The Liberation of the Netherlands: Canada’s Last Campaign in Europe
By the late autumn of 1944, the Allied advance across Western Europe had slowed, bogged down by stretched supply lines, worsening weather, and fierce German resistance. For the people of the Netherlands, however, this slowing advance meant continued suffering under brutal occupation. Hitler’s forces had occupied the Netherlands since 1940, and the brutal winter of 1944–45, remembered as the Hunger Winter, would bring the Dutch people to the brink of starvation. The Canadian forces, under First Canadian Army, took on the primary responsibility of liberating the Netherlands. What ensued was a grueling campaign that saw Canadian troops battling through cities, towns, and flooded lowlands to free the Dutch people. Historian Tim Cook described it as “a final campaign of liberation, driven by the courage and determination of Canadian soldiers and the gratitude of a nation waiting for freedom” (The Necessary War).
Background and Strategic Importance of the Netherlands
The liberation of the Netherlands was part of a larger Allied push to break through the remaining German defenses in Western Europe. After the Allied failure at Operation Market Garden and the costly battles at the Scheldt Estuary, the Allies needed a secure base of operations and a logistical foothold near Germany. The Netherlands’ strategic position made it essential for Allied plans, as it provided critical access to ports, transportation routes, and supply lines. Clearing German forces from the Netherlands would also cut off German troops in western Holland from retreating or reinforcing the defense of the German homeland.
The task of liberating the Netherlands fell to First Canadian Army, commanded by Lieutenant-General Guy Simonds, who had proven his skill and determination in the Scheldt campaign. With General Harry Crerar back from illness, he resumed overall command of the First Canadian Army, but Simonds continued to play a crucial role in planning and executing the operations in the Netherlands. Canadian forces would lead the liberation efforts, supported by British, Polish, and American units. Historian C.P. Stacey noted, “The liberation of the Netherlands was a task that would test the endurance and courage of Canadian soldiers, as they fought not only against a determined enemy but also through terrain that seemed designed to thwart any advance” (Six Years of War).
Commanders and Units: The Forces Engaged in the Netherlands
The First Canadian Army included several key Canadian divisions, notably the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division, the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, and the 4th Canadian Armoured Division. The 1st Polish Armoured Division and several British units also served under Canadian command, adding to the multinational force tasked with liberating Dutch territory. Among the German defenders were units of the 25th Army, commanded by Generaloberst Johannes Blaskowitz, a seasoned commander who was determined to hold his positions despite the worsening conditions for German forces. Blaskowitz’s troops included remnants of SS units and paratrooper divisions, some of Germany’s most tenacious soldiers.
In addition to ground forces, the Canadians benefited from artillery, engineering, and logistical support that would prove vital in navigating the Netherlands’ challenging terrain. The Royal Canadian Engineers played a crucial role, constructing makeshift bridges and clearing flooded areas that had been turned into obstacles by German forces. Historian J.L. Granatstein noted, “The Canadian Army was a force uniquely suited to the demands of the Netherlands, combining infantry, armor, and engineering capabilities that would prove critical in the battle ahead” (The Generals).
The Canadian Plan: A Multi-Phase Liberation Effort
The Canadian plan for the liberation of the Netherlands was a multi-phase operation aimed at systematically clearing German forces from northern and western Holland. The plan began with securing the eastern regions of the Netherlands, where Canadian forces would push toward the Ijssel River. Once the eastern sector was cleared, Canadian units would advance northward, liberating key cities such as Groningen and Leeuwarden, while the British would assist in capturing Nijmegen and Arnhem. The final phase would focus on clearing the densely populated western regions, including Amsterdam and Rotterdam, where German resistance and the threat of flooding created unique challenges.
In planning the campaign, Simonds and Crerar took careful account of the difficult terrain and the suffering of the Dutch population. Aware of the widespread starvation and deprivation that plagued Dutch civilians, Canadian forces took great care to minimize damage to infrastructure and provide food and medical supplies whenever possible. Historian Terry Copp wrote, “The liberation of the Netherlands was as much a humanitarian mission as a military one, with Canadian soldiers deeply aware of the suffering endured by the Dutch people” (Fields of Fire: The Canadians in Normandy).
