JUNO Beach

Juno Beach
Part of the Normandy landings and the Battle for Caen
Canadian soldiers landing at Juno on the outskirts of Bernières.
Date 6 June 1944 Location Courseulles, Saint-Aubin and Bernières, in the department of Calvados, France Result Allied victory
Belligerents
Canada  United Kingdom  Free France  Norway	Germany
Commanders and leaders
John T. Crocker Rod Keller	Wilhelm Richter
Units involved
3rd Canadian Infantry Division 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade No. 48 (Royal Marine) Commando	Company, 736th Grenadier Regiment 21st Panzer Division
Strength
1 Infantry Division 1 Armoured Brigade 1 Commando Battalion	Elements of 1 Infantry Division
Casualties and losses
340 dead 574 wounded 47 captured	Unknown

Juno or Juno Beach was one of five beaches of the Allied invasion of German occupied France in the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, during the Second World War. The beach spanned from Courseulles, a village just east of the British beach Gold, to Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer, just west of the British beach Sword. Taking Juno was the responsibility of the Canadian Army, with sea transport, mine sweeping, and a naval bombardment force provided by the Royal Canadian Navy and the British Royal Navy as well as elements from the Free French, Norwegian, and other Allied navies. The objectives of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division on D-Day were to cut the Caen-Bayeux road, seize the Carpiquet airport west of Caen, and form a link between the two British beaches of Gold and Sword on either side of Juno Beach.

The beach was defended by two battalions of the German 716th Infantry Division, with elements of the 21st Panzer Division held in reserve near Caen.

The invasion plan called for two brigades of the 3rd Canadian Division to land on two beach sectors—Mike and Nan—focusing on Courseulles, Bernières and Saint-Aubin. It was hoped that the preliminary naval and air bombardments would soften up the beach defences and destroy coastal strong points. Close support on the beaches was to be provided by amphibious tanks of the 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade. Once the landing zones were secured, the plan called for the 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade to land reserve battalions and deploy inland, the Royal Marine commandos to establish contact with the British 3rd Infantry Division on Sword Beach and the 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade to link up with the British 50th Infantry Division on Gold Beach. The 3rd Canadian Division's D-Day objectives were to capture Carpiquet Airfield and reach the Caen–Bayeux railway line by nightfall.

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