Sword Beach

Description

Sword Beach

British 3rd Army Division Deployments

SWORD was the code name for the British landing beach for the 3rd Division. Prior to the landings the Allies had tried a dummy landing at Dieppe in August 1942 and had lost 75% casualties as they were not prepared. The Allies, in particular the British, were prepared against the fortifications and the troops had been well trained. The British had gathered intelligence (in particular Operation Hardtack 21) on what the Germans had in place owing to the use of Bletchley Park code breaking and the courage of the French Resistance and agents such as Violette Szabo.