***
World War II Liberation of the Netherlands north of the Rhine - Canadians liberte the eastern and norther nprovinces
Canadians Liberate the Nerherlands: Eastern and Northern Provinces (April-May 1945)
Figure 1.--Heree see one of countless scenes as the Canadians liberatedc one Dutch town after another. We are not sure which town this was. It may be Amsterdam. Nor do we know what flag the boys were waving. It was not British or Dutch.It may be the best they coulkd co for a Canadisn flag. Note the Dutch flags flying in the background. It was not, however, an endless procession of celebratiions. The Germans were well armed and not yet defeated. They put up stiff resistance in many positiions were bolsrered by SS diehards.
The Canadian liberation of the Netherlands would be the first time that two Canadian corps operation together during World War I or II. It would be the largest force ever fielded 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 Germanns were in the process of systematically starving the Dutch, it was not seen as acceptanle just to cut the German forces off. Despite the fact tht the War was essentially over, the Canadians faced stiff resistances in places against well-armed and entenched units. The Germans 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 had crossed the Rhine were well into the Reich.
I Corps
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 as we see here (figur 1). 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
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 Dutch 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. The Battle of Groningen was a tgough fight. 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.
