Originally conceived in April 1942 as Operation Rutter, the Allies planned to conduct a major raid on a German-held port on the French channel coast. They planned to hold it for the duration of at least two tides, so as to effect the greatest amount of destruction of enemy facilities and defences before withdrawing. However, the first landing attempt in Normandy ended as a disastrous blood-letting failure. Almost 4,000 Canadian and British troops were killed, wounded or taken prisoner on 19 August, 1942; the Canadians lost two thirds of their force altogether during the virtual slaughter of the first assault, as infantry and assault engineers were cut down by German forces on the beaches, who were alert, prepared, ready and waiting.

Here the authors re-examine this operation with 80 unpublished German photographs taken after the attack, providing an important addition to the documentation of the Allied landing.

Bucourt and Jeanne provide comparative photographs in addition to images of the equipment used during the operation.

French Language