The Normandy Invasion/Juno Beach Who: Allied Troops (Canadians, British and United States) vs the Germans What
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- Allies
- Germany
- By the end of 1940 14 Corvettes were created to help attack U-Boats
- December 1941 United States enters WWII
- More training, equipment and air cover as a result
- *May 1945 Battle of the Atlantic ends when Germany surrenders*
| Major Battles of World War II and Canada’s Involvement
Student Handout The Normandy Invasion/Juno Beach Who: Allied Troops (Canadians, British and United States) vs. the Germans What: Allies were trying to take back France from the Germans Where: Normandy, France When: June 6th, 1944 – August 29th, 1944 Why: The Germans had taken over France Beaches Americans: Utah and Omaha beaches British: Gold and Sword beaches Canadians: Juno beach
14,000 soldiers to land on beaches 450 to drop behind enemy line by parachute or gliders Royal Canadian Navy supplied ships and about 10,000 sailors Operations Operation Overlord: invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe Operation Neptune: naval and beach assault lines, involved synchronized attacks from land, sea and air Operation Fortitude: allies tricked Germans into thinking an attack on Calais Germans position weaker 7th army at Normandy, strong 15th army at Calais Canadian Casualties Injured and/or dead: 18,444 Dead: 5,021 Canadians on Juno Beach 14,000 Canadians on Juno Beach on D-Day Heavy German force onshore, lots of machine gun fire Fought into towns (Berieres, Courseulles and St. Aubin), then advanved more inland Stormed pillboxes and annihilated German strong points First wave of soldiers had the most casualties Key Words D-Day: The Day of Days Casualty: “a member of the armed forces lost to service through death, wounds, sickness, capture, or because his or her whereabouts or condition cannot be determined.” Beachhead: “a secure initial position that has been gained and can be used for further advancement” Pillboxes: “a small, low structure of reinforced concrete, enclosing machine guns, and employed as a minor fortress in warfare” The Battle of the Atlantic What was the Battle of the Atlantic? •From 1939-1945 (during WWII) •A war at sea, little land fighting •Germany tried to redo what they did in WWI by cutting Britain supplies from U.S. and overseas •European Axis (Germans) versus the Allies (Britain, United States, and Canada) •Wanted to keep open sea routes between the US and Britain •War between German U-Boats and Allied antisubmarine forces •Germans sunk the Allied shipping more than the British could rebuild it •British Government took control of all merchant ships •Escorted by sea and air
AlliesOwned merchant ships. Some used ASDIC technology. •Defense tactics (military forces overseas) •Convoy routing (secure sea movements) •Blockade the Germans •Dispersed ships widely •Convoys had to be escorted across entire ocean because of large amount of U-boats (by sea and air). GermanyOwned U-Boats (submarines). Used wolfpack tactics. •wanted to stop Allied shipping •Defeat Britain by using naval blockade to prevent getting war materials •Use naval blockade •Destroy convoy and escort ships
How Canada specifically was involved…• Canada’s navy started small, eventually grew by the end of 1945 •Could do little to help, patrol coastline areas •Naval expansion in 1940 •Important to British Empire, had strong ties so felt the need to help fight and were expected to as well •Germans used wolfpack to attack convoys in mid Atlantic Canada •Canada escorted convoys between Newfoundland and Britain, the convoys had valuable supplies and men needed for the war this was why Canada was essential; this was the key to winning the war * •Canadians worked in extreme conditions (unqualified crew, small boats, rough waters, etc.) • U-Boats were having success, Canada was not. Later this changed. •In 1943 Britain allowed Royal Navy anti-submarine warfare to take over
