Thereafter they were ordered to destroy road bridges over the river Dives and its tributaries at Varaville, then neutralize strongpoints at the crossroads.
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In addition, the Canadians were to protect the left (southern) flank of the 9th Battalion, Parachute Regiment during that unit's attack on the Merville Battery, afterwards seizing a position astride the Le Mesnil crossroads, a vital position at the centre of the ridge.
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The Battalion also took part in a general advance, taking them through the towns of Aye, Marche, Roy and Bande.
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“A” stage consisted of a series of gruelling exercises including Jiu-Jitsu and other hand to hand combat classes.
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By mid-day, and in spite of German resistance, the men of the battalion had achieved all their objectives; the bridges on the Dives and Divette in Varaville and Robehomme were cut, the left flank of the 9th Parachute Battalion at Merville was secure, and the crossroads at Le Mesnil was taken.
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At Bande on 11th January, 1945, a patrol from the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion who had been in reserve, accompanied by the Belgian SAS, discovered with horror the bodies of thirty four civilians, who had been murdered by the Germans on Christmas Eve.