The Regina Rifles landed on Juno Beach on 6 June, 1944, and quickly made progress inland. Despite heavy casualties on D-Day, by 7 June, they occupied defensive positions inside and around the small town of Bretteville-l’Orgueilleuse.
Little did they know that on 8-9 June, they would be engaged in a series of desperate battles against elements of the 12.SS-Panzerdivision “Hitler Jugend.” The Regina’s were struck by attack after attack by the Waffen-SS, who committed their units into battle piecemeal in an effort to throw the invaders back into the sea.
With the aid of eyewitness accounts, contemporary photos and detailed maps, the reader can visit the scenes of these battles and see how they unfolded from the perspective of the participants on both sides of the conflict. There is no better way to learn history than to walk the ground where events unfolded with the aid of a knowledgeable guide. This book allows the reader to conduct a self-guided tour in less than a day.
Canadian soldiers had a fierce reputation in the Second World War. The tenacity and courage shown by the Regina Rifles in Bretteville-l’Orgueilleuse make it clear that this reputation was well-merited.
Double Dagger Books 