•RCAF heavily involved in flying patrols, air support to the Newfoundland Escort Force •March 1943 Atlantic Convoy Conference •Received better training, equipment, and air support which helped Allies start to take the lead •June 4, 1944 access to German information through code books
•Overall Canada’s navy grew larger and became tightly-knit •Hard experience gave Canada’s navy a chance to grow stronger
September 16, 1939 First convoy sailed from Halifax escorted by destroyers St. Laurent and Saguenay. They escorted them to the middle of the Atlantic where British cruisers took over the job. 1939 Flying patrols in Newfoundland. 1940 1940 1st maritime patrol squadron started in Gander, Newfoundland. July 1940 Ocean shipping changed and went through the Irish Sea instead. September 2, 1940 U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt issued order transferring 50 useless U.S. Navy Destroyers to Royal Navy in exchange for leases on various British bases. The ships would cause valuable convoy escort duty. Canada received 6 destroyers (increased Canadian contribution). By the end of 1940 14 Corvettes were created to help attack U-Boats1941 January/February 1941 Allied shipping greatly affected. Spring 1941 Merchant ships sinking faster than could be replaced May 31, 1941 Commodore L.W. Murray was appointed commander of the Newfoundland Escort Force, ultimately commanding the Canadian corvettes. June 1941 Over 500 000 tons of Allied shipping lost. June 1941 Canadian destroyers in British waters returned to be used in Newfoundland. Summer 1941 Allies tactics improved causing more loss in U-boats. September 1941 Canadian naval forces came under American co-ordinating supervision instead of British Commander-in-chief (closer to situation). December 1941 United States enters WWIIDecember 8, 1941 United States declares war on Japan (after Pearl Harbour attack), weakens Atlantic anti-submarine defences 1942 Early 1942 Battle shifted to North American Seaboard. Germans attacked ships from the Caribbean to Halifax, and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Devastating affects. Canadian & U.S. Navy and RCAF used to survey and defend territory, still not enough people. Convoys used were valuable to the Allies.January 13, 1942 Operation Drumbeat started (campaign against Allied shipping in American waters). • Tankers were targets • 35 ships sunk near U.S. coast • U.S. Navy air patrols began hunting for submarines • Germany persistent on working in American waters (created underwater refuelling stations called “milk cows”) Summer 1942 Canadian ships have 4 victories over the Germans. Winter 1942-1943 Convoys needed, Germans still more powerful; overpowering. 1943 • Adolf Hitler disappointed in results; ordered termination of surface navy, increased U-Boat production. • Allied losses continued • Things eventually changed in favour of the Allies March 1943 Atlantic Convoy Conference (Britain, U.S. & Canada). Britain and Canada became responsible of the North Atlantic (led by Rear Admiral Murray commanding operations increased role of the RCN, important Canadian in the battle). More training, equipment and air cover as a resultApril 1943 U-boat losses increased. May 1943 The RCAF received new powerful boat equipment. Admiral Döntz halted attacks on North Atlantic convoys because of U-Boat losses. 1944 Fall of 1943-1944 The Germans became more powerful after the invention of the acoustic torpedo and schnokel for their U-Boats. RCAF & RCN eventually kept their lead as more seamen crossed the Atlantic to fight off the Germans. 1944 1944-1945 Battle of the Atlantic less intense. June 4, 1944 North African coast, U.S. Navy “hunter-killer” group (escort carrier Guadalcanal and 5 destroyers) attacked U-505. Germans tried to scuttle boat, but U.S. sailors boarded vessel, and saved it from sinking. Won an enemy prize and code books were recovered to help locate U-Boats, which put the Allies at an advantage. 1945 *May 1945 Battle of the Atlantic ends when Germany surrenders*June 1944 role of Atlantic fleets of U.S. Navy and Royal Navy became to support Operation Overload: D-day invasion. Allied Atlantic naval units used for convoy escorting. 
