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Canada and the Liberation of the Netherlands, May 1945
by Goddard, Lance
Nazi Germany’s invasion of the Netherlands in May 1940 marked the beginning of five years of horror for the Dutch people. They faced oppression and death with remarkable stoicism, but nothing could prepare them for the Hunger Winter of 1944-45, when thousands of people died of starvation. In this time of unimaginable despair, Canada came to the rescue, playing the largest role in liberating the Netherlands and ending the reign of WWII terror. The Canadians gave the Dutch their freedom back – and food – and out of such dark times an eternal friendship was forged. Told through interviews with both Dutch survivors and Canadian veterans, this book delves into this largely undervalued chapter of Canadian history. - “D-Day has always received the lion’s share of remembrace and analysis as the spectacular moment that began the liberation of Europe. But the Canadian role beyond Normandy offered besides an equal measure of courage, sacrifice, and battlefield brilliance also a great deal of perseverance under fire. When the Allies’ initial bold thrust into the Netherlands failed to cross the Rhine into Germany (stopped at Arnhem’s ‘bridge too far’), the Canadian 1st Army was assigned the daunting task of opening a resupply corridor to the liberated port of Antwerp.” – Peter Kent, President, the Canadian War Correspondent Association. - “I remember the mood of total excitement, exhilaration, the release of joy. There were parades, there were costumed people … my father lifted me onto his shoulder and I remember seeing all those tanks and the enormous happiness as the Canadians, who liberated us, came driving down the highway.” – Liedewij Hawke, a Dutch child during the Occupation.
Paperback, 239 pages, Illustrated, with bibliography
USD 21.95 / CAD 27.95