Operation Goodwood facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Operation Goodwood
Part of the Battle for Caen
Two M4 Sherman tanks, a Sherman Firefly carrying infantry and a Sherman Crab wait for the order to advance at the start of Operation Goodwood, 18 July
Date 18–20 July 1944 Location Normandy, France 49°10′54″N 00°16′03″W / 49.18167°N 0.26750°W / 49.18167; -0.26750 Result See Aftermath section
Belligerents
United Kingdom	Germany
Commanders and leaders
Bernard Montgomery Miles Dempsey John Crocker Richard O'Connor	Günther von Kluge Heinrich Eberbach Sepp Dietrich Hans von Obstfelder
Strength
3 armoured divisions (c. 1,100 tanks) 2 infantry divisions 1 armoured brigade	3 armoured divisions 2 heavy tank battalions (377 tanks) 4 infantry divisions
Casualties and losses
4,000–5,000 217–500 tanks	2,000 prisoners 75–100 tanks

Operation Goodwood was a major British attack during World War II. It happened in Normandy, France, from July 18 to 20, 1944. This operation was part of the bigger Battle for Caen. The goal was to push south from a bridgehead (a secure area across a river) and capture the rest of the city of Caen. They also wanted to take control of the Bourguébus Ridge, a high area nearby. Some historians say this was the biggest tank battle the British Army has ever fought.

Before Operation Goodwood, the British launched smaller attacks called Operations Greenline and Pomegranate. These were meant to distract German forces. Goodwood began with the British VIII Corps attacking with three armoured divisions. Their aim was to seize the Bourguébus Ridge and cause heavy losses to the Germans. At the same time, the British I Corps attacked villages to the east. To the west, Canadian forces launched Operation Atlantic to capture parts of Caen south of the Orne River. By July 20, the British tanks had broken through German defenses. They advanced about 7 miles (11 km) but were stopped just before reaching Bourguébus Ridge.

Even though Goodwood didn't fully reach its main goal, it was important. It forced the Germans to keep many strong forces fighting the British and Canadians. This made it easier for the American forces to launch Operation Cobra on July 25. That attack caused the weaker German defenses on the western side to collapse.

Why Caen Was Important

The Fight for Caen City

The historic town of Caen was a key target for the British on D-Day, June 6, 1944. The plan was for the British 3rd Infantry Division to capture the city. This would create a strong front line and protect the American army's left side. Capturing Caen would also give the British a good starting point to push south towards Falaise.

However, the British 3rd Infantry Division faced many challenges. They couldn't attack Caen directly and were stopped outside the city. German resistance was very strong. The British tried other attacks, like Operation Perch, to surround Caen. But these also faced tough German defenses. A severe storm in the English Channel on June 19 further delayed Allied plans. This storm lasted three days and slowed down the arrival of more troops and supplies.

Later Attacks on Caen

After the storm, the British launched Operation Epsom on June 26. This attack aimed to encircle Caen from the west. But the Germans brought in all their forces, including new tank divisions, to stop it. A few days later, the British tried a direct attack on Caen called Operation Charnwood. This attack was helped by Operation Windsor, which captured the airfield at Carpiquet. By July 9, the British had captured the northern part of Caen. But the Germans still held the southern bank of the Orne River. They also held important places like the Colombelles steel works. The tall chimneys of the steelworks gave German observers a great view of the area.

Title: Collombelles, Soldaten auf Feld vor Fabrik
Credit: This image was provided to Wikimedia Commons by the German Federal Archive (Deutsches Bundesarchiv) as part of a cooperation project. The German Federal Archive guarantees an authentic representation only using the originals (negative and/or positive), resp. the digitalization of the originals as provided by the Digital Image Archive.
Author: Vennemann, Wolfgang
Usage Terms: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 de
License: CC BY-SA 3.0 de
License Link: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en
Attribution Required?: Yes After capturing northern Caen, the British tried to take the Colombelles steelworks. But this attack failed. The factory remained in German hands, and its chimneys were still used as observation posts. General Bernard Montgomery, the commander of all Allied ground forces in Normandy, decided to keep attacking. He wanted to wear down the German forces, especially their tanks. This period became a "battle of attrition," meaning both sides tried to wear each other down.

