Liberation of the netherlands: September, 1944
The Liberation of the Netherlands was the final straw for Germany. This eventually led to Hitler, along with his wife, committing suicide in a bunker in Berlin shortly after Germany surrendered on May 7th, 1945.
By advancing from France and Belgium, Allied armies had reached the southern boundary line of the Netherlands, which was occupied by Germany, in September, 1944. The Allies’ first attempt to break into the Netherlands failed. In retaliation of the the Allies' actions, German troops destroyed much of the countryside by flooding cities such as Amsterdam and Rotterdam. German troops also cut open the dykes, letting seawater to flood low- lying fields, forcing Allied soldiers to follow narrow, fire- swept routes to the top of these dykes. For three months, from November 1944 to February 1945, there was no Canadian involvement in any large- scale operations. These five months of much needed rest were welcomed with open arms by Canadian troops.
The winter of 1944- 1945 was brutal. The food and fuel supplies had been cut off to the Dutch, which lead to many civilians starving to death. The weather conditions also made matters much worse.
After holding the front lines for three months, the first Canadian Army, joined tens of thousands of more Allied soldiers in a final push to drive the Germans out of Netherlands, in February 1945. Although the Allies failed with their first attempt to liberate the Netherlands, it was different this time.
In early April 1945, under the command of Lieut- General Charles Foulkes, Canadian troops were able to liberate the area north of the Mass River, where most civilians had perished. As quickly as possible, Canadian troops opened up a supply route to meet the demands for food and fuel.
By April 17th, the Canadian troops were able to defeat the German Army at Groningen, a northern city in the Netherlands. Soon after, the Allies advanced south into the city of Zwolle. Even though advances quickly picked up the pace, the fighting was tremendously intense. This was because troops had to fight door- to- door, and canal- by- canal.
Along with other Allied soldiers, Canadian troops were able to fight their way to and through Arnhem, which they cleared in two days. They did eventually run a supply route through Arnhem, this was one of the tasks of Canadian troops were designated to fufill, along with the liberation of the Netherlands.
Only a day after clearing Arnhem, Allied troops were able to to clear Apeldoorn as well. German troops were finally surrounded by Allied soldiers and surrendered. On May 7th, Col.- General. Johannes Blaskowitz formally surrender the remained German troops in the Netherlands. After nearly eight months of bitter and difficult fighting, the Netherlands were finally liberated.
Canadian troops began airdrops of food over the Netherlands and then continued their generosity by sending convoys of trucks into cities which carried food and fuel. The Canadian army eventually delivered thousands of tonnes of food on a daily basis to the civilian population of the Netherlands. To show their gratitude, many families painted “Thank you, Canadians!” on their rooftops. The Dutch also donated 10, 000 tulip bulbs to Canada annually since the end of the war in honour of their gift of freedom. More than 6, 300 Canadians were killed in this operation but there were also hailed as heroes.
By advancing from France and Belgium, Allied armies had reached the southern boundary line of the Netherlands, which was occupied by Germany, in September, 1944. The Allies’ first attempt to break into the Netherlands failed. In retaliation of the the Allies' actions, German troops destroyed much of the countryside by flooding cities such as Amsterdam and Rotterdam. German troops also cut open the dykes, letting seawater to flood low- lying fields, forcing Allied soldiers to follow narrow, fire- swept routes to the top of these dykes. For three months, from November 1944 to February 1945, there was no Canadian involvement in any large- scale operations. These five months of much needed rest were welcomed with open arms by Canadian troops.
The winter of 1944- 1945 was brutal. The food and fuel supplies had been cut off to the Dutch, which lead to many civilians starving to death. The weather conditions also made matters much worse.
After holding the front lines for three months, the first Canadian Army, joined tens of thousands of more Allied soldiers in a final push to drive the Germans out of Netherlands, in February 1945. Although the Allies failed with their first attempt to liberate the Netherlands, it was different this time.
In early April 1945, under the command of Lieut- General Charles Foulkes, Canadian troops were able to liberate the area north of the Mass River, where most civilians had perished. As quickly as possible, Canadian troops opened up a supply route to meet the demands for food and fuel.
By April 17th, the Canadian troops were able to defeat the German Army at Groningen, a northern city in the Netherlands. Soon after, the Allies advanced south into the city of Zwolle. Even though advances quickly picked up the pace, the fighting was tremendously intense. This was because troops had to fight door- to- door, and canal- by- canal.
Along with other Allied soldiers, Canadian troops were able to fight their way to and through Arnhem, which they cleared in two days. They did eventually run a supply route through Arnhem, this was one of the tasks of Canadian troops were designated to fufill, along with the liberation of the Netherlands.
Only a day after clearing Arnhem, Allied troops were able to to clear Apeldoorn as well. German troops were finally surrounded by Allied soldiers and surrendered. On May 7th, Col.- General. Johannes Blaskowitz formally surrender the remained German troops in the Netherlands. After nearly eight months of bitter and difficult fighting, the Netherlands were finally liberated.
Canadian troops began airdrops of food over the Netherlands and then continued their generosity by sending convoys of trucks into cities which carried food and fuel. The Canadian army eventually delivered thousands of tonnes of food on a daily basis to the civilian population of the Netherlands. To show their gratitude, many families painted “Thank you, Canadians!” on their rooftops. The Dutch also donated 10, 000 tulip bulbs to Canada annually since the end of the war in honour of their gift of freedom. More than 6, 300 Canadians were killed in this operation but there were also hailed as heroes.