Operation Charnwood

This article is about the Anglo-Canadian offensive that was part of the Invasion of Normandy during the Second World War. For other uses, see Charnwood.

Operation Charnwood
Part of the Battle for Caen
A line of soldiers clambering over the heaped rubble of destroyed buildings in a badly-damaged street.
British troops of I Corps pick their way through the rubble of Caen, 9 July 1944
Date8–9 July 1944
Location
Northern Caen, Normandy, France
49°10′59″N 0°22′10″W / 49.18306°N 0.36944°W / 49.18306; -0.36944 (Operation Charnwood)
Result Allied victory
Belligerents
  Germany
Commanders and leaders
Strength
  • 3 infantry divisions[2]
  • 3 armoured brigades[2]
  • Elements of 1 infantry division[5]
  • 1 armoured division[5]
  • 61 tanks[nb 1]
Casualties and losses
300–400 French civilian casualties[11]

Operation Charnwood was an Anglo-Canadian offensive that took place from 8 to 9 July 1944, during the Battle for Caen, part of the larger Operation Overlord (code-name for the Battle of Normandy) in the Second World War. The operation was intended to capture the German-occupied city of Caen (French pronunciation: [kɑ̃]), which was an important objective for the Allies during the opening stages of Overlord. It was also hoped that the attack would forestall the transfer of German armoured units from the Anglo-Canadian sector to the American sector to the west, where an offensive was being prepared. The British and Canadians advanced on a broad front and by the evening of the second day had taken Caen up to the Orne and Odon rivers.

Preceded by a controversial bombing raid that destroyed much of the historic Old City of Caen, Operation Charnwood began at dawn on 8 July, with three infantry divisions attacking German positions north of Caen, behind a creeping barrage. Supported by three armoured brigades, the British I Corps made gradual progress against the 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend and the 16th Luftwaffe Field Division. By the end of the day the 3rd Canadian Division and the British 3rd Infantry Division and 59th (Staffordshire) Infantry Division had cleared the villages in their path and reached the outskirts of the city. Moving into Caen at dawn the following morning, the Allies encountered resistance from remnants of German units who were beginning a withdrawal across the Orne. Carpiquet airfield fell to the Canadians during the early morning and by 18:00, the British and Canadians had linked up along the north bank of the Orne. The remaining bridges were defended or impassable and with German reserves positioned to oppose their crossing, I Corps ended the operation.

Operation Charnwood was mutually costly and a tactical success for the Allies. The Germans retired from north of the Orne River but did not stop sending formations to the American front. The Germans established another defensive line along two ridges to the south of the city. The Allies maintained the initiative and began Operation Jupiter the next day and Operation Goodwood and Operation Atlantic a week later, in which the rest of Caen was secured.

  1. ^ Trew, p. 40
  2. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Trew32 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Trew39 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Trew, p. 42
  5. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Trew35 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b c d Trew, p. 46
  7. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference buck31 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Reynolds (2001), p. 156
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Ellis316 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Reynolds (2001), p. 155
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference Stacey160 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).


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