There are few periods in the history of the Netherlands of which the tragic significance has been more deeply impressed in the hearts of the Netherlands people than the German Occupation lasting from 1940 to 1945.

During the Liberation of the Netherlands the Canadian Army won great glory by its courage and selfdenial and filled the hearts of the people with everlasting gratitude.

With the heroic struggle for Nijmegen and Arnhem began the liberation of the country which, with the conquest of Zeeland and eastern provinces, ultimately led to the capitualation of the enemy. Major Norman Phillips and Secretary of the Canadian-Netherlands Committee were kind enought to write this book. It is filled with pictures of the Canadian advance through Holland.

Immediatley after the liberation of this country a desire was felt to offer the Canadian Army a commemmorative gift which could be kept by each individual receipient and which would give expression to the admiration and gratitude of the Dutch. It was felt that such a gift should take the form of a book which, under the title "Holland and the Canadian", would give a picture of the country they had liberated. This book is very rare and a magnifigant tribute.The first photo will show the book cover. The book has no publication date but I believe it was published in the late 1940's. It is a very big wire bound book with over 150 photos that many have not been seen or published..

The first Canadians to touch down on French soil were the men of the Canadian Parachut Battalion dropped early on the eastern edge of the invasion beaches. By sea came the assault formations of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division and the 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade.Amphibious tanks, flame throwing tanks, artillery trained to fire from landing craft before theyeven reached the shore, assualt vehicles, rocket firing apparatus, all matter of new and deadly weapons.

First of the Canadian Army into Holland was the Polish Armoured Division which crossed the frontier near Hulst on the 15 of September. Thefourth Canadian Armoured Division joined them in the task of clearing that part of the country.The Canadians had to put up with flooed land, mud, rain, snow and cold winter. Grab a book and read about the fight for holland the surrounding area. There are many books out there.. We thank the photographers who made this book such a history of the War in Holland. They all no doubt in their graves by now and surely thank us for keeping their history alive.

Credits for the book.

Book Cover This show the Victory Parade. Many of the young people Standing in the parade will still be alive today. Check out the vehicles.

The Liberation of Holland started with the Paratroop landings at Arnhem, and the 2nd British Army dash across Noord-Brabant to rescue our airbourne force.

British Airborne troops advancing over a field after their gliders had landed.

A Bailey Raft takes a Sherman tank across the Zuid-Beveland canal.

Soldiers of an American Division who fought with the Canadian First Army during the drive to the Maas river.

Snow warfare on the Nijmegen front, Jan. 1945

A Transport Column wading through mud in the Nijmegen region.

Soldires,white camouflage, for the use of....a standing patrol on the Nijmegen front.

Gunners of the 5th Fd Regt,RCA, manning a 25 pounder in the Nijmegen salient.

Soldiers of the 49th British Division crossing the Ijsel near Westervoort, April,45 to capture Arnhem.

A tank crossing the Twente canal.

As the battle for Zutphen is progressing, civilians return home to salvage some of their belongings. The people were on starving rations all during the war. The Germans took their able men and worked them at factories in Germany.

An anti-aircraft post on the IJsel opposite Zutphen.

A platoon of Canadian infantry men crossing the Regge near Ommen on a make shift bridge. Look at the last soldier. He has his water bottle , utensil and cup. gater on and field dressing in his helmet.

Stretcher bearers put a rubber-boat afloat on a shallow river to bring the wounded back to comfort.

The Canadian armour reaches the outskirts of Groningen, Apr.45.

House cleaning in Deventer. There was lots of Hand to hand fighting with many German snipers placed in buildings.

A tank in a protecting role while soft vehicles roll north of Arnhem.

The food armistice resulted in the complete capitulation of the German Forces in Western Holland. The terms of capitulation were imposed by the Commander of 1 Canadian Corps, Lt-Gen. Charles Foulfs VC., and signed at the Hotel de Wereld, Wageningen, May 7,1945. H.R.H. Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands was present. I cannot name the Germans at the table.

Later, General von Blaskowitz, Commander of the German Forces, was arrested at his headquarters.

Generals viewing their Victorious troops.

The final capture of Arnhem marked the last phase of the liberation of Holland. Now they were planning airdrops of food to the starving civilians.

The beautiful enemy that had thundered into Holland five years before, now paced a path of defeat on the road to the Reich. Not too many badges left on the troops.

With the columns of Canadians arriving, the horn of plenty begins to flood the towns. Old people are cheering as the motorcars pass by. In the falling dusk through Hollands streets, the "meisjes" are strolling arm in arm with their liberators as if they were old acquaintances.

