Dieppe had no strategic importance, but Britain was under intense pressure to launch a major cross-Channel attack against France. In August 1942, an almost all-Canadian force of 5,000 men made the raid. Of these, 3,000 were kill or taken prisoner; 1,000 more never landed. Robertson provides a startling account of how this massacre came about.

An Atlantic monthly press book Originally published in 1962 under title: The shame and the glory: Dieppe.

The men -- Reasons for a raid -- "Poor man's Monte Carlo" -- The blunders begin -- Dieppe decision -- Groomed to kill -- Weakening the punch -- Anger at the summit -- Resurrection of a raid -- Organizing Jubilee -- Ready for the punch -- Flare-up at sea -- The commandos go in -- The abbatoir at Puits -- Spirit of the prairies -- Main assault -- Battle for the beaches -- Return to the muddles -- Epilogue.