Leeuwarden

Discussion in 'NW Europe' started by canuck, Nov 14, 2018.

  1. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

    On 15 April, 1945, Leeuwarden was liberated by The Royal Canadian Dragoons.

    As the Allied forces advanced through Western Europe during the Second World War, The Royal Canadian Dragoons functioned as an armoured car regiment within 2nd Canadian corps, making the spectacular sweep eastward. It was during this advance that The Regiment liberated the town of Leeuwarden, Holland.

    At first light on Sunday April 15 1945, "D" Squadron The Royal Canadian Dragoons, pushed east along the main road to Groningen, sixty miles distant where the strong German garrison was preparing a last-ditch stand against the full weight of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division and its supporting arms. The Squadron's mission was to circle the city to the north and cut all escape routes.

    At 0800 hours "C" Squadron arrived in the Suameer area from the south and was dispatched westward to test the truth of reports by Dutch courier that Leeuwarden was the scene of bitter fighting between the Dutch Resistance movement, five thousand strong, and the German garrison. RHQ moved with "C" Squadron and at 1100 hours, April 15, entered the city.

    Sporadic fire was still being exchanged over the rooftops but the city was generally in the hands of the Dutch Patriots who were quickly organized by the Dragoons to prepare for the expected attempt at recapture by the Germans. The expected attack never materialized owing to the very aggressive patrolling done by "C" Squadron outside the city throughout the afternoon and evening that kept the enemy constantly off balance and on the defensive. Later that night, armoured spearheads of 3rd Canadian Infantry Division worked up the main road from Meppel and effectively countered any German buildup for a full-scale attack.

    RHQ and "C" Squadron spent the night of 15 April in the city with "D" Squadron twenty miles east on the Groningen highway and "B" Squadron twenty miles north in the Dokkum area. "B" Squadron spent the whole of April 15 mopping up the peninsula north of Leeuwarden. The German will to resist had been broken, a great tribute to the determination, energy and skill of the Regiment, who were so small in numbers compared to the enemy force deployed in the area.

    Canadian Virtual Military Museum
    firefly.jpg
     
  2. Bernhart

    Bernhart Member

    Mom's part of the world, she remembered the Canadian troops fighting in the streets of Groningen
     
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  3. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    The flags that were put out en route and in Leeuwarden most likely was the Frisian Flag:

    Friese Vlag.jpg

    My parents - young children at the time - experienced the Liberation by the Canadians at Leeuwarden. They especially remember their first piece of chocolate! .. and how they got acquainted with the bag-pipes o_O

    http://www.amateurfilmplatform.nl/films/de-bevrijding-van-leeuwarden-april-1945

    :
    Dronrijperstraat.jpg
    Painting of the Canadian tanks that entered Leeuwarden. It was a gift by the grateful people to Sydney Radley-Walters, one of the Canadian officers of the tank unit, who carefully saved it in his tank and brought it back home to Canada. In 2015 Radley-Walters died and his family decided to return the painting to Leeuwarden. It now is on display in the town hall.
     
    Last edited: Nov 16, 2018
  4. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    Liberation North-East Holland by 1st Cdn Army - which consisted of 1st and 2nd Cdn Corps (March - April 1945). Note that 30 Corps (2nd British Army) - with the Guards Armoured and 43rd Wessex Divisions - was responsible for part of the eastern strip of Holland, roughly the area of Rees to Enschede:

    Liberation North-East Holland.jpg

    In 2015 Randy (aka 17thDYRCH) and I did a tour of NE-Holland and Northern Germany ... see: Tour of Northeast Holland
     
    Last edited: Nov 15, 2018
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  5. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

    Sydney Valpy Radley-Walters CMM, DSO, MC, CD
    Sherbrooke Fusiliers
    Arguably the best Canadian tank commander of the war (18 tank kills) and his 'A' Squadron of the Sherbrooke Fusilier Regiment most likely destroyed the Tiger of SS-Hauptsturmfuhrer Michael Wittmann on 8 August 1944, near Saint-Aignan-de-Cramensnil.

    RadMonty-Ghent.jpg
     
    Last edited: Nov 16, 2018
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