Sainte Nazaire, Brittany – A town where British servicemen proved their bravery

Sainte Nazaire is a town on the north side of the Loire estuary in Brittany and is widely considered as being one of the most important French towns in the history of World War II.

During the Second World War the Royal Navy and British commandos took part in a raid on German fortifications here. The raid is known in Britain as the greatest raid ever. Many lives were lost but the mission was accomplished with great aplomb.

Sainte Nazaire was targeted because the Germans had a dry dock here and warships, such as the Tirpitz, could come for repairs in this Atlantic safe haven. A successful raid would send these ships the long way round and back to their home waters.

On March 28, 1942, the Royal Navy’s “town” destroyer, HMS Cambletown and 18 amphibious landing crafts crossed the Atlantic to Saint Nazaire. The Cambletown was packed with delayed action explosives and was rammed into the gates of the dry dock.

The commandos who had survived the landing fought their way into heavily armed German defences intent on destroying machinery. All of the small landing craft were set ablaze or sunk leaving the commando’s with no escape route by sea. The Cambletown blew up and put the dry dock out of action for the rest of the war.

The commando’s fought until they were either killed or their ammunition ran out. Out of a total force of 622 men.228 returned to Britain.169 were killed and 215 became prisoners of war. Five British servicemen actually made it through France into neutral Spain.

Whilst it is not considered to be one of France’s most attractive towns, when you consider what went on here just 68 years ago and the sacrifice made by these brave British servicemen who gave their lives to defeat the Nazis, Saint Nazaire is quite a poignant place to visit. Not to mention that the beaches along its coastline are considered to be the best in the Loire-Atlantique department.