Operation Astonia

Operation Astonia
Part of The Western Front in the Second World War
Churchill bridgelayers, Shermans and infantry following the assault on Le Havre, 13 September 1944
Date 10–12 September 1944 Location Le Havre, Normandy, France 49°29′N 00°06′E / 49.483°N 0.100°E / 49.483; 0.100 Result Allied victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom  Canada	Germany
Commanders and leaders
Evelyn Barker Tom Rennie Harry Crerar	Hermann-Eberhard Wildermuth
Strength
I Corps 49th Infantry Division 51st Infantry Division 79th Armoured Division 1st Armoured Carrier Regiment	Fortress cadre unit: 226th Infantry Division 245th Infantry Division battalion, Security Regiment 5 marines and naval personnel
Casualties and losses
388–500 40 armoured vehicles	600 killed 11,300 captured
5,000 French civilians killed [1]

Operation Astonia was the codename for an Allied attack on the German-held Channel port of Le Havre in France, during the Second World War. The city had been declared a Festung (fortress) by Hitler, to be held to the last man. Fought from 10 to 12 September 1944, the Allied objective was to secure the harbour facilities intact, to deliver supplies to the Allied armies in Continental Europe. The Allies refused to let the civilian population be evacuated, despite offers of free passage by the fortress commander.

From 26 August, Royal Navy ships and Royal Air Force aircraft carried out a blockade and an extensive preparatory bombardment of the city, which killed over 2,000 civilians and 19 German troops. The land attack was carried out by British infantry, aided by specialist armoured vehicles from the 79th Armoured Division, including Canadian troops. The German garrison of about 11,000 men surrendered on 12 September; the port was badly damaged but it was re-opened on 9 October.