On 6 June 1944, the 7th Canadian Brigade landed in Normandy on Juno Beach, defended by the 716th German Infantry Division, under General Richter. The special tanks were delayed, and the allied bombing left intact the major part of the German strong points. Therefore the losses were heavy in the first assault waves in front of Courseulles-sur-Mer and Graye-sur-Mer. The Royal Winnipeg Rifles, called the Little Black Devils, fought hand to hand to reduce the German machine-guns of the position coded Wiederstand Nest 31. The arrival of the 1st Hussars Regiment tanks finally cracked the gate open. The Canadians moved inland through the minefields and the marshes area, and liberated Graye-sur-Mer. They were joined by a company of the 1st Canadian Scottish Regiment, they captured Sainte-Croix-sur-Mer in the evening.