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Government of Canada / Gouvernement du Canada

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Activity 1 - Overview

Aim:

To provide an overview of the events leading up to the Dieppe Raid, also known as "Operation Jubilee", and explain what happened on the morning of August 19, 1942.

Objectives:

Students will be expected to demonstrate a basic understanding of:

  • the events that led up to the Dieppe Raid;
  • the role Canada played in the raid; and
  • the outcome of "Operation Jubilee".

Target Audience:

This activity is suitable for students in grades seven to twelve (12 to 18 years of age).

Sequence of Events and Anticipated Time Frame:

[This activity can be modified to fit available class time.]

  • Introduction: (15 minutes)
  • Discussion: (15 minutes)
  • Active Video Viewing and Word Search Activity: (20 minutes)
  • Closing: (15 minutes)

Required Class Materials:

Optional Class Resources:

Introduction: (15 minutes)

Have the students read Handout #1 - "Canada Remembers The Dieppe Raid" Historical Sheet.

Discussion: (15 minutes)

Discuss what your students have read on the Dieppe Raid by asking some general lead-in questions such as:

  • What combat action had Canada's army, navy and air force seen prior to August 1942? What happened?
  • Locate Dieppe on a map? Use Handout #2 - "Blank Map of the East Coast of North America, the Atlantic Ocean and Western Coast of Europe", followed by Handout #3 - "Map of Allied Landings at Dieppe".
  • Why was Dieppe chosen as the target for the August 1942 raid by the allied forces?
  • Using Handout #4 - "Dieppe Raid Photo Gallery", ask your students to identify some of the challenges facing the Allied Forces that contributed to the downfall of "Operation Jubilee":
    • topography: cliffs, pebble beach, seawall, etc.;
    • German defences: pillboxes, machine-gun posts, barbed wire, fortified artillery, new fighter aircraft, etc.; and
    • weather conditions: churning surf, visibility, etc.

[Note: Other factors also played a role, e.g. the "invasion" force being discovered by the Germans prior to reaching its destination.]

Active Video Viewing and Word Search Activity: (20 minutes)

View the Heroes Remembers Presents, "The Dieppe Raid" video, to hear from the men who actually took part in "Operation Jubilee".

To ensure that all the students are engaged while watching the video, distribute Handout #5 - "Active Viewing Activity Word Search Clues" and, working in pairs, ask them to answer the questions.

Closing: (15 minutes)

In a plenary session, review the students' answers and provide additional clarification if required. Conclude the lesson by asking your students to complete Handout # 6 - "Dieppe Raid Word Search" word search activity.

Word Search Answer Key:

  1. The name of the ship that took the Canadian troops to Dieppe. - Princess Beatrix
  2. Canadian soldiers wore two of these around their necks. - dogtags
  3. These were used to tie the Canadian prisoners of war. - chains
  4. This British fighter plane was used to provide air cover for the Allied troops during the raid on Dieppe. - Spitfires
  5. The British navy could not get landing craft off the beach because of these weapons - machine guns
  6. What were the Canadian troops suppose to get for being part of the Dieppe Raid? - medal
  7. These armoured vehicles were useless on the pebbled beach at Dieppe. - tanks
  8. The Canadian troops departed from this British port to go to Dieppe. - Southampton
  9. This is the name of a German dive bomber. - Stuka
  10. Most of the Canadian dead were found along this part of the beach at Dieppe. - seawall
  11. This British warship tried to rescue Canadian soldiers from the Dieppe landing area. - HMS Berkeley
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