It is all strange, confused, entangled, tiring, exciting, taking away one's breath. Holland is free ! Free indeed, but at what price ? The damage caused to Dutch agriculture by flooding and various acts of war, while the traffic apparatas, in the form of either railway stock or motor vehicles has been robbed.

About 900,00 people or 10% of the population of the Netherlands have, it is estimated, lost all they possessed. The remaining 90% have, practically speaking, been unable to purchase anything new during 5 years.

The war years left the people broken but with the help of the Canadian soldiers and the Allies plenty of food and medicine arrived to help. The people of the Netherlands never have forgotten the Canadians. They tend the graves of Canadian servicemen killed in action. There have reunions of families which some of the soldiers did not know happened (Babies were born out of hanky panky and a commission was set up to help with reunions with the children to their Canadian parent.. If you wish I have more photos but i think enough has been show.

Ed does the book mention at all the German units that it faced from January 45 onward such as the Fallschirmtruppen ? If so what units please......

thankx

{E}

There is hardly any mention of German units , just the 15th German Army, 7th Batt at Siegrfried line and 49th Div (?) at Arnhem. There is alot about supplying the starving people and something about E/boat battles.

E-boat battles ? did I read this right ?

mail me a private please about this if you would kindly Ed

thnkx

~Erich

Man, I like those winter warfare shots, thanks for posting them here Ed.

Alt I can tell you Canadians came up against Fallschirmjagerregiment 17 between 26-31 jan 1945 at the Kapelsche Veer

cheers,
Bryan

Bryan what divison was the 17 Fallschirm regt. apart of ?

thanks

~E

Alt, from "Fighting for Canada" Donald E. Graves......... Parachute regiment 17 " this unit had been formed, along with its parent formation, Fallschirmjagerdivision 6, in September 1944 from comb outs from luftwaffe ground crews and anti-aircraft units, stiffened by veterans. its men were paratroopers in name only but they were relatively young and healthy. The commander of FJ 6 was Generalleutnant Hermann Plocher, a veteran who had first seen combat in Spain in 36. "


Bryan

thank you, now I wonder if the Fallschirm-Sturmgeschütz Brigade XII was in this area of conflict ? Where's PK when you need him ?!



Alt

Ah Sweet, 10 minutes on this forum and you guys have me going through my books...

A lot of FSJ units saw action in Holland in 1944/1945. First of all a whole FSJ armee that was supposed to support the German attack through the Ardennes. Was to be launched when the German panzers reached and crossed the Meuse. Then the FSJ would attack from the north. That never materialsed but the FSJ held a bridgehead south of the meuse in Holland at Kapelsche Veer which saw horrendous fighting. FSJ against Canadians, Poles and British Marine Commandos.

FSJ was also heavenly engaged in the south east of Holland in 1944/45. As Bryan wrote, mostly young, fresh recruits without any experience and hardly, if at all, any paratraining.

It was not until the end of Jan. that the last German Paratroopers were driven from the south of the Maas River, The final victory at Kapelscheveer required five days of strenuous combat.

AFAIK there is only one book written on the battle for Kapelsche Veer (Besides getting some mention in other books and atricles); Fall Braun / The Battle for Kapelsche Veer 1944 - 1945 by D.L. Roitero. Mind you, this book is in the Dutch language. A well researched study about both the Allied and German side of the battle. Lot of archive work done by the author. It is a pity it lacks any perspective from the people who actually fought there.

The area of KV was flat as a billiardtable. Only a few ditches cold give cover. The Germans saw the Allies coming from miles and had plenty of time and opportunity to lay down artillery and MG fire when the Allies advanced. Tanks got bogged down and were of little use.

All in all a pretty much 'forgotten battle' in the NW europe theatre.

Stevin welcome to the forum and thank you for your input on the subject!

Cheers,
Bryan

Thanks Bryan!

I hope to be able to add some more in-depth information here about the few things I know a little about.

Stevin

PS; Nice girlfriend!

Hey Stevin O for oops ;-)) glad to see you here my friend. Gordon is also here as well as Duce, Erich, Frank, Kai, Mussolini, Phil, Paul and myself.

Great avatar BTW--take care--Carl.

Oh oh! Busted!

Well, at least I am in good company!

I've seen Martin and SignalCorp here too...

Avatar is 447 Bomb Group patch.

Stevin--busted but honoured to have you hear my friend. Cool, i'm glad SC and Martin B are here--we are in good company.

Sorry reply is so short, the Lib is closing and I still do not own a computer of my own.

PS, I am still in awe at that DKiG awardee list you sent to me.

Take care my frined and ill be back here tomorrow--Carl.

Hello,

Oh yes, the Canadian 4th Armoured and Polish 1st Armoured Divisions were a permanent team operating together since August 8th, 1944 ("Totalize" phase II) up to the end of WWII.


Best regards

Greg