Nazis suffered big Dieppe loss, Vichy reports
39 French civilians slain, hundreds hurt – 91 Reich planes downed
Vichy, France (UP) –
German troops suffered “extremely heavy losses” in the Dieppe battle, it was reported in French sources today and 30 French civilians were killed and “hundreds” wounded in the encounter.
An authorized French spokesman said the French populace in the Dieppe region did not participate in the battle, but suffered severe casualties as bystanders in the heavy fighting.
Reports from Paris seemed to confirm Allied statements that at least 91 Nazi planes were shot down in the air combat over the Dieppe area.
An authorized source said that the conduct of the French populace at Dieppe was correct and that German military authorities had offered “congratulations” to the French prefect on the obedience of the citizens to the government’s instructions to keep hands off.
In neutral sources, the view was expressed that the Allied objective must have been important due to the strength of the attack which German sources said was backed up by at least 15 cruisers and destroyers and at least 1,000 planes. German sources estimated that 15,000-20,000 troops were employed in the assault.
Admit only 400 casualties
Berlin, Germany – (German broadcast recorded by United Press in New York)
The German High Command reported in a communiqué today that enemy troops were landed along a 15½-mile front at Dieppe yesterday from a fleet of 35 transports and 300-400 landing barges.
The German reported placed Nazi casualties in the Dieppe fighting at 400 killed and wounded.
The landing vessels were said to have been protected by a large force of cruisers, destroyers and patrol boats, of which 13 warships and transports were sunk in a pre-dawn naval battle off Dieppe.
Listed as sunk were four British destroyers, two torpedo boats and seven transports, while four cruisers, for destroyers and five transports were said to have been damaged.
German military quarters said that 1,500 prisoners were taken and that official quarters have not yet stated whether Americans were among them, but this is to be presumed.