Montgomery's Strategy

On July 10, General Montgomery met with his commanders. They talked about future plans. Montgomery approved Operation Cobra, a big attack by the American army set for July 18. He told the British commander, Miles Dempsey, to "keep hitting" the Germans. This was to draw German strength, especially their tanks, towards the British. This would make it easier for the American attack.

The British army had many tanks in Normandy, about 2,250 medium tanks and 400 light tanks. Dempsey suggested an attack using only armoured divisions. This was a new idea for Montgomery. On July 13, the first written order for Operation Goodwood was given. It was named after the famous horse races. This order was sent to planners in the UK to get air support ready.

Getting Ready for Goodwood

The Goodwood Plan

The planned attack for operations Atlantic and Goodwood. It shows where the Second Army knew the locations of several German divisions as well as where they believed others were.

The plan for Goodwood was for the British VIII Corps to attack south. They would start from the Orne bridgehead, an area captured on D-Day. Three armoured divisions would lead the way. The 11th Armoured Division would push towards Bretteville-sur-Laize. The Guards Armoured Division would go towards Vimont and Argences. The 7th Armoured Division would aim for Falaise.

The 3rd Infantry Division would protect the eastern side by capturing villages like Émiéville. At the same time, the Canadian II Corps would launch Operation Atlantic. This attack would support the British and capture parts of Caen south of the Orne River. Both British and Canadian operations were planned for July 18.

Montgomery later changed the plan from a "deep break-out" to a "limited attack." He wanted to force the Germans to use their tank reserves. The goal was to "wear down" the German tanks so they wouldn't be useful anymore. The armoured divisions were told to "dominate" the area around Bourguébus, Vimont, and Bretteville. But armoured cars were allowed to push further south towards Falaise to cause confusion.

The 11th Armoured Division would lead the attack. They would try to go around most German-held villages. The Guards Armoured Division would follow and capture Cagny and Vimont. The 7th Armoured Division would move south beyond the Garcelles-Secqueville ridge. The Canadian II Corps would capture Colombelles and the rest of Caen.

British intelligence had a good idea of the German forces they would face. They knew the Germans expected a big attack from the Orne bridgehead. They expected resistance from the 16th Luftwaffe Field Division and parts of the 12th SS Panzer Division. They also knew about battle groups from the 21st Panzer Division and the 503rd Heavy Panzer Battalion, which had powerful King Tigers. The British estimated the Germans had about 230 tanks and 300 artillery guns.

Camouflaged Churchill tanks of the 31st Tank Brigade, which did not take part in Goodwood, highlighting the efforts taken in Normandy to hide vehicles from enemy observers.

To hide their true plans, the British used a deception plan. This included fake attacks by other corps. The three armoured divisions moved to their starting positions only at night and in radio silence. Artillery fire was used to hide the noise of the tanks. During the day, they carefully camouflaged their new positions.

Artillery and Air Support

For artillery support, Goodwood had 760 guns with a huge amount of ammunition. These guns would fire on German anti-tank and artillery positions before the attack. During the attack, they would create a "rolling barrage," a moving wall of explosions, for the 11th Armoured Division. They would also support the infantry attacks and fire on targets as needed. Three Royal Navy ships would also fire on German gun batteries near the coast.

Cromwell tanks moving across York Bridge, a Bailey bridge built over the Caen Canal and the Orne River.

Engineers worked hard to build six new roads and strengthen bridges across the Orne River and Caen Canal. This allowed the tanks to move quickly to their starting lines. They also cleared 19 wide gaps in German minefields. This allowed one armoured regiment to pass through each gap at a time.

