The Commandos at Dieppe: Rehearsal for D-Day

by Will Fowler

In August 1942, the Allies launched a raid against the German-held port of Dieppe on the French channel coast. It was largely a disaster, with the Canadian forces bearing the brunt of the catastrophe. However, it wasn't all a failure. Landings against nearby gun batteries by four Commandos proved an excellent demonstration of the military adage "train hard, fight easy" and the advantage of proper planning. This successful raid also included members of the Free French and US Commandos, later named the US Rangers, and it included the first US land forces to engage the Germans on mainland Europe.

Genres: Military Fiction

256 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2002

About the author

Will Fowler is Professor of Spanish at the University of St Andrews, where he has taught since 1995. He earned his PhD at the University of Bristol and worked as a lecturer in Spanish at Leicester Polytechnic (subsequently renamed De Montfort University) for four years before joining the University of St Andrews.

Reviews

[Rick Brindle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent account of a part of the Dieppe raid that was actually a success, and until I read this book I didn't realise that any of it was, who knew! This account really is full of boys own derring do, made all the more enjoyable becasue it's true. An excellent story about a little known piece of history, that puts the reast of the day into perspective.