6th Canadian Infantry Brigade
Encyclopedia
As part of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division mobilization started on 1 September 1939, even before the declaration of war, and the battalions were promptly fleshed out by volunteers. However, further expansion was hindered by a temporary halt in recruitment and uncertainty about overseas deployment. Consequently, divisional and brigade headquarters were not actually formed until May and June 1940.
, France in August 1942 carried out by the 4th and 6th Canadian Infantry Brigades,and support for British Commandos
suffering extensive losses in the landing and the ensuing withdrawal.
The objective was to seize and hold a major port for a short period, both to prove it was possible and to gather intelligence from prisoners and captured materials while assessing the German responses. The raid was also intended to use air power to draw the Luftwaffe
into a large, planned encounter.
No major objectives of the raid were accomplished. 3,623 of the 6,086 men who made it ashore were either killed, wounded, or captured. The Allied air forces failed to lure the Luftwaffe into open battle, and lost 119 planes, while the Royal Navy
suffered 555 casualties. The catastrophe at Dieppe later influenced Allied preparations for Operation Torch
and Operation Overlord
.
Because of heavy casualties most of the brigades regiments had to go through substiantial reconstruction throughout 1943 before seeing further action.
.
After the breakout from Normandy, 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade and 2nd Canadian Infantry Division
captured Dieppe.
Then they were involved in operations to clear the Rhine approaches and then cross the river and engagements in the forest of the Reichswald
, and the towns of Xanten
and Groningen.
They ended the war in Hanover, Germany.
6th Canadian Infantry Brigade – Prairie Provinces (1939–44)
- The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of CanadaThe Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of CanadaThe Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces.-Formation:As early as 1905 the local Scottish community in Winnipeg, led by the St Andrew's Society, began lobbying the government to raise a Highland regiment...
– Winnipeg, Manitoba - The South Saskatchewan RegimentThe South Saskatchewan RegimentThe South Saskatchewan Regiment was an infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces formed in 1936 by the amalgamation of The Weyburn Regiment and The Saskatchewan Border Regiment. It was reduced to nil strength and placed on the Supplementary Order of Battle in 1968...
– Estevan, SaskatchewanEstevan, SaskatchewanEstevan is the eighth largest city in Saskatchewan, Canada. It is located at , which is near the southeastern corner of the province. The Souris River runs by the city. The city is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Estevan No. 5.-History:... - The Calgary HighlandersThe Calgary HighlandersThe Calgary Highlanders is a Canadian Forces Land Force Primary Reserve infantry regiment, headquartered at Mewata Armouries in Calgary, Alberta, Canada...
– Calgary, Alberta - The Winnipeg GrenadiersThe Winnipeg GrenadiersThe Winnipeg Grenadiers was an infantry regiment of the Canadian Army formed on 1st April 1908 under General Order No. 20. Initially it was raised with Headquarters at Morden, Manitoba and companies at: ‘A’ Company at Morden, ‘B’ Company at Morden, ‘C’ Company at Manitou, ‘D’ Company at Carmen,‘E’...
(Machine Gun) – Winnipeg, Manitoba - No. 5 Defence Platoon (Lorne Scots) (6 Feb 1941 – 20 May 1943)
6th Canadian Infantry Brigade (1944–45)
- Les Fusiliers Mont-RoyalLes Fusiliers Mont-RoyalLes Fusiliers Mont-Royal is one of the oldest surviving units of the historical regiments of the Canadian army. It celebrated its regimental centenary in 1969. The unit was created on November 5, 1869...
- The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada
- The South Saskatchewan Regiment
- 5 Canadian Infantry Brigade Ground Defence Platoon (Lorne Scots)
Dieppe , Operation Jubilee
Operation Jubilee was a large-scale raid on DieppeDieppe, Seine-Maritime
Dieppe is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in France. In 1999, the population of the whole Dieppe urban area was 81,419.A port on the English Channel, famous for its scallops, and with a regular ferry service from the Gare Maritime to Newhaven in England, Dieppe also has a popular pebbled...
