Freedom for the Dutch: Things were about to change...
All suffering must come to an end, whether through death or freedom. Five years of suffering under the inhuman control of the German Nazi dictatorship was more than the citizens of the Netherlands could bear. During the Allied powers’ attempt to rid Europe of the Nazi Regime and its coalition of the Axis powers, the First Canadian Army began the treacherous campaign to liberate the Netherlands in September of 1944. Unfortunately, for many the price of freedom would be death.
The Allies’ main goal in this mission, other than pushing out the Nazis, was to gain access of primary and direct shipping routes to support allied armies. The English Channel ports were of great interest and importance to both sides, which were currently being controlled by the Germans. The port of Antwerp, in Belgium, was an
Canadian Forces in the Netherlands indispensable port since it was one of the largest in Europe. Because . the Germans held power over this area, and were determined to keep it, this resulted in the strategy testing Battle of the Scheldt, the first major battle the Canadian Army took part in during the endeavor to establish Holland’s freedom. Scheldt was an important win and a considerable experience for the First Canadian Army, but with the flat terrain terribly muddy, added to ceaseless undesirable weather conditions, it was still excruciatingly difficult to navigate. This was especially evident while fighting off the Nazis in the Rhineland Campaign. Because this specific campaign began in the blistering winter months, the already difficult battle proved even more so, and yet the Third Canadian Infantry Division was able to advance at extraordinary speeds. The Canadians were yet again proving themselves in battle as they did just thirty years before in the self-defying battles of WW1. They fought with courage all the way from the front of Nijmegen past the Rhine River banks, in just over a month, and even though thousands were lost, it was a great sacrifice to an even greater cause.
The Allies’ main goal in this mission, other than pushing out the Nazis, was to gain access of primary and direct shipping routes to support allied armies. The English Channel ports were of great interest and importance to both sides, which were currently being controlled by the Germans. The port of Antwerp, in Belgium, was an
Canadian Forces in the Netherlands indispensable port since it was one of the largest in Europe. Because . the Germans held power over this area, and were determined to keep it, this resulted in the strategy testing Battle of the Scheldt, the first major battle the Canadian Army took part in during the endeavor to establish Holland’s freedom. Scheldt was an important win and a considerable experience for the First Canadian Army, but with the flat terrain terribly muddy, added to ceaseless undesirable weather conditions, it was still excruciatingly difficult to navigate. This was especially evident while fighting off the Nazis in the Rhineland Campaign. Because this specific campaign began in the blistering winter months, the already difficult battle proved even more so, and yet the Third Canadian Infantry Division was able to advance at extraordinary speeds. The Canadians were yet again proving themselves in battle as they did just thirty years before in the self-defying battles of WW1. They fought with courage all the way from the front of Nijmegen past the Rhine River banks, in just over a month, and even though thousands were lost, it was a great sacrifice to an even greater cause.
“The bravery and sacrifice of Canadian soldiers and airmen during the hard-fought battle for the liberation of the Netherlands is the stuff of legend and cause for eternal gratitude on the part of the people of the Netherlands.”
~Richard Rohmer
The last push to secure the Netherlands began in late March of 1945. Throughout this whole military operation, the Canadians had been and would continue to be given the painstaking job of weeding out the Nazis door by door, street by street, most likely because they were the most fervently willing to assist in any way possible. From the home front to the front lines, the Canadians were a collaborative, reliable aid during the worldwide struggle. Once a major route was established for the Allies to reach Germany, the Canadian Army was sent off alone, back into the Netherlands, to finish the job. Having pushed past the Rhine River, they prevailed onward through Arnhem, where the First Canadian Corps advanced to western Netherlands, and the Second Canadian Corps was assigned to northeastern Netherlands. Here history was made; never before had two Canadian army corps fought alongside each other for the same goal, with no other assisting military power. Not to mention that they were extremely successful. The Second Canadian Corps was able to liberate Almelo, swiftly advance through Germany to return back to the Netherlands at Groningen, and then reach the North Sea all within the span of thirteen days. The First Canadian Corps was assigned the task to liberate the north of the Maas River, the area in and around some of the major cities of Holland. These places had suffered severe losses while being controlled by the Nazis, thus when the Canadian soldiers marched their enemy out, the weak and dampened spirits of the Dutch people were rejuvenated as cheers of joy spread like wildfire throughout the dreary streets.
The Germans had reached their final straw on April 28th of 1945, and in defeat they agreed on a truce at the Grebbe Line. The armistice ended all battling in the Netherlands, truly marking the beginning of the Canadian Army successfully liberating the Netherlands from the menacing Nazis. Appropriate recognition for the surrender of the Germans and the liberation of the Netherlands was confirmed on May 5th, 1945. The Dutch people would never forget the sacrificial deeds the soldiers of the First Canadian Army achieved for the freedom of mere strangers. These Canadian soldiers were heroes in the eyes of those whose immediate suffering had come to an end and whose freedom was redeemed. Tragically, the price of freedom was paid by the senseless death of many brave soldiers and innocent civilians.
