FORTRESS EUROPE
Germany occupied Belgium and most of Europe
for much of the Second World War. The Germans
transformed the continent into what came to be
known as “Fortress Europe.” Formidable defences
bristled along the coasts as the Germans watched and
waited for the Allies’ move to retake the continent.
The Allies came ashore in Italy in 1943 and began to
battle their way north. Then on June 6, 1944—
D-Day—the opening move to free Europe from the
west finally came in Normandy, France.
The Canadians Break Out
In the months following D-Day, the embattled
Germans began to give way and the Canadians broke
out north and east against the retreating German
defences. The First Canadian Army was tasked with
securing the ports along the English Channel as they
pushed their way up through coastal France and into
Belgium and the Netherlands on their way toward
Germany itself.
The Canadian advance held extra importance because
the Allies were in need of a good port. They were
still using the vulnerable temporary facilities they
had constructed on the Normandy beaches to supply
their forces. Ensuring that the flow of Allied men and
materiel into the battle zone continued was vital.
Into Belgium
By early September of 1944, the First Canadian Army
—with some British, Polish and other troops under
their command—had liberated much of the French
coast north of Normandy and pushed on into Belgium
(although several fortified coastal towns in France
would still have to be captured with great effort in the
ensuing weeks). As the Canadian Army swept along
the coast, they encountered abandoned V-1 (or “Buzz
Bomb”) launch sites. Knocking these powerful and
terrible weapons out of action offered great relief to the
people of southeast England, who were their primary
targets, and gave the Canadians much satisfaction.
It seemed the German resistance was faltering in places
and Allied hopes were high for a quick end to the war.
Brussels, the capital of Belgium, was liberated in the
first days of September. Some Belgian villages were
empty of the enemy when Canadian soldiers got to
them, and others had to be fought for in what were
usually brief but costly affairs. Large parts of western
Belgium were quickly liberated as the Germans
marshalled their defences in certain key areas. It was
not always this fast, however, as the battle to cross the
Ghent Canal was a bitter one.
The Battle of the Scheldt
The first ports liberated in Northwest Europe were
either too small or too damaged to solve the Allies’
supply problems. Antwerp, a major port in Belgium,
was taken relatively undamaged in early September.
The problem was that it was 80 kilometres from the
open sea. Between it and the English Channel lay the
West Scheldt estuary, passing through parts of Belgium
Vehicles of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division moving through Bockhoute, Belgium. October 18, 1944. Credit: Donald I. Grant. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada PA-137188
Canada played an important role in the liberation of
Belgium during the Second World War. Our soldiers,
sailors and airmen helped defeat the Germans and
restore peace to the country after more than four years
of occupation.
Much of the Battle of the Scheldt took place over flat
and often flooded terrain that offered little cover for
the advancing Canadians. Mud that stuck to men and
machines, the many dikes and canals that had to be
crossed, and an entrenched, battle-hardened enemy
made the struggle to clear the area a mighty effort.
Indeed, some of the toughest fighting of the war would
be to cross the flat, wet, ditched terrain around the
Leopold Canal in the north of Belgium.
Despite the challenges, the Allies persevered and
the last German defenders were defeated by early
November. The Scheldt was then cleared of mines
and by late November Antwerp was finally opened to
shipping. Interestingly, the first Allied ship to arrive
was the Canadian-built freighter SS Cataraqui.
Sacrifice
Many Veterans would tell the story of entire Belgian
towns coming out to joyously greet the Canadian
soldiers, showering them with flowers as they passed
through in dogged pursuit of the retreating Germans.
However, victory in Belgium only came at a high cost.
More than 6,000 Canadian soldiers would become
casualties during the Battle of the Scheldt and more
than 800 are buried in Belgium, having made the
ultimate sacrifice in helping drive out the enemy
and liberate the country. Others returned home with
injuries to body and mind that they would bear for the
rest of their lives.
THE Legacy
The Canadians who helped liberate Belgium were
true heroes, but these heroes were regular people—
volunteers willing to fight for their country to uphold
the basic human rights of others and to defeat the
forces of tyranny. Our country and the world owe an
everlasting debt of gratitude to these brave men and
women who have achieved and sacrificed so much.
CANADA REMEMBERS PROGRAM
The Canada Remembers Program of Veterans Affairs
Canada encourages all Canadians to learn about the
sacrifices and achievements made by those who have
served—and continue to serve —during times of war
and peace. As well, it invites Canadians to become
involved in remembrance activities that will help
preserve their legacy for future generations. To learn
more about Canada’s role in the Second World War,
please visit the Veterans Affairs Canada Web site at
www.vac-acc.gc.ca or call 1-866-522-2122 toll free.
This publication is available upon request in other
formats.
© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Veterans Affairs, 2010. Cat. No.: V32-225/2010E-PDF ISBN: 978-1-100-16046-7 Printed in Canada
Column of ‘Alligator’ amphibious vehicles passing ‘Terrepin’ amphibious vehicles on the Scheldt River. October 13, 1944 / Neuzen, Belgium (vicinity).
Credit: Donald I. Grant. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada PA-114754
and the Netherlands that were still controlled by the
Germans. In mid-September, the vital task of clearing
the enemy from the Scheldt and allowing the Allies to
make use of Antwerp fell largely to the First
Canadian Army.