Battle of the Scheldt
Part of World War II
Buffalo amphibious vehicles taking Canadians across the Scheldt in Holland, 1944.
Date October 2, 1944 – November 8, 1944 Location Northern Belgium and southwestern Netherlands Result Allied victory
Combatants
Canada United Kingdom Poland Belgium Norway	Germany
Commanders
Guy Simonds (acting) (First Canadian Army)	Gustav-Adolf von Zangen (German 15th Army)
Strength
?	?
Casualties
12,873 total; including 6,367 Canadian	?

The Battle of the Scheldt was a series of military operations which took place in northern Belgium and south-western Netherlands during the Second World War. Allied offensive operations were launched with the goal of clearing both banks of the Scheldt estuary of German forces so that Allied shipping could transport supplies safely into the recently liberated port city of Antwerp. Accomplishing this objective was vital to easing logistical burdens in the overall Allied push to the Siegfried Line, as supply lines were still stretching back hundreds of miles to Normandy. Combatants Major Allied powers: United Kingdom Soviet Union United States Republic of China and others Major Axis powers: Nazi Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Harry Truman Chiang Kai-Shek Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tojo Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead... Image File history File links Buffalo amphibious vehicles taking troops of the Canadian First Army across the Scheldt in Holland, September, 1944. ... A DUKW (commonly DUCK), during World War II Propeller on a French VAB An amphibian or amphibious vehicle, is a vehicle that, like an amphibian, can move on land as well as on water. ... The Scheldt (Dutch: Schelde, French Escaut) is a 350 km[1] long river that finds its origin in the north of France, enters Belgium and near Antwerp flows west into the Netherlands towards the North Sea. ... October 2 is the 275th day (276th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 90 days remaining. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... November 8 is the 312th day of the year (313th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 53 days remaining. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... Image File history File links Canadian_Red_Ensign. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Poland. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Belgium. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Norway. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany_1933. ... Image File history File links Canadian_Red_Ensign. ... Lieutenant-General Guy Simonds inspecting II Canadian Corps in Meppen, Germany, May 31st, 1945. ... The First Canadian Army was the senior Canadian operational formation in Europe during the Second World War. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany_1933. ... Born in 1892, General Gustav-Adolf von Zangen was the commander of the German 15th Army in the Netherlands, 1944. ... The German Fifteenth Army (German: ) was a World War II field army. ... The drive to the Siegfried Line was one of the final Allied phases in World War II of the Western European Campaign. ... The 10th Canadian Infantry Brigade was tasked to cross the Ghent Canal about five kilometers south of Bruges at a small village called Oostcamp. ... Combatants United Kingdom United States Poland Germany Commanders Bernard Montgomery Gerd von Rundstedt Strength XXX Corps, 35,000 airborne 20,000 Casualties 17,000 casualties 8,000 casualties Operation Market Garden (September 17-September 25, 1944) was an Allied military operation in World War II. Its tactical objectives were to... Nancy is a city in France. ... Combatants United States Germany Commanders Courtney Hodges Walther Model Strength 120,000 unknown Casualties 33,000 dead and wounded 12,000 dead - number of wounded and captured not exactly known The Battle of Hurtgen Forest (German: Schlacht im Hürtgenwald) is the name given to the series of fierce battles... Combatants United States Germany Commanders William Simpson Gerhard Wilck Strength 100,000 soldiers 12,000 soldiers Casualties 2000 killed 3000 wounded 5500 killed or wounded, 5,600 POW The Battle of Aachen was a battle in World War II that took place in October 1944 in the German city of... During World War II, the Western Front was the theater of fighting west of Germany, encompassing France, Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Denmark. ... Combatants Kingdom of the Netherlands Nazi Germany Commanders Henry G. Winkelman, Jan Joseph Godfried baron van Voorst tot Voorst Fedor von Bock (Army Group B) Strength 9 divisions, 676 guns, 1 tank (inoperational), 124 aircraft Total: 350,000 men 22 divisions, 1,378 guns, 759 tanks, 1150 aircraft Total: 750... Combatants United Kingdom, France Germany Commanders Lord Gort Gerd von Rundstedt (Army Group A), Ewald von Kleist (Panzergruppe von Kleist) Strength approx. ... Dieppes chert beach and cliff immediately following the raid on 19 August 1942. ... Combatants Croat SS soldiers Germany Commanders Ferid Džanić Unknown Strength 500-1,000 Unknown Casualties 146 N/A The Villefranche-de-Rouergue uprising took place on September 17, 1943, when a division composed of about 500-1000 Croats and Bosnian Muslims from Croatia, which has been sent by force... Combatants United States United Kingdom Canada Free France Poland Germany Commanders Dwight Eisenhower (Supreme Allied Commander) Bernard Montgomery (land) Bertram Ramsay (sea) Trafford Leigh-Mallory (air) Gerd von Rundstedt (OB WEST) Erwin Rommel (absent) (Heeresgruppe B) Friedrich Dollmann () Strength 326,000 (by June 11) Unknown, probably some 1,000,000... Combatants United States1 Free France, United Kingdom Nazi Germany Commanders Jacob L. Devers Johannes Blaskowitz Strength 250,000 (approx) 230,000 (approx) Casualties 4,500 American, 4,500+ French 125,000+ (approx) Monument to the landings of Allied troops under General Patch on the beach of St Tropez, France. ... Combatants United Kingdom United States Poland Germany Commanders Bernard Montgomery Gerd von Rundstedt Strength XXX Corps, 35,000 airborne 20,000 Casualties 17,000 casualties 8,000 casualties Operation Market Garden (September 17-September 25, 1944) was an Allied military operation in World War II. Its tactical objectives were to... Combatants United States Germany Commanders Courtney Hodges Walther Model Strength 120,000 unknown Casualties 33,000 dead and wounded 12,000 dead - number of wounded and captured not exactly known The Battle of Hurtgen Forest (German: Schlacht im Hürtgenwald) is the name given to the series of fierce battles... Combatants United States Germany Commanders William Simpson Gerhard Wilck Strength 100,000 soldiers 12,000 soldiers Casualties 2000 killed 3000 wounded 5500 killed or wounded, 5,600 POW The Battle of Aachen was a battle in World War II that took place in October 1944 in the German city of... Wikisource has original text related to this article: The Ardennes: Battle of the bulge Combatants United States United Kingdom Germany Commanders Dwight Eisenhower George Patton Bernard Montgomery Walther Model Gerd von Rundstedt Strength Dec 16 - start of the Battle: about 83,000 men; 242 Sherman tanks, 182 tank destroyers, and... During World War II, Operation Plunder was the crossing of the Rhine river at Rees, Wesel and south of the Lippe Canal by the British Second Army, under Lieutenant-General Miles C Dempsey, and the US Ninth Army, under Lieutenant-General William H Simpson. ... Operation Varsity was an airborne operation towards the end of World War II, intended to gain a foothold across the River Rhine. ... The Battle of Overloon (Code named Operation Aintree) took place between September 30th and October 18th 1944. ... Planning, calculating, or the giving or receiving of information. ... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... The Allies of World War II were the countries officially opposed to the Axis Powers during the Second World War. ... The Scheldt (Dutch: Schelde, French Escaut) is a 350 km[1] long river that finds its origin in the north of France, enters Belgium and near Antwerp flows west into the Netherlands towards the North Sea. ... Estuaries and coastal waters are among the most productive ecosystems on Earth, providing ecological, economic, cultural, and aesthetic benefits. ... Nazi Germany, or the Third Reich, commonly refers to Germany in the years 1933–1945, when it was under the firm control of the totalitarian and fascist ideology of the Nazi Party, with the Führer Adolf Hitler as dictator. ... The Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal (Cathedral of our Lady) at the Handschoenmarkt, in the old quarter of Antwerp is the largest cathedral in the Low Countries and home to several triptychs by Baroque painter Rubens. ... The original Siegfried line (Siegfriedstellung) was a line of defensive forts and tank defenses built by Germany as a section of the Hindenburg Line 1916-1917 in northern France during World War I. However, in English, Siegfried line more commonly refers to the similar World War II defensive line, built... Mont Saint-Michel, one of the famous symbols of Normandy. ...