, France in August 1942 carried out by the 4th and 6th Canadian Infantry Brigades,and support for British Commandos
British Commandos
The British Commandos were formed during the Second World War in June 1940, following a request from the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, for a force that could carry out raids against German-occupied Europe...
suffering extensive losses in the landing and the ensuing withdrawal.
The objective was to seize and hold a major port for a short period, both to prove it was possible and to gather intelligence from prisoners and captured materials while assessing the German responses. The raid was also intended to use air power to draw the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
into a large, planned encounter.
No major objectives of the raid were accomplished. 3,623 of the 6,086 men who made it ashore were either killed, wounded, or captured. The Allied air forces failed to lure the Luftwaffe into open battle, and lost 119 planes, while the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
suffered 555 casualties. The catastrophe at Dieppe later influenced Allied preparations for Operation Torch
Operation Torch
Operation Torch was the British-American invasion of French North Africa in World War II during the North African Campaign, started on 8 November 1942....
and Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
.
Because of heavy casualties most of the brigades regiments had to go through substiantial reconstruction throughout 1943 before seeing further action.
Normandy
The Brigade did not participate in the D Day landings , but arrived in Normandy later that month and was involved in the operations to capture CaenCaen
Caen is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the Calvados department and the capital of the Basse-Normandie region. It is located inland from the English Channel....
.
- Operation CharnwoodOperation CharnwoodOperation Charnwood was a Second World War Anglo-Canadian offensive that took place from 8–9 July 1944, during the Battle of Normandy. The operation was intended to at least partially capture the German-occupied French city of Caen , which was an important Allied objective during the opening stages...
- Operation AtlanticOperation AtlanticOperation Atlantic was a Canadian offensive during the Battle of Normandy in the Second World War, from July 18–21, 1944. This Canadian offensive was launched in conjunction with a British-led offensive, Operation Goodwood...
- Operation SpringOperation SpringOperation Spring was an offensive operation conducted by II Canadian Corps during the Normandy campaign. The plan was intended to create pressure on the German forces operating on the British and Canadian front simultaneously to American offensive operations in their sector known as Operation...
After the breakout from Normandy, 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade and 2nd Canadian Infantry Division
2nd Canadian Infantry Division
The 2nd Canadian Infantry Division was an infantry division of the First Canadian Army, mobilized on 1 September 1939 at the outset of the Second World War. It was initially composed of volunteers within brigades established along regional lines, though a halt in recruitment in the early months of...
captured Dieppe.
Then they were involved in operations to clear the Rhine approaches and then cross the river and engagements in the forest of the Reichswald
Reichswald
A Reichswald designates a historic woodland under imperial protection and usage in the lands of the former Holy Roman Empire. It may refer to:* Nürnberger Reichswald — an old cultivated forest with near Nuremberg, which is today a nature reserve....
, and the towns of Xanten
Xanten
Xanten is a historic town in the North Rhine-Westphalia state of Germany, located in the district of Wesel.Xanten is known for the Archaeological Park or archaeological open air museum , its medieval picturesque city centre with Xanten Cathedral and many museums, its large man-made lake for...
and Groningen.
They ended the war in Hanover, Germany.
See also
- Military history of Canada during the Second World WarMilitary history of Canada during the Second World WarThe Second World War officially began on September 1, 1939, with the German invasion of Poland. Britain and France declared war on the Nazi Third Reich on September 3, 1939...
- Military history of CanadaMilitary history of CanadaThe military history of Canada comprises hundreds of years of armed actions in the territory encompassing modern Canada, and the role of the Canadian military in conflicts and peacekeeping worldwide. For thousands of years, the area that would become Canada was the site of sporadic intertribal wars...
- Canadian ForcesCanadian ForcesThe Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...