Figure 1.--It was primarily Canadian soldiers that liberated the Dutch nort of the Rhine, but they did it from the east. Here one of the liberating Canadian soldiers chats with recently liberated Dutch boys north of the Rhine. As they look to be froim a rutal area, they hve survived the Hunger Winter in good conditiin, but their clothes are in tatters. Note their wooden shoes.

The Canadian First Army spearheaded the liberation of the Netherlands. As the Americans and British drove into the Reich from their Rhine bridgeheads, a German occupation force of 120,000 well-armed troops remained on their left flank in the Netherlands. It was not a military priority as they were not b mobile force and were basically cut off from the collapsing Reich, but the British were determined to rescue the starbving Dutch . British commander Bernard Montgomery ordered the Canadians to liberate the rest of the Netherlands. The I Canadian Corps arrived from Italy to replace I British Corps (mid-March 1945). Thus it was an all Canadian force crossed the Rhine at Wesel and Rees (German cities). They then moved north and began the liberation of the Dutch north of the Rhine from the east which meant German territory (April). By the time the Allies reached the Dutch north of the Rhine, people were starving. To assist the Canadians, a Free French SAS attack was launched to capture the Dutch canals, bridges and airfields in tact--Operation Amherst. It was led by Brigadier Mike Calvert who made a name for himself as a Chindit in Burma. Operation Amherst began with 700 Special Air Service French troopers of 3 and 4 SAS (French) dropped (night of April 7). The SAS teams spread out to capture and defend key facilities before the Germans could destroy them. Advancing Canadian troops of the 8th Reconnaissance Regiment relieved the isolated French SAS units. I Corps pushed north to the IJsselmeer (April 18), isolating German forces in west Netherlands, while II Corps drove northeast to Groningen (April 13) and Leeuwarden (April 15). The thus managed to liberate the Dutch eastern and northern provinces. The western provinces, where the food situation was worst, however, remained in German hands.

German Holdouts

The Canadian First Army spearheaded the liberation of the Netherlands. As the Americans and British drove into the Reich toward Berlin from their Rhine bridgeheads, a German occupation force of 120,000 well-armed troops remained on their left flank in the Netherlands. It was not a military priority as they were not a mobile force, but they were not a fefeated vforced. They were were lly cut off from the collapsing Reich. The ritish were determined to rescue the starving Dutch.

First Canadian Army

By the time the Allies reached the Dutch north of the Rhine, people were starving. British commander Bernard Montgomery ordered the Canadians to liberate the rest of the Netherlands. The I Canadian Corps arrived from Italy where German resiatance was collapsing. They replaced I British Corps (mid-March 1945). This formed the First Canadian Army--the fit=rst time two Canadian corps has served togerther. Thus it was an all Canadian force that crossed the Rhine at Wesel and Rees (German cities). They then moved north and began the liberation of the Dutch north of the Rhine from the east which meant German territory (April).

Operation Amherst

To assist the Canadians, a Free French SAS attack was launched to capture the Dutch canals, bridges and airfields in tact--Operation Amherst. It was led by Brigadier Mike Calvert who had made a name for himself as a Chindit in Burma. Operation Amherst began with 700 Special Air Service French troopers of 3 and 4 SAS (French) dropped (night of April 7). The SAS teams spread out to capture and defend key facilities before the Germans could destroy them. Advancing Canadian troops of the 8th Reconnaissance Regiment relieved the isolated French SAS units.

