![]() Wrecked Allied tanks and landing craft in the aftermath of the Dieppe Raid. The tank crews themselves became prisoners of war (POWs) or died in battle. Still, the immobilized tanks continued to fight, supporting the infantry and contributing greatly to the withdrawal of many of the soldiers. The tanks which managed to overcome the seawall found their way blocked by concrete obstacles that sealed off the narrow streets. They were stopped not just by enemy guns, but also by the pebble beach and a seawall. Then, as the tanks came ashore, they met an inferno of fire and were brought to a halt. This left the infantry without support during the first critical minutes of the attack. Although they were supposed to land immediately after an intense air and naval bombardment, they were put ashore ten to fifteen minutes late. The Calgary Regiment also encountered unexpected obstacles. Some men of the battalion crossed the bullet-swept boulevard and moved into the town, where they engaged in vicious street fighting. They were able to clear this strongly-held building and the nearby pillboxes and enter the town. ![]() The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry landed at the west end of the promenade opposite a large isolated casino. Like their comrades who had landed earlier, they found themselves pinned down on the beach and exposed to intense enemy fire. To support them, the reserve battalion Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal was sent in. When one small platoon managed to infiltrate the town, a message was sent back to Headquarters offshore which misleadingly led General Roberts to believe that the Essex Scottish had established themselves in the town. All attempts to breach the seawall were beaten back with terrible casualties. ![]() As the men of the Essex Scottish Regiment assaulted the open eastern section, the enemy swept the beach with machine-gun fire. The German troops, concealed in clifftop positions and in buildings overlooking the promenade, were well prepared for the Canadians. It was timed to take place a half-hour later than the assault on its flanks. The main attack was made across the pebble beach in front of Dieppe. ![]()
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