The 11th Armoured Division moved into the Orne bridgehead on the night of July 16-17. The other divisions followed the next night. More minefield gaps were blown, and routes were marked with white tape.

The Royal Air Force (RAF) and United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) provided massive air support. Over 2,000 heavy and medium bombers would attack in three waves. This was the largest air raid supporting ground forces in the campaign so far. The bombing was meant to clear the way for the 11th Armoured Division to quickly reach the Bourguébus Ridge. Fighter-bombers would also attack German positions and stop troop movements.

German Defenses

The Germans saw the Caen area as vital to their position in Normandy. They built a strong defense line about 10 miles (16 km) deep, with four defense lines. Villages were fortified, and anti-tank guns were placed along the southern and eastern edges. They avoided placing minefields between their defense lines so their tanks could move freely.

German intelligence knew a British attack from the Orne bridgehead was likely. They expected the British to push south-east. The LXXXVI Corps held the front line, reinforced by much artillery. This included the 346th Infantry Division and the 16th Luftwaffe Field Division. Kampfgruppe von Luck, a battle group with about 30 assault guns, was behind these forces. The 21st Panzer Division's tanks, including ten King Tigers from the 503rd Heavy Panzer Battalion, were ready to support. The LXXXVI Corps had 194 artillery pieces, 272 rocket launchers, and 78 anti-aircraft and anti-tank 88 mm guns. A screen of 44 anti-tank guns was on the Bourguébus Ridge.

On July 14, parts of the 272nd Infantry Division took over defenses from the 1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler. The 12th SS Panzer Division was moved into reserve. On July 17, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, a top German commander, was seriously wounded when his staff car was attacked by a British fighter plane. This left the German Army Group B temporarily without a leader.

Distraction Attacks

Before Goodwood, the British launched two distraction operations:

• Operation Greenline: This attack by XII Corps began on July 15. It aimed to convince the Germans that the main British attack would be west of the Orne. This would tie down German tank divisions. The British captured some objectives, but the Germans managed to hold their ground.
• Operation Pomegranate: This operation began on July 16. XXX Corps tried to capture several important villages. They took some prisoners, but the fighting was tough.

These distraction operations cost the British about 3,500 casualties. But they were successful in their main goal. The Germans kept their tank divisions in the front line, reacting to these threats. This meant these tanks couldn't oppose Goodwood or the upcoming American attack. The Germans suffered about 2,000 casualties in these fights.

The Battle Begins

July 18: The Main Attack

Just before dawn on July 18, British infantry quietly moved back from the front line. At 5:45 AM, over 1,000 British heavy bombers dropped 4,800 tons of bombs. They targeted Colombelles, the steelworks, German tank positions, and the village of Cagny. Half of Cagny was destroyed.

At 6:40 AM, British artillery opened fire. Twenty minutes later, American bombers arrived. They dropped fragmentation bombs on German positions. During this 45-minute bombing, British tanks moved towards their starting line. At 7:45 AM, the artillery began its creeping barrage, moving ahead of the 11th Armoured Division. More artillery fired on other villages. American heavy bombers dropped more bombs on the main German gun line on the Bourguébus Ridge. Only 25 bombers were lost, all to German anti-aircraft fire. After the bombing, 800 fighter-bombers took over air support.

A Tiger I of 3./s.Pz.Abt. 503 (3rd Company 503rd Heavy Tank Battalion) overturned at Manneville by the bombing. Three men survived.

The bombing temporarily knocked out some German tanks. Some were overturned or destroyed. Most German front-line positions were neutralized, and survivors were "dazed." However, dust and smoke meant some targets were missed. Cagny and Émiéville were heavily bombed, but many defenders survived. They recovered in time to meet the British advance. The 503rd Heavy Tank Battalion quickly started digging out their tanks. On the Bourguébus Ridge, some guns were destroyed, but most artillery and anti-tank guns were still working.

