The ultimate goal of the Normandy invasion was simply to bring the unconditional surrender of the third Reich. None of the allied leaders would accept anything less than the total destruction ofthe Hitler and his Nazi party.
The objectives of every army that landed on the shores of the Normandy coast were:
1.
2. Land troops, tanks, artillery and the supplies needed to bring the Wehrmacht to submission in Normandy
3.
i.
ii.
iii.
The objectives listed above were never in doubt by any allied leader. However the plan on how to attain these objectives was always in hot dispute. After much arguing the allied leaders decided that the each beach was to be planed independently. The plan to reach each division's objectives was designed taking into account the natural defensives of the beaches, the strength of the German troops, and the strength of the Atlantic wall. The greatest limiting factor in planning for the D-Day invasion was the number of transports available to each unit.
The Canadian Objectives
The 3rdCanadian Division's D-Day objectives where
1. Get off Juno Beach Fast
2. Push inland up to the Caen-Bayeux Highway
3. Connect with the British forces on Gold and Sword beach
The Canadian 3rd division under the British Second army was given the responsibility of taking Juno Beach. Juno Beach stretched from St Aubin-sur-mer on the east to half way between the towns of La Riviere and Courseulles-sur-mer on the west.
Juno beach was divided up into two sectors Mike and Nan. Sector Mike was on the west and Nan sector was on the east. The 7th brigade supported by the 6th Canadian Armored regiment (1st Hussars) where to land and control Mike Sector. The 8th brigade supported by the 10th Canadian Armored regiment (Fort Garry Horse) landed on Nan sector. The 9th brigade was to be left in reserve.
This is the basic plan for the Canadians on Juno Beach. The next section will discuss the German defenses at Juno Beach.