In terms of ships, here are some statistics… Total Allied Losses Total U-Boat Losses 1 315 Battle of Dieppe -The Battle of Dieppe took place on the western coast of France. -Canadians, Americans, British and the Germans were all involved. -5000 out of the 6100 allies were Canadian. -France has been taken over by Germany -British, Canadians and Americans respond as allies. -Allies were there mainly to test new technology and battle strategies. -Were trying to send troops on land by boat. -The whole battle was planned at the British Headquarters -Gen. Bernard Law Montgomery was in command at the time. -The plan was to capture the port for a short period of time and interrogate Germans for information. -August 19, 1942 -Early morning, 4 flanks were intended to attack the port within half an hour. -The key factor in this attack was the element of surprise. -The Landing ships were seen by a small German convoy out on the water. -The element of surprise was ruined -When the Allies landed (late) on the beaches of Dieppe the Germans were ready. -Over 500 men killed when they first landed. -Initially the south Saskatchewan regiment located at the west met light resistance. -As they moved toward the city the fighting increased. -The Royal Hamilton Infantry and the Essex Scottish Regiment landed on the main beach in Dieppe and were met by German machine-gun fire. -Even though the Germans were wildly out numbered they overtook the allies on the beaches of Dieppe. -At 11am the General gave orders to withdraw. -There were an estimated 3350 casualties including 1974 prisoners taken and 900 Canadians killed. -RCAF lost 13 planes and 10 pilots. -RAF lost 106 planes and 81 pilots -In all of WW2 it was the highest total of losses for the RCAF and RAF.
-The Battle of Hong Kong started December 8th, 1941. -The day after Pearl Harbor. -British Canadian and the Hong Kong Volunteer Defense Forces fought against the Japanese. -The Royal Rifles of Canada (from Quebec) and the Winnipeg Grenadiers were the first Canadian ground units to see action in WW2. -They were also declared unfit for action due to lack of training. -The Japanese launched an attack on Hong Kong. -Japanese had 52000 troops while the allies had 14000. -On the first day, Japanese had advantage in the air. -A Japanese aircraft attacked the Kai Tak airport and destroyed the few RAF planes. -The Winnipeg Grenadiers were stationed on the Chinese mainland to hold off Japanese back. -The allies had underestimated the Japanese, within a couple of hours the Japanese had taken control of the mainland. -General Maltby was in charge of the mainland troops. -Was captured by the Japanese in 1945 and held as a prisoner of war. -On December 11th, the mainland troops retreated to the island. -The evacuation was successful and they were able to remove most of their equipment out. -December 13th the allies rejected the Japanese demand for surrender. -On the island the allies were divided up into two brigades, East and West. -The west brigade was under the command of Brigadier Lawson and the Winnipeg Grenadiers were part of the brigade. -The East brigade was under the command of Brigadier Wallis and the Royal Rifles of Canada were part of this brigade. -General Maltby was stationed at the headquarters. -The Japanese attacked heavily by air with artillery showers and air raids. -They made another demand for surrender on December 17th, this was also rejected. -The circumstances of the allies were severe. -Two British relief ships had been sunk; the United States fleet had been almost destroyed at Pearl Harbor. There was no hope of relief. -On December 18th the Japanese initiated 4 attacks on the allies. -They were spread out along a three kilometer front of the northern beaches. -The allies couldn’t hold them back and suffered severe casualties. -During this attack the islands water reservoir was taken. -The east brigade had many casualties and their numbers were greatly reduced. -Japanese were taking over. -East brigade tried to retreat to the west brigade because they could no longer hold their ground. -In the west brigade one company had become separated. -The company led by Sergeant-Major J.R. Osborn was surrounded by Japanese who were throwing grenades at them. -Osborn had been throwing them back at the enemy. -One he could not get fast enough so he threw himself on the grenade to protect his soldiers -Sergeant-Major J.R. Osborn was rewarded with a Victoria Cross for his bravery and sacrifice. -Due to approach of the Japanese Brigadier Lawson decided to move the west brigade headquarters. -Before they could act on this they were surrounded. -The final stage of this battle was fought on the western part of the island. -On December 24th the Japanese gained further ground and had control of most of the island. -The Grenadiers held their ground till Christmas morning, where they finally had to surrender. -The entire battle lasted for eighteen days. -In total there were 290 Canadians killed and 493 injured. -The death toll grew after the surrender in POW camps. -In these camps the prisoners were beaten, starved and forced to work 12 hour days in mines or on the docks. -¼ of all Canadians that left Vancouver in 1941 did not come back. Directory: rhymesf rhymesf -> Atlantis: Critical Thinking Assignment: (Value = 56pts) Name: Block: Source: Davis, Dale (1986). The Bryant Press Limited: Canada Download 57.54 Kb. Share with your friends:
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