Operation Jubilee: Dieppe, 1942: The Folly and the Sacrifice

An excellent read although the level of incompetence shown by senior officers is amazing. The author pulls no punches and one wonders if such a story would have been published when the main players were still alive. As it is, it’s an excellent guide as how not to plan and execute an amphibious operation.

Excellent account of Failed Invasion

I am Canadian, a post war militia officer (long retired) and at one point HQ lieutenant to the Kings Own Calgary Regiment. As The Calgary Tank Regiment the regiment took part in the Dieppe Raid. So it has long been an interest of mine. This is a vivid account of an operation without defined aims that went wrong from beginning to end and which has never been properly justified. It seems to have been Mountbatten's ego trip compounded by failures of appreciation by Generals McNaughton and Crerar. Even at the time it attracted criticism: that of Lt. Gen. ELM Burns, cited in Delaney, Corps Commanders, is devastating. This is a book well worth reading.

book in new condition as stated

A fascinating account of the build up and execution of a tragic folly.

This, well written and well researched book, tells the story of the 1942 raid on Dieppe. The raid was a failure in its aims, with much loss of life, though was subsequently and questionably trumpeted as worthwhile because of the lessons it provided for D-Day.I knew little about the Dieppe raid, so found this a very useful insight, though did not realise it would devote the majority of pages to the before and after. Of the 300+ pages, only about 100 are spent on the actual action, with the remainder going into the build up to the attack on Dieppe, including its origins, planning and the many key personalities, as well as the forces involved, both invaders and defenders, and its 'aftermath'. The author paints a convincing picture of why the operation shouldn't have taken place in the first place and how debate into the failure was then effectively deflected.

Patrick Bishop has again demonstrated his unerring ability to bring history to life with a studiously researched account of the debacle of Dieppe. The way he describes the callousness and carelessness of lives, more associated with WW1, simply generates a feeling of outrage, as does the subsequent spinning of the narrative by those responsible as a carefully planned preparation for the Normandy landings. Highly recommended.

The book is presented in four parts. The background, preparation, battle and aftermath. All of which are concise and revelatory in their own way. It’s important to appreciate the sacrifice and the sequence of events that brought it about. Essential reading for anyone interested in WW2.