Juno Beach order of battle

Last updated

This is the Juno Beach Order of Battle on D-Day (6th June, 1944). Code named Operation Neptune, part of Operation Overlord (Battle of Normandy) itself part of the Western Front of World War II.

Contents

Canadian Infantry of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles approaching Juno Beach aboard LCAs Canadian landings at Juno Beach.jpg
Canadian Infantry of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles approaching Juno Beach aboard LCAs
Top: Wounded Canadian soldiers lying on Juno beach awaiting transfer to casualty clearing station, Normandy, France, 6 June 1944. Middle: The same bunker in 2006 Bottom: The view down the beach from the bunker, showing enfilading fire position. Juno Wounded 3.jpg
Top: Wounded Canadian soldiers lying on Juno beach awaiting transfer to casualty clearing station, Normandy, France, 6 June 1944. Middle: The same bunker in 2006 Bottom: The view down the beach from the bunker, showing enfilading fire position.

Canadian Army

3rd Canadian Infantry Division [1] [2] (Approx. 22,500 Canadian Soldiers)

(Division Support Battalions)

Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery – Divisional Artillery (allocated for landings) [2] [3]

7th Canadian Infantry Brigade – Mike Green / Mike Red and Nan Green Beaches [6] [7]

8th Canadian Infantry Brigade – Nan White and Nan Red Beaches [9] [10]

9th Canadian Infantry Brigade – Landing through the Nan Sector Beaches in the later day. [11] [12]

(Supporting Divisional Formations)

British Forces

British forces on Juno beach included units from Second Army and Combined Operations Headquarters [2] They also provided the tri-service Beach groups that defended the beaches from air attack, directed the following waves and arranged casualty evacuation. The 79th Armoured division was the administrative division of the specialist assault and combat engineering vehicle units allocated to overcome the defences.

102 Beach Sub-Area [2] [14]

Force J was commanded by the British, and the flagship vessel came from the Royal Navy. Among the chief vessels in this combined British and Canadian Force were

The force also included 109 Royal Canadian Navy vessels, among them:

Landing craft from both the RN and RCN were employed in Force J, the total number were:

German forces

Infantrie-Divisionen 716.
716th Infanterie-Division Logo.svg
Wehrmacht 716 Infantry Division
ActiveJune 1944
CountryFlag of Germany (1935-1945).svg Nazi Germany
BranchBalkenkreuz.svg Wehrmacht Heeren
TypeStatic Infantry (Bodenständigen)
RoleCoastal Defence KVA Caen
Size Division (≈8,000 men)
Garrison/HQCalvados: Baie-de-Seine
Engagements Normandy Landings
Commanders
Commander Wilhelm Richter

Standing against the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, units of 716.Infanterie-Division (Static) – Wehrmacht Heer Coastal Defence (Bodenständigen) had little tactical mobility and its personnel, in general, belonged to the lowest category of conscript, coming from older age groups or from the Landsturm: Military District 6. While the division in Normandy with the fewest personnel; fronting the Juno sector, its density of troops was a little stronger than elsewhere. The division had no combat experience before D-Day, and on 1 May 1944 it only had 7,771 personnel of all ranks. [17] [18]

The 716. Infanterie-Division consisted of: [19] [ citation needed ]

Panzer-Division 21., belonging to XXXXVII Pz.Gr.West, was allocated to AOK.7 (Army Group B) as its (only) reserve. Pz.Div.21 was reconstituted on 15 July 1943, in the reorganization of schnellen Brigade West (SB 931). Pz.Div.21 was absent from Normandy from March 1944, for Operation Maragretha, in Hungary, until May 1944, when it was reassigned to Brittany, and then moved up into Normandy.[ citation needed ] On 6 June 1944, Panzer-Division 21., on its initiative, adopted a 'new' organization for battle, as Regimental (Brigade) Groups were formed, PzKGr.Oppeln - Pz.Regt.22., and KGr.Luck - Pz.Gren-Regt 125., they regrouping an infantry battalion for a tank battalion, and KGr.Rauch - Pz.Gren-Regt192., was formed, given Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 155., assigned a battalion to each Kampfgruppe. [45] The Canadians, coming South, from Juno Beach, did not experience a direct impact from either PzKGr.Oppeln or KGr.Luck and only felt a slight impact, in their area of influence, from the counter-move undertaken by KGr.Rauch, on 6 June.

