Dieppe Artifact 4: Dieppe; The Dawn of Decision

  Jacques Mordal's Dieppe: The Dawn of Decision explores the 1942 Dieppe Raid using first-hand accounts. The book delves into the strategic and tactical considerations behind the raid, questioning the Canadian government's decision-making and highlighting the operation’s failures. Mordal examines the raid's planning stages, the actual execution, and the significant toll it took on morale both on the frontlines and back home.

  A central theme is the raid’s role as a precursor to later Allied successes. Mordal argues that while the operation was disastrous, it provided valuable lessons that influenced operations that had yet to happen including the Normandy (D-Day) invasion. The author breaks down the challenges of amphibious warfare, logistical missteps, and the valour displayed by the troops despite overwhelming odds.

  While the book was originally written in French as Les Canadiens à Dieppe in 1963, it was translated into English in 1981. Mordal’s narrative serves as both a historical account and a reflective piece on the costs of wartime decision-making

References

Mordal, Jacques. Dieppe: The dawn of decision. Ottawa: Dept. of National Defence, 1981.