User:Climie.ca/Sandbox/Normandy
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Juno Beach is the code name for one of the five sectors of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, during World War II. The beach is situated on the Normandy coast in northern France, between the British sectors of Gold Beach and Sword Beach. The sector spanned from St.-Aubin-sur-Mer in the east to Courseulles-sur-Mer in the west. Landings here were necessary to provide flanking support to the British drive on Caen from Sword Beach, as well as capture the German airfield at Carpiquet to the west of Caen. Taking Juno Beach was the responsibility of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division and commandos of the Royal Marines, with support from Naval Force J - including units of the Royal Canadian Navy - and sea transport provided by the Royal Navy and RCN. The beach was defended by six battalions of the German 716th Infantry Division, with elements of the 21st Panzer Division held in reserve near Caen.
Juno Beach | |||||||
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Part of Normandy Landings and the Battle for Caen | |||||||
Canadian soldiers landing at Juno Beach on the outskirts of Bernières-sur-Mer. | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Canada United Kingdom | Germany | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
John Crocker R.F.L. Keller | Wilhelm Richter | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
1 Infantry Division 1 Armoured Brigade | 1 Infantry Division | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
340 dead 574 wounded 47 captured | Unknown |
The invasion plan called for two brigades of the 3rd Canadian Division to land in two sectors - Mike and Nan - focusing on Courseulles, Bernieres-sur-Mer and St.-Aubin. Preliminary naval and air bombardment would soften up the beach defences and destroy coastal strongpoints. Close support on the beaches was to be provided by amphibious tanks of the 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade. Once the landing zones were secured, the 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade was to land reserve battalions and deploy inland. The Royal Marine commandos would establish contact with the British 3rd Infantry Division on Sword Beach, while the 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade would link up with the British 50th Infantry Division on Gold Beach. The D-Day objectives called for the 3rd Canadian Division to be situated at the Caen-Bayeux railway line, as well as have captured Carpiquet Airfield, by nightfall on 6 June.
The landings initially encountered heavy resistance; the preliminary bombardment proved less effective than had been hoped, while rough weather forced the first wave to be delayed by ten minutes - the first wave touched down at 07:35. Several assault companies - notably those of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles and The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada - took heavy casualties in the opening minutes of the first wave. Strength of numbers, as well as coordinated fire support from artillery and armoured squadrons, ensured that most of the coastal defences were cleared within two hours of landing. The reserves of the 7th and 8th brigades began deploying at 08:30 (along with the Royal Marines), while the 9th Brigade began its deployment at 11:40.
The subsequent push inland towards Carpiquet and the Caen-Bayeux railway line achieved mixed results. The sheer volume of men and vehicles on the beaches created lengthy delays between the landing of the 9th Brigade and the beginning of substantive attacks to the south. The 7th Brigade encountered heavy initial opposition, before pushing south and making contact with the 50th Infantry Division at Creully. The 8th Brigade encountered heavy resistance from a battalion of the 716th at Tailleville, while the 9th Brigade deployed towards Carpiquet early in the evening. Resistance in St.-Aubin prevented the Royal Marines from establishing contact with the British 3rd Division on Sword Beach. When all operations on the Anglo-Canadian front were ordered to halt at 21:00, only one unit had reached its D-Day objective. Despite this, the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division had succeeded in pushing farther inland than any other landing force on D-Day.