Notes

    1. Lt-Col J.D. Mingay, GS 3 Cdn Inf Div, Neptune 'Overlord' 3 Cdn Inf Div Operation Order No.1, 13 May 1944. ORBAT 3 Cdn Inf Div
    2. 1 2 3 4 5 Joslen, pp. 583–5.
    3. 1 2 3 Can Division at Royal Artillery 1939–1945 (archive site)
    4. 1 2 3 Maj-Gen R.P. Pakenham-Walsh, History of the Corps of Royal Engineers, Vol IX, 1938–1948, Chatham: Institution of Royal Engineers, 1958, pp. 335–6.
    5. [Tonner, Mark W. On Active Service (Service Publications, Ottawa, ON) ISBN   1-894581-44-X]
    6. Lt-Col J.D. Mingay, GS 3 Cdn Inf Div, Neptune 'Overlord' 3 Cdn Inf Div Operation Order No.1, 13 May 1944. Appendix 'B' Annexure 1
    7. Operation Overlord 7 Canadian Infantry Brigade Group: Operation Order No.1 Extracts – Canadian Scottish Regiment Amended Copy
    8. "Juno Beach – Regina Rifles". Members.shaw.ca. Retrieved 2011-02-25.
    9. Lt-Col J.D. Mingay, GS 3 Cdn Inf Div, Neptune 'Overlord' 3 Cdn Inf Div Operation Order No.1, 13 May 1944. Appendix 'B' Annexure 2
    10. Operation Overlord 8 Canadian Infantry Brigade Group: Operation Order No.1 Extracts
    11. Lt-Col J.D. Mingay, GS 3 Cdn Inf Div, Neptune 'Overlord' 3 Cdn Inf Div Operation Order No.1, 13 May 1944. Appendix 'B' Annexure 3
    12. 9 Canadian Infantry Brigade Group: Operation Order No.1 Extracts
    13. Col L.F. Morling, Sussex Sappers: A History of the Sussex Volunteer and Territorial Army Royal Engineer Units from 1890 to 1967, Seaford: 208th Field Co, RE/Christians–W.J. Offord, 1972, p. 215.
    14. Rogers, J & D (2012). D-Day Beach Force. The Men Who Turned Chaos into Order (1 ed.). Stroud: The History Press. p. 20. ISBN   9780752463308.
    15. 1 2 80 AA Bde Operation Order No 1, 20 May 1944, in 80 AA Bde War Diary 1944, The National Archives, Kew, file WO 171/1085.
    16. 1 2 Brig N.W. Routledge, History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery: Anti-Aircraft Artillery 1914–55, London: Royal Artillery Institution/Brassey's, 1994, ISBN   1-85753-099-3, pp. 305–7.
    17. Kampf Der 716.Division in der Normandie, Generalleutnant Richter, Wilhelm. Allendorf, den 31 Mai 1947. The Battle of the 716th Infantry Division in Normandy, Wilhelm Richter, 1947. US Army Europe: Manuscript No. B-621 / WWII Foreign Military Studies 1945-54: NARA M1035.
    18. James, Chris and George at Battlefront, Battlefront Miniatures 2006-2016, The German 716. Infanteriedivision in Normandy – Last Updated On Tuesday, December 3, 2013. See http://www.flamesofwar.com/hobby.aspx?art_id=328 Accessed 16.05.2016
    19. Laurent Lefebvre – D-Day Historian, 716. Infanterie-Division, D-Day – Order of Battle. See: http://www.americandday.org/D-Day_German-Forces/716_Infanterie_Division.html Accessed 17.06.2016
    20. Steiger, Capt. A.G., Report No. 41 – Historical Section (G.S.) Army Headquarters. The German Defences in the Courseulles-St.Aubin Area of the Normandy Coast: Information from German Sources. 716 Inf Div 6 Jun 44 Initial Situation. Appendix "C and D". Dated 20 Jul 51
    21. Steiger, Capt. A.G., Report No. 41 - Historical Section (G.S.) Army Headquarters. The German Defences in the Courseulles-St.Aubin Area of the Normandy Coast: Information from German Sources. 716 Inf Div 6 Jun 44 Initial Situation. Page 15. (OB West History: State of Defences) and Appendix "C" (716 Inf Div Initial Situation: Map). Dated 20 Jul 51
    22. Stéphane Moutin-Luyat, German Forces in Normandy: 716. Infanterie Division. See: http://www.6juin1944.com/assaut/allemagne/en_index.php?id=716 Accessed 17.06.2016
