the Canadians, codenamed Operation Atlantic. II Canadian Corps crossed the river near Caen and captured first Colombelles, then Faubourg-de-Vaucelles. Its progression was through the industrial area outside Caen . Unfortunately the bombings did not abate the Germans' firepower as hoped. German divisions held strong positions, such as the Verrieres Ridge near Route nationale 158, from which well-concealed tanks and guns took shots at Allied armoured vehicles and decimated infantry companies. The Canadians paid a heavy tribute but were able to 5 of 12 202 1-03-02, 4:13 p.m. The Normandy Campaign about:reader?url=https ://www.junobeach.org/canada- in-wwi i/ article ... seize neighbouring villages, Saint-Andre-sur-Orne, Ifs and Bourguebus. But the Verrieres Ridge remained impregnable. Tuesday, July 18, 1944: pitch dark and we frantically started digging in hard stone ground. Bad night - little sleep - Jerry shells and mortars - up in morning to find had slept beside latrine.