By 8:05 AM, the lead British tanks had crossed the railway line. They rounded up many prisoners from the 16th Luftwaffe Division. The tanks struggled to keep up with the moving artillery barrage. By 9:35 AM, the lead tanks reached the Caen–Vimont railway.

Cagny on 18 July following the Allied bombing raids.

As the tanks advanced past Cagny, they were hit by anti-tank guns from the village. At least twelve tanks were disabled quickly. The British tanks pushed south and were engaged by the main German gun line on the ridge. What was supposed to be an attack by three armoured divisions became an unsupported advance by two tank regiments. By 11:15 AM, the British reached the ridge and the villages of Bras and Bourguébus. They caused some losses to German tanks, but strong resistance stopped further advances.

General Heinrich Eberbach ordered a German counter-attack. The 1st SS Panzer Division was to attack across the ridge. The 21st Panzer Division was to retake lost ground around Cagny. German tanks arrived on the ridge around noon. British tank crews reported German tanks and guns everywhere. British fighter-bombers with rockets attacked the ridge all afternoon. This delayed and eventually broke up the German counter-attack. A final attempt by the British to storm the ridge resulted in 16 British tanks lost.

Just before 10:00 AM, the Guards Armoured Division caught up with the 11th Armoured Division. They pushed towards Cagny. By noon, they were fighting hard. A German counter-attack by 19 tanks and King Tigers failed. It took the Guards the rest of the day to capture Cagny. Attempts to advance further met fierce German resistance.

The 11th Armoured Division pulled back to the Caen–Vimont railway line for the evening. Replacement tanks were brought forward. German teams worked to repair their tanks. During the night, the 12th SS Panzer Division moved in to close a gap in the German lines. German bombers attacked the Orne bridges, causing slight damage.

On July 18, the Guards Armoured Division lost 15 tanks destroyed and 45 damaged. The 11th Armoured Division lost 126 tanks, though many could be repaired. The armoured divisions suffered 521 casualties that day. On the eastern side, the 3rd Infantry Division had a good day, capturing most of its targets.

Operation Atlantic: The Canadian Attack

A Sherman (right) of the 2nd Armoured Irish Guards after ramming a King Tiger (left) during the fighting near Cagny.

On the Canadian front, Operation Atlantic began at 8:15 AM with a rolling artillery barrage. Canadian infantry and tanks crossed their starting line 20 minutes later. By 10:30 AM, British infantry had secured Cuverville. But they found Demouville strongly held. The rest of the day saw a slow advance as German positions were cleared. By nightfall, the infantry dug in around le Mesnil-Frèmentel.

July 19–20: Continued Fighting

German tanks counter-attacked late on July 18. Fighting continued along the high ground and around Hubert-Folie on July 19 and 20. This brought the British attack to a halt. On July 21, the British replaced their tanks with infantry to secure the ground they had gained.

What Happened After

Counting the Losses

It's hard to know the exact number of losses for both sides in Operation Goodwood. Early estimates said the British Second Army lost over 4,000 men. Other figures suggest around 1,020 to 3,474 casualties for the British armoured divisions and corps involved. Operation Atlantic cost the Canadians between 1,349 and 1,965 casualties.

The British took over 2,000 German prisoners. Around 75 to 100 German tanks were destroyed or damaged. Some reports say the 1st SS and 21st Panzer divisions lost 109 tanks on the first day.

British tank losses during Goodwood have been debated. Figures range from 218 to 500 tanks lost. Most of these were damaged and could be repaired, rather than completely destroyed. One study suggests a maximum of 253 tanks were lost, with most being repairable. Another source states 469 tanks were lost by the armoured divisions, but again, most could be repaired. One historian calculated 314 tanks lost by VIII Corps, with 130 completely destroyed. While many tanks were knocked out, many were put back into service. However, the morale of some tank crews suffered.