The war did not end like most people thought it would in 1944.This would mean many more months of suffering for the Netherlands, which had already had years of German occupation. The "Hunger Winter" of 1944-1945 was a horrible time for the Dutch people. Little food supplies and many people were reduced to eating tulip bulbs trying to survive. Fuel run out and transportation was limited. By 1945, the daily ration per person in the Netherlands was only 320 calories, about 1/8 of the daily needs of an average adult. Thousands of Dutch men, women, and children died of starvation and cold.
In the fall of 1944, the First Canadian Army led the way under harsh conditions to clear the Germans from the shores of the Scheldt and open the waterway to ship in goods. More than 6,000 Canadian soldiers were killed, wounded or captured in this fight that became a key step in the liberation of northwest Europe and the end of the war.
After three months of holding the front line in the Netherlands, the Canadians joined to liberate the country. In February 1945, the First Canadian Army joined the Allies through mud and flooded ground to drive the Germans eastward out of the Netherlands and back across the Rhine.
After three months of holding the front line in the Netherlands, the Canadians joined to liberate the country. In February 1945, the First Canadian Army joined the Allies through mud and flooded ground to drive the Germans eastward out of the Netherlands and back across the Rhine.
In early April, the First Canadian Army (about 200,000 Canadians with tens of thousands more soldiers from other countries under its command) turned its attention north to clear the Germans from the northeast of the country. Often helped by Dutch resistance fighters the Canadian troops rapidly moved across the Netherlands, recapturing canals and farmland as they drove for the North Sea. Canadians also began to advance in the western Netherlands, which contained the major cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague. British and Canadian forces cleared the city of Arnhem in just two days by fighting a house-by-house battle. Only days later, they cleared Apeldoorn.
Canadian forces were prepared to continue push in the west of the country, however, there were concerns this would make the desperate Germans destroy all the banks and flood the country. The Canadian stopped advancing in the western Netherlands. This allowed relief supplies to reach Dutch citizens. To show appreciation to the Canadians, many Dutch people painted, “Thank you, Canadians!” on their rooftops.
Canadian forces were prepared to continue push in the west of the country, however, there were concerns this would make the desperate Germans destroy all the banks and flood the country. The Canadian stopped advancing in the western Netherlands. This allowed relief supplies to reach Dutch citizens. To show appreciation to the Canadians, many Dutch people painted, “Thank you, Canadians!” on their rooftops.
Through the hard work, courage and great sacrifices of Canadian and other Allied soldiers, the remaining German forces in the country surrendered on May 5, 1945, finally liberating all of the Netherlands. The next day was declared Victory in Europe Day, marking the official end the Second World War in Europe.
The Dutch people cheered Canadian troops as the Netherlands was liberated. More than 7,600 Canadians gave their lives for freedom in the Netherlands and Canada would play another important role for the country. During the war, some members of the royal family of the Netherlands found sanctuary in Canada and, in 1943, Princess Margriet was born in a section of the Ottawa Civic Hospital that was temporarily made territory of the Netherlands so the princess could be born on Dutch ‘soil’. These powerful connections helped form warm bonds of friendship and respect between the Dutch and the Canadians which continue to this day. The evidence of this enduring connection may be seen in the tulips which bloom in Ottawa each spring and in the care and attention by the Dutch people on the burial places of our war dead. Even though the cost of lives was heavy and the sacrifice great, Canadians are proud to have been cast in the role of liberators.
The Dutch people cheered Canadian troops as the Netherlands was liberated. More than 7,600 Canadians gave their lives for freedom in the Netherlands and Canada would play another important role for the country. During the war, some members of the royal family of the Netherlands found sanctuary in Canada and, in 1943, Princess Margriet was born in a section of the Ottawa Civic Hospital that was temporarily made territory of the Netherlands so the princess could be born on Dutch ‘soil’. These powerful connections helped form warm bonds of friendship and respect between the Dutch and the Canadians which continue to this day. The evidence of this enduring connection may be seen in the tulips which bloom in Ottawa each spring and in the care and attention by the Dutch people on the burial places of our war dead. Even though the cost of lives was heavy and the sacrifice great, Canadians are proud to have been cast in the role of liberators.