    23. 1 2 3 4 Capt. A.G. Steiger, Report No. 41 - Historical Section (G.S.) Army Headquarters. The German Defences in the Courseulles-St.Aubin Area of the Normandy Coast: Information from German Sources. 716 Inf Div 6 Jun 44 - Initial Situation: Appendix 'G'. Dated 20 Jul 51. Accessed 28.01.2018
    24. Richard Drew, Atlantikwall: WW2 Defences from 1941-1944, France: AOK 7 Normandie. See: http://www.atlantikwall.co.uk/oldsite/atlantikwall/Courseulles/Wn28a-Benys-sur-Mer-01/html/page01.htm Archived 2018-03-22 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 18.05.2016
    25. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Capt. A.G. Steiger, Report No. 41 - Historical Section (G.S.) Army Headquarters. The German Defences in the Courseulles-St.Aubin Area of the Normandy Coast: Information from German Sources. 716 Inf Div 6 Jun 44 Initial Situation. Appendix "D". Dated 20 Jul 51
    26. 1 2 3 Steiger, Capt. A.G., Report No. 41 – Historical Section (G.S.) Army Headquarters. The German Defences in the Courseulles-St.Aubin Area of the Normandy Coast: Information from German Sources. Page15.-Para27. Organization and Appendix C/D. Dated 20 Jul 51
    27. For Structure: Rich Hasenauer and Jim Baker, Fire and Fury Games. The Nafziger Orders Of Battle Collection: 716.Infanterie-Division – Normandy 6th June 1944. See: http://www.fireandfury.com/orbats/late716infantriedivdday.pdf Accessed 17.06.2016
    28. For Structure: Rich Hasenauer and Jim Baker, Fire and Fury Games. The Nafziger Orders Of Battle Collection: 716. Infanterie-Division – Normandy 6th June 1944. See: http://www.fireandfury.com/orbats/late716infantriedivdday.pdf Accessed 17.06.2016
    29. 716ème division d'infanterie allemande – Encyclopédie D-Day, 19 février 2016 Par Marc Laurenceau, ordre de bataille. See: http://www.dday-overlord.com/716eme-division-dinfanterie-allemande-encyclopedie-d-day/ Accessed 24.05.2016
    30. Marc Laurenceau, D-Day Overlord: Encyclopédie du débarquement et de la bataille de Normandie See: http://www.dday-overlord.com/debarquement-normandie/mur-de-atlantique/points-appui/wn-23 Accessed 24.05.2016
    31. Richard Drew, Atlantikwall: WW2 Defences from 1941-1944, France: AOK 7 Normandie. See: http://www.atlantikwall.org.uk/beniers_wn28.htm Accessed 18.05.2016
    32. Richard Drew, Atlantikwall: WW2 Defences from 1941-1944, France: AOK 7 Normandie. See: http://www.atlantikwall.co.uk/oldsite/atlantikwall/Courseulles/Wn28b-Bernieres-sur-Mer%28ouest%29-01/html/page01.htm Archived 2018-03-22 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 18.05.2016
    33. The Atlantik Wall In Normandy, Hand Maid Tours (John), See: http://www.atlantikwall.org.uk/st_aubin_wn27.htm Accessed 25.05.16
    34. Marc Laurenceau, D-Day Overlord: Encyclopédie du débarquement et de la bataille de Normandie: WN 29 en Normandie. See: http://www.dday-overlord.com/wn-29-en-normandie-encyclopedie-d-day/ Accessed 24.05.2016
    35. Richard Drew, Atlantikwall: WW2 Defences from 1941-1944, France: AOK 7 Normandie. See: http://www.atlantikwall.org.uk/courseulles_wn31.htm Accessed 18.05.2016
    36. Richard Drew, Atlantikwall: WW2 Defences from 1941-1944, France: AOK 7 Normandie. See: http://www.atlantikwall.co.uk/oldsite/atlantikwall/Courseulles/Wn30-Courseulles-sur-Mer-01/html/page01.htm Archived 2018-03-22 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 18.05.2016
