LONGUEVAL
Calvados
- 2 km east of Caen
Atlantic, a preparation for the Operation Goodwood
Longueval
was liberated a first time on 7 June 1944, when the 1st Battalion
The Royal Ulster Rifles of the 6th Airlanding Brigade had entered
the town cleared with enemy. But then the Irish had to withdraw.
On mid-July 1944, the Allied Forces prepared a powerful offensive
on the west flank of Normandy front; the Operation Cobra
must break the German main defense line. On the east flank, the
Offensive Goodwood carried on to attract the bulk of German
Panzer Divisions, then extended the bridgehead west of the river
Orne, and possibly exploited a breakthrough. In preparation of Goodwood,
the IInd Canadian Corps under General Simonds launched attacks south
of Caen and on east bank of the river Orne. One is coded Atlantic,
the 9th Canadian Brigade was assigned the crossing of the river
Orne with a Bailey bridge. The Canadians progress towards Longueval,
where were entrenched German grenadiers of the 16th Luftwaffe Feld-Division.
With support of the Sherman of the 1st Hussars Regiment the strongpoint
was eliminated, and the town was liberated.
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The Royal Ulster Rifles monument
