Drive on Caen

The city of Caen was an objective for Allied forces on D-Day. Determined German Resistance continued to frustrate Allied command and kept the objective out of their hands. Caen was of great strategic importance and both sides knew it. The …

1944-07-08

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The city of Caen was an objective for Allied forces on D-Day. Determined German Resistance continued to frustrate Allied command and kept the objective out of their hands. Caen was of great strategic importance and both sides knew it. The operation that would finally take Caen was codenamed 'Charnwood'. It began with a massive RAF bombardment of the city followed by a heavy artillery bombardment in hopes of breaking the German forces stationed there. The bombing raid reduced the city to ruins but failed to eliminate the Axis defenders. The British I Corps, with support from the 3rd Canadian Division, began the task of slowly making its way through the untouched German forces to the area 'cleared' by the RAF. The drive on Caen had started with high hopes of an easy victory but dissolved into a fierce battle for the vital city.

Caen, France

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 in the Second World War. The operation was intended to capture the German-occupied city of Caen, 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.

Wikipedia: Operation Charnwood

German

Canadian / British

Game Type: Standard

Board Type: Countryside

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