Commando Operations of WW2 featuring Dieppe, St. Nazaire & Normandy


7 days from £899pp

About the tour: Commando Operations of WW2 featuring Dieppe, St. Nazaire & Normandy

  • Campaign: World War 2 (WW2)
  • Campaign Dates Covered: Aug 1942 - Jun 1944

This tour will cover the following key events

  • Operation Jubilee: Dieppe - 19 August 1942
    In August 1942, the Allies launced an attack on the Germans at the port of Dieppe. The aim was to occupy as much ground as possible and gather intelligence. However, the plan failed and saw over 60% of the Allied force who landed at Dieppe, being killed, wounded or captured.
  • Operation Chariot: Raid on St Nazaire - 28 March 1942
    During WW2 the British launced a successful amphibious attack on the Germans at St.Nazaire. Carried out as an attempt to force German ships into the heavly defended English Channel, the attack involving the Royal Navy and British Commandos was a success.
  • Operation Overlord - 6 June 1944
    Commonly know as the D-Day Landings, Operation Overlord saw the successful invasion of the German occupied Western Europe druing WW2. The operation involed Allied troops landing on five beaches in Normandy and launching a surprise attack on the Germans.

Tour Introduction

Follow the Commando actions of World War 2 through France as we take a look at some of the huge battles from Operation Jubilee at Dieppe to the greatest raid of all at St.Nazaire. Pay a visit to the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire and Lorient, take a tour of the Maisy Battery gun positions and visit the Atlantic Wall Museum at Batz. At Pointe du Hoc we see the Rangers battlefield and we also follow the story of British Commandos on D-Day from Sword Beach to Eastern Flank.

Tour Includes


  • 6 nights hotel with continental breakfast
  • Specialist Battlefield Guide
  • Convenient local joining points
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(Deposits from £150pp)

Once you have booked your battlefield tour either online, or by telephone (), you have the flexibility of how you pay off the remainder of your balance. You can -

  1. Use our balance payment facility online to make and track your card payments. You can pay as much as you want up until your final due date or pay it all, the choice is yours.
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  3. Send payments via cheque.
  4. Call us and make a card payment, either a small amount or as lump sum until your final due date.

Our contact and online banking payment details will be on your confirmation invoice to remind you of your choices.

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Tour Itinerary

Day 1

Local departure by coach or Door-to-Door service, then to our hotel in Rouen for two nights.

Day 2 - Operation Jubilee: The Dieppe Raid

Today we look at the first major Allied attempt to effect a large scale landing on the French coast. In August 1942 Canadians and British Commandos laid down the lessons for D-Day but at huge cost. We see the area where No. 3 Commando fought its actions on the flanks, and around Dieppe see the Canadian landing beaches, the bunkers that defeated them and look at the use of tanks. We also visit Dieppe War Cemetery.

Included meals: Breakfast

Dieppe

Dieppe (2)

Key Visits

  • Dieppe
  • No. 3 Commando sites
  • Dieppe Landing Beaches
  • Dieppe War Cemetery

Day 3 - Saumur Tank Museum

We move from Upper Normandy with a stop en-route at the superb Saumur Tank Museum, which is France’s national war museum of armoured vehicles, with everything from Shermans to Tiger tanks. We stay in St. Nazaire or Nantes for two nights.

Included meals: Breakfast

Saumur Tank Museum

Saumur Tank Museum (2)

Key Visits

  • Saumur Tank Museum

Day 4 - The Greatest Raid of All

Operation Chariot was the attack on St. Nazaire by Naval and Commando forces in March 1942 when HMS Campbeltown rammed the dock gates of the port used by German U-Boats. The operation also resulted in the award of five Victoria Crosses. We look at the raid, see the U-Boat pens* and have time to visit the U-Boat museum (at own cost). In the afternoon we visit the British graves at Escoublac-la-Baule War Cemetery and the German War Cemetery at Pornichet.

*Please note: A degree of walking is required when visiting the U-Boat pens as this is a vast area.

Included meals: Breakfast

St_Nazaire-U-boat_pens_St_Nazaire

St. Nazaire (3)

Key Visits

  • St. Nazaire
  • U-Boat Pens
  • Pornichet German War Cemetery
  • Escoublac-la-Baule War Cemetery

Day 5 - Atlantic Wall & U-Boat Pens

We depart St. Nazaire and visit the Grand Blockhaus Museum, a superb example of the Atantlic Wall defences in this area. At Lorient we see the huge U-Boat submarine pens which sheltered the Nazi U-Boat fleet which operated in this area. After lunch we travel to Caen for two nights.

Included meals: Breakfast

Grand Blockhaus Museum

Grand Blockhaus Museum (2)

Key Visits

  • Grand Blockhaus Museum
  • Lorient Submarine Pens

Day 6 - Maisy Battery, Pointe du Hoc & Eastern Flank

In Normandy we look at the role of American Rangers and British Commandos. At the Maisy Battery we explore a preserved gun battery site attacked by the US Rangers, seeing trenches, bunkers and gun pits, with guns in place. We then see Pointe du Hoc where Rangers assaulted the cliffs. In the afternoon we follow the story of British Commandos on D-Day from Sword Beach to the Eastern Flank, visiting the Piper Bill Millin Memorial and the Amfreville-Breville battlefield.