Execution and Progress of the Battle: A Slow, Determined Advance
The liberation campaign began in earnest in October 1944, with Canadian forces advancing through the eastern Netherlands in the face of fierce German resistance. The Battle of the Lower Maas saw Canadian troops of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division battling through marshy, flooded fields under constant artillery and sniper fire. The Germans, determined to delay the Allied advance, flooded large areas of land by opening the dikes, creating swamps that turned every advance into a slow, exhausting struggle. Despite the grueling conditions, the Canadians fought tenaciously, using flamethrowers, tanks, and artillery to clear German strongpoints.
In April 1945, Canadian forces launched a major assault to liberate the northern Netherlands. The Battle of Groningen saw the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division fighting through urban terrain, clearing German defenders from house to house and street to street. Despite heavy fighting, the Canadians managed to secure the city after several days of intense combat. Historian C.P. Stacey noted that “the liberation of Groningen was a testament to Canadian endurance and urban warfare skills, a battle fought with determination and care to minimize civilian casualties” (Six Years of War).
As the Canadians advanced northward, they liberated a string of Dutch cities, including Leeuwarden and Harlingen, greeted by crowds of cheering Dutch civilians who had endured years of German occupation. Canadian forces also delivered food, medical supplies, and other necessities to the starving population, many of whom had been surviving on little more than bread and potatoes during the Hunger Winter. Tim Cook wrote, “For the Dutch, the arrival of Canadian soldiers was nothing less than a miracle, a moment of liberation and relief after years of suffering and deprivation” (The Necessary War).
The final push into western Holland was complicated by flooded fields and pockets of German resistance. Canadian forces, however, were determined to reach Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and The Hague, the last major cities still under German control. In coordination with German authorities, who recognized the hopelessness of their situation, the Canadians negotiated a truce allowing food drops over starving Dutch cities. Operation Manna and Operation Chowhound were carried out by Allied bombers, bringing food and supplies to Dutch civilians before the final surrender of German forces in May 1945.
The Result: A Liberated Netherlands and the End of Occupation
By early May 1945, the German forces in the Netherlands, cut off and isolated, formally surrendered to Canadian forces. The campaign to liberate the Netherlands had taken months of grueling fighting, but the result was a liberated nation and a people freed from the harsh grip of occupation. The Canadian Army had suffered over 7,600 casualties in the campaign, a heavy toll that underscored the difficulty and intensity of the fighting. Yet the Canadians’ success earned them the lasting gratitude of the Dutch people, who welcomed their liberators with open arms and continue to commemorate Canadian contributions to this day.
The tactical implications of the Dutch liberation were profound. The campaign had shown the versatility of the Canadian Army, which had proven adept at urban combat, amphibious operations, and relief missions. Strategically, the liberation of the Netherlands cleared the path for the final push into Germany, hastening the end of the war in Europe. Historian Terry Copp remarked, “The liberation of the Netherlands was a campaign that tested the full range of Canadian military capabilities and demonstrated the resilience and compassion of its soldiers” (Fields of Fire).
Conclusion: A Lasting Legacy of Liberation and Gratitude
The Liberation of the Netherlands stands as one of Canada’s most significant contributions to the Allied victory in Europe. The Canadians’ determination, bravery, and compassion in the face of hardship earned them a place of honor in Dutch memory, and the bond between Canada and the Netherlands endures to this day. Historian C.P. Stacey summarized the legacy of the campaign, stating, “In the fields and towns of the Netherlands, Canada found its lasting legacy—a legacy of freedom, sacrifice, and an unbreakable friendship with a grateful nation” (Six Years of War).
For the Canadians who served, the liberation of the Netherlands was both a grueling campaign and a mission of mercy. They fought not only to defeat the remnants of the German army but also to bring hope and relief to a people who had endured unimaginable hardship. Today, the fields of the Netherlands are peaceful, and the children of the liberated nation remember the soldiers who gave their lives to free their land. The liberation of the Netherlands remains a testament to Canada’s role in the struggle for freedom and the enduring legacy of the Allied victory in Europe.
References
- Copp, Terry. Fields of Fire: The Canadians in Normandy. University of Toronto Press, 2004.
- Cook, Tim. The Necessary War: Canadians Fighting the Second World War, 1939–1945. Penguin Canada, 2014.
- Granatstein, J.L. The Generals: The Canadian Army’s Senior Commanders in the Second World War. HarperCollins Canada, 1993.
- Stacey, C.P. Six Years of War: The Army in Canada, Britain, and the Pacific. Queen’s Printer, 1955.