First Canadian Army Operations

The Canadian liberation of the Netherlands woulf be the forst time that two canadian corps operation together during Worlkd War I or II. It would be thev largest force ever vfielkded by Canada, with British and other foreign units, some 450,000 memn. As the Americans and British crossed the Rhine and drove into the Reich. The Canadians were ordered to liberate the area of the Netherlands still in German hands. As the Germannswere in the process of starbving the Dutch, it was not see accepotavle just to cut the German firces off. The Canadians faced stiff resistances un places ahinst well armed and entenched units. They had abundant artillery as the Netherlands had been part of the Kammhuner Line--an air defense line bristling with anti-aircraft artillery. The Gernans blew up bridges and other infrastructure. The Canafians began their offensive after the Allies were well into the Reich. I Corps began its assault on Arnhem (12 April). Two days of house-to-house fighting folowed until the the city was liberated. A Canadian officer later described the city as 'one of the most saddening sights I have seen in this war, for though the destruction is very far from total every building is smashed in some degree.' The Canadians then secured the city of Apeldoorn (April 17). The Canadians were able to begin food distributioin. Huge celebrations followed the city’s liberation, Dutch flags began flying from houses and shops. The 1st Canadian Corps suffered over 500 casualties in the region (Aoril 11-17). They captured thousands of German troops and accomplished many of their objectives. They reached the IJsselmeer (April 18). The IJsselmeer (Lake IJssel) is a closed off shallow inland bay in the central Netherlands bordering the provinces of Flevoland, North Holland and Friesland. The river IJssel flows into the IJsselmeer. Reaching the IJsselmeer isolated the remaining German forces in west Netherlands. II Corps drove northeast to Groningen (April 13) and Leeuwarden (April 15). This was not an easy action. Unlike many troos in the Reich itself, the Germans in the Netherlands fought with some determinationn. Although Canadian troops had penetrated the Groningen (the Duch northern-most province at Musselkanaal and the city of Groningen was liberated (April 13 - 16) the fighting continued in other parts of the province until the beginning of May. This can be partly explained by the presence of German bunkers in the northeast and east of the province. Anti-aircraft guns were installed on these bunkers that were difficult to take. For example, German artillery, including heavy artillery on the island of Borkum, continuously fired on the advancing Canadians. During the Allied advance towards fortified Delfzijl, the civilian population suffered extremely in the second half of April and the beginning of May. In the public primary school of Ten Boer, the Academic Hospital of Groningen had set up a Red Cross post where injured people received medical care. Many of the victims had shrapnel wounds. The main square and the Grote Markt were largely destroyed in the Battle of Groningen, hoiwever, the church Martinitoren, the Goudkantoor, and the city hall were undamaged. This action suceeded in liberating the Dutch eastern and northern provinces. Thus the Dutch weree liberate to far north. This was completed with the liberation of Groningen. --

1st Polish Armored Division

The Germans invaded and conquered Poland before the Polish Army receive modern weponry (1939). Througout the War, however the Poles proved fierce fighters and once well armed highly effective militarily. that was proiven by polish airmemn in he Battle of britain (1940). Polish units fought wih the Brirish in the Eaastern Desert and Italy. The 1st Polish Armored Division created at Duns in Scotland (February 1942). It was commanded by Major General Stanisław Maczek The Division destinguosed itself at Falise (August 1944). After Falise, the Division pursued the Germans along the French Channel coast. They liberatedf Saint-Omer, Ypres, Oostnieuwkerke, Roeselare, Tielt, Ruislede, and Ghent. During Operation Pheasant, General Maczek iversa the liberation of the city of Breda without any civilian casualties (October 1944). The Division after Market Farden spent the winter on the south bank of the river Rhine, guarding a sector around Moerdijk, Netherlands (11944-45). They moved to the province of Overijssel and after the Bulge started to push with the Allies along the Dutch-German border (early 1945). They liberate the eastern parts of the provinces of Drenthe and Groningen including the towns of Emmen, Coevorden and Stadskanaal. They fought as part of the First Canadin Army in France and the Nertherlands. They wereequipped with both British and American tanks, but mostly Shermans. Tragically, the men did not get to see a librated Poland after the War. Poland was occupied by the Red Army and turned into a Communist police state. Most of the Polish soldiers in the West decided not to return to a Soviet controlled Poland and ended up in Britain. Poland proved, however, to be a posoned pill for the Soviets. It was in Poland, innspired by the Catholic cgurch and Poilish pope, the fSolidarity free labor movement began to unravel the Soviet Empire. This began began first in Poland (1980s), but eventully other European satelites (1989), and eventually the Soviet Union itself (1991).

Western Netherlands

By the end of April, the Germans had been pushed back to what was known as the Grebbe Line, running between Wageningen through Amersfoort to the North Sea. The western provinces, where the food situation was most severe continued to be occupied by the Germans. The Germansblew up some of the dykes in the western Netherlands, flooding parts of the countryside.

Created: 12:52 PM 12/24/2014
Last upodaterd: 5:18 AM 6/26/2022