Included meals: Breakfast

Maisy Battery

Maisy Battery (4)

Key Visits

  • Sword Beach
  • Pointe Du Hoc
  • Maisy Battery

Day 7

Return home.

Included meals: Breakfast

Pre-Tour Reading

A selection of related books for pre or post tour reading.

  • Dorrian, J.G. - St Nazaire (Pen & Sword 2006)
  • Ford, Ken - Dieppe 1942 (Osprey 2003)
  • Ford, Ken - St Nazire 1942 (Osprey 2001)
  • Reed, Paul - Walking D-Day (Pen & Sword 2012)
  • Saunders, Tim - Dieppe: Operation Jubilee (Pen & Sword 2005)

Passenger Information

The Tour


The Commando Operations of WWII tour looks at some of the key sites connected with special operations in Occupied Europe following the formation of Commando forces in 1940 and later operations that including American Rangers.

Foreign Currency


The Commando Operations of WWII tour takes place in France and therefore you will only need the Euro. You are advised to get Euros – in cash – in advance of your tour, as most banks in France do not provided currency exchange services.

What to Bring


As we will be visiting largely coastal areas, the weather can be changeable, and it is advisable to bring sensible clothes and always pack a jumper and waterproofs. Good, stout shoes are essential and comfortable walking boots or trainers are ideal. In warm weather always bring a hat and sun cream, and it is advisable to have a supply of water, which is usually on sale on the coach as well.

Specialist Battlefield Guides

All of Leger’s battlefield tours are accompanied by specialist guides. Their individual in-depth knowledge of warfare will be informative, as well as enhance your overall experience, as they recreate a fascinating perception of the history and factual events of each battle. Discover the actual catalysts for war, the strategies employed and the final, inevitable outcomes, as well as experiencing the emotional human side of the front line.

Please note: On certain tours, you may get tour guides other that the ones listed below.

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Hotel

You will stay for two nights in Rouen in a minimum 3-star hotel, followed by a two-night stay at the 3-star Holiday Inn Express in St. Nazaire. Finally, you will stay for two nights in a minimum 3-star hotel in Caen.

Carline Caen Nord

Carline Caen Nord
Carline Caen Nord

About the hotel

The Carline Caen Nord Hotel is set in a flowery surrounding with a garden in the area of Caen. The hotel is close to the D-Day landing beaches and the William the Conquer historical town. The hotel facilities include a lounge, a bar, a restaurant and Wi-Fi in public areas.

Hotel Features

  • Bar
  • English Speaking Staff
  • Guest Lounge
  • Lift
  • Restaurant
  • WiFi Available

Room Features

  • Bath and/or Shower
  • Tea and Coffee Making Facilities
  • Telephone
  • TV

Travel Options

All our coaches and transfer vehicles operate a 'no smoking on board policy'. The use of electronic cigarettes is strictly forbidden.
In the interest of fellow guests, do not take hot food or ice cream on board.
alcohol can only be taken on board our vehicles at the discretion of your driver.

When it comes to getting to the Battlefields, Leger Holidays make it easy, with a selection of travel options for you choose from.

Silver Service Coach

Silver Service, refreshments
Silver Service, lounge
Silver Service, entertainment

Silver Service Features

  • Sit back and relax in specially-designed, deluxe reclining seats, with leather headrests, footrests and more legroom than standard coaches.
  • Enjoy the perfect temperature onboard with climate control.
  • Relax and have a chat in the spacious rear lounge.
  • Servery on board offering a range of refreshments.
  • Porterage* at most hotels, so you really don’t have to lift a finger.
  • Time flies with our onboard entertainment system.
  • With free personal headphones you can tune into the music channel, listen to the radio or watch DVDs.
  • Onboard toilet

Silver Service Seating Plan

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Luxuria Coach

Luxuria - Charging sockets
Luxuria - TV
Luxruia - Seating

Luxuria Features

  • Deluxe armchair-style seats with leather exterior, central arm rests with cup holders and retractable calf rests give you a more comfortable journey.
  • Every seat has its own, fully interactive, touch screen T.V. offering a wide choice of entertainment so you can control what you want to watch and when.
  • There’s also a selection of double and single seats, including four seats face-to-face with tables. And with a total of 7 single seats available, these are ideal for passengers travelling independently.
  • Plug sockets and USB points at each seat mean you can keep your devices fully charged throughout your journey.
  • Onboard toilet.

Luxuria Seating Plan

Luxuria Seating Plan

Travel Extras

With an overnight stay, a Door-to-Door pick up or the option to meet us at the interchange, our travel extras allow you to create a travel experience to suit your needs...

Join coach at Interchange

Join your tour coach at the interchange.

On most tours if you’d prefer to join your tour coach at Stop 24 services, you can park your car in the car park which is accredited by the Park Mark safer parking scheme and is monitored 24 hours a day by CCTV. Payment for the parking is made on arrival using the self-service machines.

Excludes tours to Ireland and the U.K. and tours travelling via Brittany Ferries.

Door-to-Door service

On Battlefield tours of 7 days’ duration or more, you don’t even have to think about getting to your local joining point. Our Door-to-Door Service collects you from your home and takes you to meet your transfer vehicile, then brings you back at the end of the holiday. Door-to-Door Service is available within a 20-mile radius of one of our free joining points and is from £90 per car, return (up to 4 passengers per vehicle).

If you live a little further afield, you can also take advantage of this convenient option for an additional charge – please enquire at the time of booking.

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