Liberation of Holland

Liberation of Holland, WWII, begun by American troops, who entered Maastricht on 13 September 1944; British troops also played a major part in liberating southern Holland, along their axis of advance toward Berlin. The failure of an airborne assault on Arnhem (September 17) prevented the liberation of the rest of Holland in 1944. FIRST CANADIAN ARMY, under General H.D.G. CRERAR, on the north end of the Allied line, was to clear the Dutch approaches to the key Belgian port of Antwerp, along both banks of the Schelde estuary, a task completed in November. There were still more Allied than Canadian troops under Crerar, but in mid-March 1945 I Canadian Corps arrived from Italy to replace I British Corps. I Corps pushed north to the IJsselmeer (Apr 18), isolating German forces in west Netherlands, while II Corps drove northeast to Groningen (April 13) and Leeuwarden (April 15), and then east into Germany.

When hostilities ceased 5 May 1945, it fell to the Canadians to liberate western Holland, including Rotterdam; the national centre of government, The Hague; and the national capital, Amsterdam. The Dutch there had suffered through an extremely harsh winter, short of food and fuel, but relief supplies were quickly funnelled into the area. The Canadians were welcomed enthusiastically and the joyous "Canadian summer" that ensued forged deep and long-lasting bonds of friendship between the Dutch and Canadian peoples.

See also WORLD WAR II.

Author BRERETON GREENHOUS

Suggested Reading
D. Kaufman and M. Horn, A Liberation Album (1980).

Links to Other Sites
Historica-Dominion Institute
The website for the Historica-Dominion Institute, parent organization of The Canadian Encyclopedia and the Encyclopedia of Music in Canada. Check out their extensive online feature about the War of 1812, the "Heritage Minutes" video collection, and many other interactive resources concerning Canadian history, culture, and heritage.

Canadian Military History Gateway
Search this website for authoritative information about Canadian military history. Provides links to websites for Canadian museums, libraries, archives, and other heritage organizations. Also features an online glossary of military terminology, educational resources and much more. From the Department of National Defence.

Canadian Forces: Glossary
A glossary of military terminology used in the Canadian Forces. From the forces.ca website.

The Liberation of the Netherlands, 1944-1945
Read online copies of on-the-scene news reports documenting the Canadian Infantry's heroic, and ultimately successful, efforts to liberate the Netherlands during the Second World War. From the Canadian War Museum.

The Last Canadian Battle and the Surrender of the German Army
Read an enlightening lecture given by Lieut.-General Charles Foulkes about the final months of Canadian military action in Europe during the Second World War. From the Empire Club website.

The Memory Project: Liberation of Holland
Listen to interviews with Canadian veterans about their wartime military service. See also related digitized artefacts and memorabilia. From the Historica Dominion Institute.

Canada Netherlands
A chronology of the "Liberation of the Netherlands", a series of Canadian military operations that extended from September 1944 to April 1945. From Veterans Affairs Canada.

The End of the War
View a cease-fire telegram sent to Canadian forces on 5 May 1945 and other wartime artifacts at this Virtual Museum of Canada website.

The Memory Project: Jacques Dextraze
Listen to an interview with Canadian veteran Émile Turcot about his military service during the Second World War. Includes a reference to Jacques Dextraze. See also related photos and other archival items. From the Historica-Dominion Institute.