German Soldiers looting houses while evacuating
in fear of the Canadian soldiers (Netherlands)
The Germans had reached their final straw on April 28th of 1945, and in defeat they agreed on a truce at the Grebbe Line. The armistice ended all battling in the Netherlands, truly marking the beginning of the Canadian Army successfully liberating the Netherlands from the menacing Nazis. Appropriate recognition for the surrender of the Germans and the liberation of the Netherlands was confirmed on May 5th, 1945. The Dutch people would never forget the sacrificial deeds the soldiers of the First Canadian Army achieved for the freedom of mere strangers. These Canadian soldiers were heroes in the eyes of those whose immediate suffering had come to an end and whose freedom was redeemed. Tragically, the price of freedom was paid by the senseless death of many brave soldiers and innocent civilians.
German Soldiers looting houses while evacuating
in fear of the Canadian soldiers (Netherlands)
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Timeline of Battles in the Netherlands (Canadian):
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Veteran Dedication: Remembering John Percy McNiven
Raging rainstorms, relentless bombardments, all the while fighting for peace. Who really is behind these fearless battles and selfless victories? Their memories are painful, yet priceless, and it is vitally important to remember and evoke the memories of those who lived through the hardships and devastations that have shaped our history.
Meet John Percy McNiven. John McNiven was born on February 24, 1921, in Carlton, Prince Edward Island, though he grew up and spent most of his life in Regina, Saskatchewan. John’s occupation was a truck driver before he enlisted into the Signal Corps in 1942, where he was trained as a signalman in Saskatchewan and Ontario. He was determined to work overseas, which was the reason he joined the Signal Corps. When he arrived in England in 1944, the storming of ‘Juno’ beach had already taken place, but John did not miss his fill of action. In an interview by Veterans Affairs Canada, he recalls some of the devastating details “...I'd rather, rather not remember the war altogether, but the thing that... The death and destruction, and the mutilated bodies is the worst. We learned, we learned to treat a body with respect. Shells and bombs don't do that. Kids, people, blown apart…” McNiven’s division went through France, liberated the Netherlands, and assisted in ending the war in Germany. When the war ended, John returned to Regina and lived there with his family until he passed away peacefully on August 3, 2013, in the comforts of the Regina General Hospital. |
McNiven played an important role in the war effort of WWII, as he was a member of a determined team of soldiers who achieved their mission of freeing the Netherlands from the grasp of the Germans and forcing the German Army out of the land they had invaded. Without John, without any of the committed and selfless soldiers serving their country, freedom and prosperity might have become scarce, empty words. |
Works Cited:
Anne Frank Guide. Anne Frank Stichting. Dec. 17, 2015 http://www.annefrankguide.net/en-CA/bronnenbank.asp?aid=291516
Canadian War Museum. Canadian Museum of History. November 18, 2015 http://www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/exhibitions/newspapers/operations/netherlands_e.shtml
Evil Fingers. “WW2: The Liberation of Holland.” Online video clip. Youtube. Youtube, February 22, 2014. Web. November 25, 2015. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LAPz_DD_mQ)
Greenhous, Brereton. “Liberation of the Netherlands”. The Canadian Encyclopedia. December 20, 2006. Historica Canada. November 16, 2015 http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/liberation-of-holland/
The Memory Project. Historica Canada. November 14, 2015 http://www.thememoryproject.com/stories/928:john-percy-mcniven/
Speers Funeral and Cremation Services. Speers Funeral Chapel. November 14, 2015 http://speersfuneralchapel.com/tribute/details/4652/John_Percy_McNiven/obituary.html
Veterans Affairs Canada. Government of Canada. November 14, 2015 https://www.veterans.gc.ca/pdf/cr/pi-sheets/netherlands.pdf
Veterans Affairs Canada. Government of Canada. November 14, 2015 http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/video-gallery/search/people/209
Veterans Affairs Canada. Government of Canada. November 16, 2015 http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/history/second-world-war/canada-netherlands
Veterans Affairs Canada. Government of Canada. November 16, 2015 http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/history/second-world-war/liberation-netherlands
Canadian War Museum. Canadian Museum of History. November 18, 2015 http://www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/exhibitions/newspapers/operations/netherlands_e.shtml
Evil Fingers. “WW2: The Liberation of Holland.” Online video clip. Youtube. Youtube, February 22, 2014. Web. November 25, 2015. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LAPz_DD_mQ)
Greenhous, Brereton. “Liberation of the Netherlands”. The Canadian Encyclopedia. December 20, 2006. Historica Canada. November 16, 2015 http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/liberation-of-holland/
The Memory Project. Historica Canada. November 14, 2015 http://www.thememoryproject.com/stories/928:john-percy-mcniven/
Speers Funeral and Cremation Services. Speers Funeral Chapel. November 14, 2015 http://speersfuneralchapel.com/tribute/details/4652/John_Percy_McNiven/obituary.html
Veterans Affairs Canada. Government of Canada. November 14, 2015 https://www.veterans.gc.ca/pdf/cr/pi-sheets/netherlands.pdf
Veterans Affairs Canada. Government of Canada. November 14, 2015 http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/video-gallery/search/people/209
Veterans Affairs Canada. Government of Canada. November 16, 2015 http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/history/second-world-war/canada-netherlands
Veterans Affairs Canada. Government of Canada. November 16, 2015 http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/history/second-world-war/liberation-netherlands