Operation Epsom

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Operation Epsom

Part of World War II, Battle of Normandy

An ammunition carrier of the 11th Armoured Division explodes after it was hit by a mortar round during Operation Epsom on 26 June 1944

Date	June 25 – June 30, 1944
Location	Normandy, France
Result	Indecisive

Combatants

Allied Powers

Germany

Commanders

Lieutenant General Richard O'Connor

SS General Paul Hausser

Strength

1 armoured division
3 infantry divisions
1 armoured brigade

2 SS Panzer Divisions
5 Panzer "battlegroups"

Casualties

British VIII Corps 4,020

12th SS Panzer Regiment 324
25th SS Panzer-Grenadier Regiment 383
26th SS Panzer-Grenadier Regiment 1,017
12th SS Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion 250
12th SS Panzer Pioneer Battalion 490
12th SS Panzer Artillery, Divisional, Escort Coy & Others 198
Total 2,662

Battle of Normandy
Sword – Juno – Gold – Omaha – Utah – Pointe du Hoc – Brécourt Manor – Chicago – Villers-Bocage – Cherbourg – Epsom – Goodwood – Atlantic – Spring – Cobra – Bluecoat – Lüttich – Totalise – Tractable – Falaise – Brest – Paris

Operation Epsom was a British attack intended to outflank and seize Caen in France during the Battle of Normandy during World War II. It failed but forced the Germans to abandon their offensive plans and tied most of their armoured units to a defensive role.

1 Situation and Plans
2 The Operation
3 Results and Aftermath
4 Sources
5 See also

The Allies originally intended Caen to be captured on the first day of the invasion of Normandy. When this failed, the sector of front north of the city saw the heaviest fighting.

The Allied buildup in the Normandy beachhead was delayed by a storm which lasted from June 17 to June 23. The Germans were able to take advantage of the weather which grounded Allied aircraft, to move II SS Panzer Corps (under SS General Paul Hausser) to reinforce their troops in Normandy, intending to launch a major counter-offensive with them.

From ULTRA interceptions, General Bernard Montgomery knew this and planned to forestall them with an attack by the fresh British VIII Corps, under Lieutenant General Richard O'Connor. The attack was launched west of Caen and was intended to cross the River Odon and River Orne southwest of the city, outflanking and surrounding its defenders.

A preliminary attack was launched by units of British XXX Corps to secure ground on the flank of the intended advance. On June 25, the British 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division gained some ground but the weather was still foul and the attackers were hampered by muddy ground and lack of air support. Some dominating terrain on the right flank of the intended attack by VIII Corps was still in German hands.

Nevertheless, to be certain of anticipating any German attack the main attack was launched on June 26 . Although held up on parts of the front by infantry of 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend, the British 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division and the 31st Armoured Brigade gained four miles on their left flank. Further to their left the British 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division also gained ground.

On June 27, after repulsing small armoured counter-attacks, the 15th Division gained more ground and captured a bridge over the River Odon. The British 11th Armoured Division passed through to capture Hill 112, a mile to the southeast. This deep penetration alarmed the German command and Hausser was ordered to commit his units to contain and eliminate the Allied salient. The German command was in some disarray, as General Friedrich Dollmann, commanding the German Seventh Army died of a heart attack immediately after ordering Hausser to mount the counter-attack and Field Marshals Erwin Rommel and Gerd von Rundstedt were en route to a conference with Adolf Hitler and out of touch with their headquarters.

The weather was improving, and Allied aircraft harassed Hausser's units as they moved into position. The attack was launched against the Scottish division's right flank on the evening of June 29. The main attacking force was 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen, supported by several other small "battlegroups" from other Panzer units. The attackers were hit hard by aircraft, artillery and anti-tank fire. Although some tanks reached two miles into the British lines, the attack was held by nightfall.

Nevertheless, the British salient was cramped and under fire from several sides. Fresh units could not be introduced to advance further. The Germans succeeded in recapturing Hill 112 on June 30, and the British operation was stopped.

The Germans scored a defensive success in containing the Allied offensive. The British suffered heavy infantry casualties in the first days of the operation. (At one point, the River Odon was said to be choked by bodies). On the other hand, the Germans had been forced to commit their Panzer units piecemeal and counter-attack at a disadvantage. The Panzer units lost several tanks and were disrupted and worn down. Because there were few infantry units available the Panzer units were forced to remain in the front line.

Using information from ULTRA (and the fortuitous capture of a set of German orders), Montgomery had been able to force the Germans to react to Allied moves. As the German Panzer units were forming up to attack the salient across the River Odon, the British 11th Armoured Division was being withdrawn into reserve, ready for fresh attacks while the Germans were still trying to contain the last Allied offensive.

A few days after Epsom ended, Operation Charnwood finally captured the northern half of Caen in a frontal offensive.