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Electives Ridge Thesis

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Topic and Thesis Statement: The topic of this essay will concern the disastrous assault on Verrières Ridge by the Royal Highland Regiment (Black Watch) of Canada on the 25th and 27th of July, 1944. Codenamed OPERATION SPRING, the Battle of Verrières Ridge one of many battles that occurred in the overreaching Battle of Normandy beginning on June 6th, 1944. The significance of this historic event will be examined using the following thesis: The disaster of the OPERATION SPRING and the Battle of Verrières Ridge can be directly attributed to poor weather conditions postponing the assault, allowing for the reinforcement of the ridge by German forces. In addition to the aforementioned, lack of command structure due to senior officer casualties …show more content…

Proof #1: Reinforcement of Verrières Ridge This paragraph will concern the events that would lead up to the significant reinforcement of Verrières Ridge by German Forces, particularly the I SS Panzer Corps, following the postponing of OPERATION SPRING due to adverse weather. This paragraph will focus on the numbers, and particular strengthening of certain portions of the German defensive, and will discuss, based upon equipment and the previously mentioned numbers, the attack the Royal Highland Regiment (Black Watch) of Canada and how it was not feasible. Proof #2: Lack of Command Structure and Communications This section will examine how lack of command structure and communications directly attributed to the failure of OPERATION SPRING. This will be achieved through the explanation of the German reinforcement of the St. Martin Road leading to the intended Canadian assembly area of St. Martin, and how the fierce resistance on this road would lead not only to a delay in the intended assault time, but also the killing of the two highest ranking officers of the regiment prior to the …show more content…

It is pertinent for use in this essay for its excerpt on the battle of Verrières Ridge, in which it describes the events of the day, as well as providing insight into the decisions of Major Phil Griffin throughout the affair. Hutchison, Paul P. Canada's Black Watch: The First Hundred Years, 1862-1962. Montreal: Black Watch (R.H.R.) of Canada, 1962. This piece of writing written by a former Colonel-Commandant of the RHR provides a great, in-depth account of the regiment’s participation in various conflicts since its formation. The relevant information contained within this books pages include a well-written and in-depth recollection of the events of OPERATION SPRING as well as some personal testimonies from men involved in the operation. Roy, Reginald H. 1944: The Canadians in Normandy. Toronto: Macmillan of Canada in Collaboration with the Canadian War Museum, National Museum of Man, National Museums of Canada, 1984. This is a great piece for this essay as it directly concerns the actions of the Canadian Army in Normandy during 1944. As such, this book contains a well-researched representation of the events of the day. This includes accurate numbers of casualties, and in-depth descriptions of issues faced by the men of the RHR that fateful day in

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