The Aftermath of the Disaster at Dieppe (Operation Jubilee), France 19th August 1942

A set of nine large format black and white sepia photographs, each circa 10 by 8 inches on glossy photographic paper, which are blown up copies of the originals so there is some loss of detail, but they are quite old and very evocative. Clearly taken by the Germans immediately after the battle. They show the carnage of the failed raid, stranded landing craft, knocked out Canadian Churchill tanks, dead allied soldiers and commandos and curious German soldiers examining the remains of the whole sorry affair. Useful for a medal display / exhibition, or memorial / school project. Of Canadian / special forces interest.

Of the nearly 5,000-strong Canadian contingent, 3,367 were killed, wounded or taken prisoner. The 1,000 British Commandos lost 247 men. The Royal Navy lost the destroyer Berkeley (on the return crossing, it was hit by bombs from a Fw 190 and then scuttled by Albrighton) and 33 landing craft, suffering 550 dead and wounded. The RAF lost 106 aircraft. RAF Air Sea Rescue Services picked up around 20 pilots at the loss of three of Dover's five High Speed Launches. Among the RAF losses, six RAF aircraft had been shot down by gunners on their own side, one Typhoon was shot down by a Spitfire and two others were lost when their tails broke off (a structural issue with early Typhoons), and two Spitfires collided during the withdrawal across the Channel.

The Germans suffered 591 casualties, 322 fatal and 280 wounded, 48 aircraft and one patrol boat. Of the 50 US Army Rangers serving in Commando units, six were killed, seven wounded and four captured.

The losses at Dieppe were claimed to be a necessary evil. Mountbatten later justified the raid by arguing that lessons learned at Dieppe in 1942 were put to good use later in the war. He later claimed, "I have no doubt that the Battle of Normandy was won on the beaches of Dieppe. For every man who died in Dieppe, at least 10 more must have been spared in Normandy in 1944." In direct response to the raid on Dieppe, Churchill remarked that "My Impression of 'Jubilee' is that the results fully justified the heavy cost" and that it "was a Canadian contribution of the greatest significance to final victory."

To others, especially Canadians, it was a major disaster. The exception was the success gained by the battle-hardened British commandos against the coast artillery batteries near Varengeville.

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Code: 64181