CBC Archives

Ask students to make a list of some of the main events of the Second World War. Record their responses and ask students which of these events involved the participation of Canadian troops and which did not. Ask students where most Canadians fought, and if they can give reasons why this was the case.

Have students share what, if anything, they know about the Dieppe raid of August 1942 and record their answers on the board.

Have students browse The Contentious Legacy of Dieppe on the CBC Radio and Television Archives Web site for approximately 20 to 30 minutes. As they examine the site, students record any information they find interesting and/or important, and list some of the major political and military figures involved in ordering, preparing, and executing this military operation.

Have students share the information and impressions they gathered. Ask them why they think the Dieppe operation has such a “contentious legacy” to this day. Write the following quotation on the board, and ask students to respond:

Of nearly 5,000 Canadians sent to Dieppe, only 2,000 returned. More than 60 years later, the operation remains divisive: was Dieppe an essential trial run for D-Day or a shocking waste of lives?

Students can prepare a timeline of the main events of the Dieppe raid, including the planning for the operation, the military objectives of the raid, its execution, and its consequences. Alternatively, have students prepare and present a one-page opinion statement arguing that the Dieppe raid was or was not justified.