Operation Spring

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Operation Spring Part of Battle of Normandy, World War II German Tiger tanks on the move in northwestern France, July 1944 Date July 25, 1944 – July 27, 1944 Location Caen and surrounding area, France Result Defensive German Victory Belligerents  Canada  Germany Commanders Guy Simonds Josef Dietrich Strength 2 Infantry Division 2 Armoured Divisions 1 Armoured Brigade[1] 3 Panzer Divisions Casualties and losses over 500 killed, 1000 wounded or captured.[2] unknown

v • d • e Battle of Normandy Neptune – Tonga – American Airborne Landings – Sword – Juno – Gold – Omaha – Utah – Pointe du Hoc – Brécourt Manor – La Caine – Perch – Carentan – Villers-Bocage – Cherbourg – Epsom – Charnwood – Jupiter – Goodwood – Atlantic – Verriéres Ridge – Spring – Cobra – Bluecoat – Totalise – Lüttich – Tractable – Falaise – Brest – Paris

Operation Spring was a Canadian-led attack planned by General Guy Simonds (II Canadian Corps) as a breakout from the current lines of combat in Normandy. The attack was part of a general allied attempt to break out from Normandy. The operation was conducted in conjunction with Operation Cobra. The attacks were aimed at capturing Verrieres Ridge and the towns on the south slope of the ridge. Unfortunately for the 3 Canadian divisions involved, they ran into heavy German fortifications, and faltered in the face of tenacious German forces^[3].

[edit] Background

Caen was captured on July 19 during Operation Goodwood and Operation Atlantic, and marginal attempts were made to capture ground to the south, mainly Verrierres Ridge. However, these attempts were unsuccessful, and resulted in heavy casualties. General Bernard Montgomery, commander of all land forces in Operation Overlord, was pressing all of his national commanders, particularly Bradley and Simonds, to attempt to break out from their positions in Normandy.^[4]. Simonds believed that, in order to break out, he had to control the high ground near Verrieres Ridge^[5]. Since Atlantic had failed to do so, Simonds began to plan a much larger, and much grander offensive, which would become known as Operation Spring

General Sir Bernard Montgomery (eighth from left) talking with Lieutenant-General Guy Simonds (ninth from left) at 2nd Canadian Corps Headquarters in Normandy, France, 20 July 1944". Photo by Lt. Donald I. Grant. [1].

[edit] Basic Plan

The Distribution of Canadian and German forces on July 24, 1944

Operation Spring, like most of Simonds's offensives, was meticulously planned, and incredibly complex. Operation Spring centered around the capture of Verrierres Ridge and the towns to the south. Operation Spring worked in four phases. The first involved the North Nova Scotia Highlanders securing Tilly-la-Campagne, to the east of Verrierres Ridge, as well as the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry securing Verrierres Village.^[2] The second phase required the Calgary Highlanders to move from St. Martin to capture May-Sur-Orne and Bourguebus Ridge, thus securing the flanks of Verrierres Ridge. In the third phase, the Black Watch would move from Hill 61 to St. Martin, assemble, and attack Verrierres Ridge with tank and artillery support^[6]. In the fourth phase, Simonds would move in armor and artillery to reach the final objectives south of the ridge, thus making a bulge in German lines, and increasing the chance of a breakout from Normandy. Each phase of the plan required exact and incredibly precise timing. If any phase of the plan was off, it could result in total disaster.

[edit] German Preparations

When the Germans learned of Operation Spring, they immediately moved units of the 9th SS Panzer Division into the area. When inclement weather caused Operation Spring to be delayed 48 hours, High Command wasted no time in re-enforcing Verrieres Ridge. By the end of July 24, 480 Panzers, 500 field guns, and 4 additional infantry battalions had been moved into the sector^{[7] [2]}. Ultra intercepted coding signalling this, and delivered it to Simond's HQ, although it is unknown if he actually received the notice.

[edit] Phase I

At 0330, the North Nova Scotia Highlanders attacked Tilly La Campagne. Simonds had developed a complex lighting system using spotlights reflected off of clouds, thus allowing the North Novas to see the enemy positions. This also meant, however, that the North Novas were clear targets for German defenders, and were forced to fight ferociously to gain ground. By 0430, a flare was fired by the lead companies, indicating that the objective had been taken. Within the next hour, Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Petch began to move reinforcements into the village to assist with "mopping up" the last German defenders.

To their west, the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, although they encountered stiff initial opposition, managed to secure Verrierres Village by 0530. At 0750, Lt.-Col. John Rockingham reported to Simonds that his battalion had firmly entrenched themselves in the objective.

[edit] Phase II

On July 25, the Calgary Highlanders attempted assaults on May-sur-orne and Bourguebus Ridge. Unfortunately, the assembly area of St. Martin was still crawling with German troops. However, two companies of Calgary Highlanders bypassed St. Martin and reached the outskirts of May-Sur-Orne^[2]. Radio contact was lost after that, and both companies took extremely heavy casualties. Towards the late morning, the Calgary Highlanders secured St. Martin, and then attacked Bourguebus Ridge. Heavy casualties were taken in two attacks, and the Calgary Highlanders struggled to hold onto May-Sur-Orne.

[edit] Phase III

Main article: Battle of Verrieres Ridge

Of all of the phases of the plan, Phase III likely required the most exact timing. Two previous attempts, by both the Essex Scottish Regiment and South Saskatchewan Regiment, had ended in slaughter. Unfortunately for the Black Watch, things went wrong right from the start. Their armour and artillery support never did show up (or when it did, was cut to pieces), and they were four hours late reaching their assembly area of St. Martin [the Black Watch ran into heavy German resistance moving from Hill 61 to the village]. When they did attack Verrieres Ridge, they were subject to vicious counter fire from three sides (The "factory" area south of St. Martin, Verrieres Ridge itself, and German units on the other side of the Orne). Within minutes, communications had broken down, and the Black Watch lost all but 15 of its attacking soldiers. It marked the bloodiest day for Canadian forces since Dieppe.

[edit] German Counterattacks

German Counterattacks in the aftermath of Operation Spring

Throughout the next several days, German forces, mainly the 12th and 9nth SS Panzer Divisions, continued to chip away at Canadian positions gained in Operation Spring. The Calgary Highlanders eventually pulled out of May-sur-Orne, and the North Novas were forced to retreat from Tilly-la-Campagne. German forces immediately counterattacked at Verrieres Village, and were beaten back. Over the next two days, the RHLI fought "fanatically" to defend the ridge, fending off dozens of counterattacks. Rockingham relied on well-placed antitank guns and machine-gun positions, fighting off the forces of two panzer divisions. On July 26, German commanders declared "If you cross the ridge, you are a dead man" to soldiers being deployed on the southern slope of Verrieres. In their holding of the town, the RHLI took over 200 casualties.

Additional German counterattacks managed to force the Cameron Highlanders, Calgary Highlanders and the Black Watch to retreat from May Sur Orne and St. Martin. Black Watch support company and the Calgary Highlanders both took heavy casualties as they were forced back from their positions.^[8]

[edit] Aftermath

In mid July, German forces believed that Simonds's offensive would be the main push out of Normandy. As a result, the elite forces of the SS were concentrated there. However, when Operation Cobra went ahead, German high command realized that Cobra was the main offensive, and thus transferred troops to the area. When Operation Totalise was launched in August, the objectives were taken with relative ease^[9].

[edit] References

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