The disastrous Operation Jubilee was called the "rehearsal for invasion" even before the Invasion of Normandy (Operation Overlord) took place in June 1944. The two operations have been aligned into a direct relationship by command apologists incessantly for half a century, as though it had been possible to win the war only because valuable "lessons" were learned at Dieppe. On the eve of the Normandy invasion, the 3rd Canadian Division was told that "the plan, the preparations, the method and technique" of their new mission was "based on knowledge and experience bought and paid for by the 2nd Canadian division at Dieppe." Mountbatten swore by this formula for the rest of his life. "I do hope," he wrote in 1973, "the Dieppe boys will have at last understood that without their valiant efforts we could never have had Overlord."

http://www.guineapigzero.com/DIEPPEX.html

Do you think Dieppe was necessary for the success of operation Overlord?

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Kai, this sentiment is actually a load of bunk, maybe an attempt to placate Canadians but hardly a rehearsal for D Day [img]graemlins/no.gif[/img] .

It was one in a series of Combined Operations 'Great Raids' - great as in size. It was application of a theory on how to capture a fortified port by frontal assault. In that it provided lessons for D Day, but hardly how to land 150'000 men on a massed front. The lesson learnt BTW, was simply don't.

Before D Day, the Allies had experience of N. Africa, Salerno, Taranto and Anzio. These were not 'rehearsals' for 6th June if you wish?

No.9

Well put No 9. Also they could have learned a few things from all the areas taken by the Japanese and the Marines had made a few landings by then also. Some of them with alot of mistakes made.

I think Dieppe was one of those deals where someone made it look good on paper and sold it to the people in command. They wanted the people back home to think the allies were doing something to win the war. [img]graemlins/no.gif[/img]

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Work Harder ! Millions on welfare are depending on you.

Absolutely TA, there was all the experience of the Pacific plus even WWI Gallipoli. And, shame on me, in my examples I totally left out Sicily [img]redface.gif[/img]

However, they definitely did use Dieppes’ experience to plan and execute the seizure of Port-en-Bessin which was needed for supplies and a PLUTO oil terminal.

No.9