Operation "Dryad"

Briefing: The invasion is to take place at dawn. It is known that to the south of the invasion beaches elements of the 10th SS Panzer Division are refitting and on training maneuvers. Should the SS panzers reach the Canadian …

CCGD

Briefing: The invasion is to take place at dawn. It is known that to the south of the invasion beaches elements of the 10th SS Panzer Division are refitting and on training maneuvers. Should the SS panzers reach the Canadian beachhead within a few hours of the landings, the entire operation could be in jeopardy. Only one major coastal roadway leads north from the area in which the 10th SS is concentrated towards the planned landing sites; all other possible routes represent a lengthy detour which would delay the arrival of the enemy armor for some time. Near the vill"l1e of Eletot, the coast road crosses a number of stone bridges. Destruction of these small bridges would effectively close the coastal roadway, and the shortest route for the 10th SS Panzer Division. It is known that at least one battalion of German infantry, passably supported by armor, is stationed in the region to guard the bridges and other installations. This then is the mission: elements of your Commando are, in con- junction with the Canadian landings, to come ashore near Eletot and-regardless of loss-destroy as many bridges as possible to sever the coastal road.

Eletot, France

The Commandos formed during the Second World War, following an order from the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in June 1940 for a force that could carry out raids against German occupied Europe. Churchill stated in a minute to General Ismay on 6 June 1940: "Enterprises must be prepared, with specially-trained troops of the hunter class, who can develop a reign of terror down these coasts, first of all on the "butcher and bolt" policy..." Commandos were all volunteers for special service and originally came from the British Army but volunteers would eventually come from all branches of the United Kingdom's armed forces and foreign volunteers from countries occupied by the Germans. These volunteers formed over 30 individual units and four assault brigades. The commandos would serve in all the theatres of war from the Arctic Circle, to Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific. Their operations ranged from small groups of men landing from the sea or by parachute to a brigade of assault troops spearheading the Allied invasions of Europe and Asia.

Wikipedia: British Commando operations during the Second World War

German

British