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Government of Canada / Gouvernement du Canada

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The Attack at Dieppe

Aim

To provide an overview of the events leading up to the Dieppe Raid, also known as Operation Jubilee and explain what happened on August 19, 1942.

Objectives

Youth will be expected to demonstrate a basic understanding of:

  • the events that led up to the Dieppe Raid;
  • the role Canada played in the raid; and
  • the outcome of Operation Jubilee.

Target Audience

This activity is suitable for students 12 to 18 years of age.

Sequence of Events and Anticipated Time Frame [60 minutes]

(This activity can be modified to fit available class time.)

  • Introduction [10 minutes]
  • Discussion [15 minutes]
  • Active Video Viewing [20 minutes]
  • Word Search Activity [15 minutes]

Materials

Optional Class Resources

Introduction [15 minutes]

Have the students read Canada Remembers the Dieppe Raid historical sheet.

Discussion [15 minutes]

Discuss what your students have read on the Dieppe Raid by asking some general lead-in questions, such as:

  • What year did the Dieppe Raid take place? (1942)
  • How long had the Second World War been raging? (3 years)
  • What combat action had Canada's army seen prior to August 1942? (Battle of Hong Kong)
  • What was pushing the Canadians to participate in battle? (Political pressure at home; impatience within the army)
  • Locate Dieppe on a map. Use blank map of the East Coast of North America, the Atlantic Ocean and Western Coast of Europe , followed by map of Allied landings at Dieppe
  • Why was Dieppe chosen as the target for the August 1942 raid by the Allied forces? (within range of fighter planes from Britain)
  • Using - Canada Remembers The Dieppe Raid and Dieppe Raid Photo Gallery, ask your students to identify some of the challenges facing the Allied Forces that contributed to the downfall of Operation Jubilee:
    • the force on the eastern flank being discovered by the Germans prior to reaching its destination;
    • topography: cliffs, cobblestone beach, seawall, etc.; and
    • German defences: pillboxes, machine-gun posts, barbed wire, fortified artillery, new fighter aircraft, etc.

 [Note: Other factors also played a role, e.g. the weather conditions: churning of surf, visibility]

Active Video Viewing [20 minutes]

Introduce the Heroes Remembers Presents The Dieppe Raid video to the class. Explain that they will be hearing stories from the men who actually took part in Operation Jubilee.

To ensure that all the students are engaged while watching the video, distribute Active Viewing Activity Word Search Clues and have them read through the questions before the video begins.

Working in pairs, have the students answer the questions during the video. You may wish to click on the closed captioning option (bottom right “CC” on video box) to facilitate the activity for the students. The questions are in the order in which the answers appear in the video. Depending on the class, the students may want to view the video a second time to pick up any information they missed.

Word Search Activity [15 minutes]

Review the students' answers and provide additional clarification if required. Conclude the lesson by asking your students to complete the Dieppe Raid Word Search activity.

Active Video Viewing answer key:

  1. The name of one ship that took some of the Canadian troops to Dieppe. – Princess Beatrix
  2. What were some of the soldiers doing while on the ships heading to Dieppe? – Telling jokes and praying
  3. The name of a German dive bomber. – Stuka
  4. These armoured vehicles were useless on the pebbled beach at Dieppe. – Tanks
  5. Canadian soldiers wore two of these around their necks. – Dogtags
  6. Most of the Canadian dead were found along this part of the beach at Dieppe. – Seawall
  7. This British warship tried to rescue Canadian soldiers from the Dieppe landing area. – HMS Berkeley
  8. How were the Canadian soldiers transported to the prison camps? – Train
  9. These were used to restrain the Canadian prisoners of war. – Chains
  10. What were the Canadian troops supposed to get for being part of the Dieppe Raid? – Medal
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