    37. Bunkersite.com, Atlantikwall: Douvres-la-Délivrande. See: http://bunkersite.com/locations/france/normandie/douvres.php Accessed 24.05.16
    38. Moutin-Luyat, Stéphane, German Forces in Normandy: 716.Infanterie-Division. , retrieved 17 June 2016
    39. Richard Drew, Atlantikwall: WW2 Defences from 1941-1944, France: AOK 7 Normandie. See: http://www.atlantikwall.co.uk/atlantikwall/fnc_wn33a.php Accessed 18.05.2016
    40. Accessed 17.06.2016
    41. Lt. R.H. Roy, Report No. 54 - Historical Section (G.S.) Army Headquarters. Canadian Participation in the Operations in North-West Europe, 1944. Part 1: The Assault and subsequent operations of 3 Cdn Inf Div. Appendix I Map Showing: 'Eastern Flank of the Normandy Bridgehead German Defences 6 June 1944'. Dated 3 Dec 45. Accessed 26.07.2K16
    42. 1 2 Lt. R.H. Roy, Report No. 54 - Historical Section (G.S.) Army Headquarters. Canadian Participation in the Operations in North-West Europe, 1944. Part 1: The Assault and subsequent operations of 3 Cdn Inf Div. Appendix I Map Showing: 'Eastern Flank of the Normandy Bridgehead German Defences 6 June 1944'. Dated 3 Dec 45. Accessed 26.07.2K16
    43. Anderson Richard C., Cracking Hitler's Atlantic Wall: The 1st Assault Brigade Royal Engineers on D-Day, Stackpole Books, Mechanicsburg, PA., 2010, ISBN   9780811742719, Chapter 4 German Planning and Preparation: The German Defences - Page 74. Accessed 18.05.2016
    44. Stéphane Moutin-Luyat, German Forces in Normandy, 716.Infanterie-Division, See: http://www.6juin1944.com/assaut/allemagne/en_index.php?id=716 Accessed 05.08.2K16
    45. Rich Hasenauer and Jim Baker, Fire and Fury Games. The Nafziger Orders Of Battle Collection: 716.Infanterie-Division – Normandy 6th June 1944. From: George Nafziger, The German Order of Battle: Volume 1 (1999) and Niklas Zetterling, Normandy 1944: German Military Organisation, Combat Power and Organisational Effectiveness (2000). See: http://www.fireandfury.com/orbats/late21pzd6jun44.pdf Accessed 06.08.2K16
    46. For Structure: Rich Hasenauer and Jim Baker, Fire and Fury Games. The Nafziger Orders Of Battle Collection: 716.Infanterie-Division – Normandy 6th June 1944. See: http://www.fireandfury.com/orbats/late21pzd6jun44.pdf Accessed 06.08.2K16
    47. Stéphane Moutin-Luyat, German Forces in Normandy: 21.Panzer- Division. See: http://www.6juin1944.com/assaut/allemagne/en_index.php?id=21 Accessed 06 August 2016
    48. 1 2 Stéphane Moutin-Luyat, German Forces in Normandy: 21.Panzer- Division. See: http://www.6juin1944.com/assaut/allemagne/en_index.php?id=21 Accessed 06.08.2K16
    49. Steiger, Capt. A.G., Report No. 41 – Historical Section (G.S.) Army Headquarters. The German Defences in the Courseulles-St.Aubin Area of the Normandy Coast: Information from German Sources. Appendix C/D. Dated 20 Jul 51
    50. 1 2 Steiger, Capt. A.G., Report No. 41 – Historical Section (G.S.) Army Headquarters. The German Defences in the Courseulles-St.Aubin Area of the Normandy Coast: Information from German Sources. Appendix C/D. Dated 20 Jul 51
    51. D-Day Overlord: The Battle of Normandy, Ground Forces - Germany: OoB 21st Panzerdivision (Pz.Jg.ABt.200.) See:http://www.dday-overlord.com/eng/21_panzerdivision_ob.htm Accessed 27.05.16
    52. The Battle of the 716th Infantry Division in Normandy, Wilhelm Richter, 1947. US Army Europe MS #B-621 / Guide to Foreign Military Studies: NARA M1035. Pg20.Para:Countermeasures_b. See: https://www.fold3.com/image/153801700 Accessed 03.08.2016

    References