After 5 weeks of difficult campaigning, including amphibious assaults, the crossing of canals, and assaults across open ground, formations of the First Canadian Army were successful in clearing the Scheldt. Three weeks after fighting ceased on Walcheren Island the ports at Antwerp were opened, easing logistical concerns in future operations on the western front until the end of the war in Europe. Amphibious Assault began when 17-year-old, former Kittie guitarist, Fallon Bowman was on a plane from Ontario to New Jersey, skimming through a Tom Clancy novel when she came upon the term amphibious assault. ... The First Canadian Army was the senior Canadian operational formation in Europe during the Second World War. ... During World War II, the Western Front was the theater of fighting west of Germany, encompassing France, Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Denmark. ...

Prelude

Allied forces landed in Normandy, France on D-Day, June 6, 1944 and engaged in protracted situational warfare at Caen and Falaise on the Commonwealth front, and in the bocage country on the American front, before the collapse of German resistance and breakout in August. Landings in Southern France also saw thousands more Allied soldiers join in the pursuit to the German and Belgian border in early September. This rapid and unexpected advance strained Allied supply efforts severely; moreso because of the lack of port facilities available and the length of supply lines extending back to the only major deep water port in Allied hands at Cherbourg.^[1] First Canadian Army, activated in August, was assigned the left most position of General Eisenhower's "broad front" advance across Northwest Europe, and with it went the task of securing the channel ports north of Normandy. Combatants United States United Kingdom Canada Free France Poland Germany Commanders Dwight Eisenhower (Supreme Allied Commander) Bernard Montgomery (land) Bertram Ramsay (sea) Trafford Leigh-Mallory (air) Gerd von Rundstedt (OB WEST) Erwin Rommel (absent) (Heeresgruppe B) Friedrich Dollmann () Strength 326,000 (by June 11) Unknown, probably some 1,000,000... Land on Normandy In military parlance, D-Day is a term often used to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. ... June 6 is the 157th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (158th in leap years), with 208 days remaining. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... Location within France Hôtel dEscoville, 16th century, Caen Anonymous pen-and-ink birds-eye view of the fortifications of Caen (Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris) South Wall of the Castle, a huge fortress in the center of the city Town Hall of Caen Caen train station. ... Falaise is the name of several communes in France: Falaise, in the Ardennes département Falaise, in the Calvados département This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Bocage is a French word referring to a terrain of mixed woodland and pasture, with tortuous side-roads and lanes bounded on both sides by banks surmounted with high thick hedgerows limiting visibility. ... Combatants United States1 Free France, United Kingdom Nazi Germany Commanders Jacob L. Devers Johannes Blaskowitz Strength 250,000 (approx) 230,000 (approx) Casualties 4,500 American, 4,500+ French 125,000+ (approx) Monument to the landings of Allied troops under General Patch on the beach of St Tropez, France. ... The First Canadian Army was the senior Canadian operational formation in Europe during the Second World War. ...

September began with the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division liberating Dieppe. Several channel ports could not be taken and were "masked" as the army continued on to Ostend, Bruges and Ghent by the middle of the month. By October 1, the port cities of Boulogne, Cap Gris Nez, Calais, and Dunkirk were under Allied control, although largely destroyed by Allied bombing and German demolitions. The Canadians also captured many launching sites of German V-2 rockets, ending their attacks on southern England. List of military divisions — List of Canadian divisions in WWII Units of the Canadian 2nd Infantry Division were mobilized on 1 September 1939, even before the declaration of war, and the battalions were promptly fleshed out by volunteers. ... Dieppe is a town and commune in the Seine-Maritime département of Haute-Normandie (eastern Normandy), France. ... The esplanade with the Thermae Palace, the former Royal Residence and the casino For other uses, see Ostend (disambiguation). ... Sometimes referred to as the Venice of the North, Bruges has many waterways that run through the city. ... Gent at Night Ghent (IPA: ; Gent in Dutch; Gand in French, formerly Gaunt in English) is a city and a municipality located in Flanders, Belgium. ... Boulogne-sur-Mer is a city and commune in northern France, in the Pas-de-Calais département of which it is a sous-préfecture. ... Cap Gris Nez is a cape on the Côte dOpale, in the Pas-de-Calais département, in northern France. ... Location within France The Burghers of Calais, by Rodin, with Calais Hotel de Ville behind J.M.W. Turner: Calais Pier Calais (Dutch: ) is a town in northern France, located at 50°57N 1°52E. It is in the département of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a... Location within France For the battleship, see Dunkerque Dunkirk (French: Dunkerque; Dutch: Duinkerke; German: Dünkirchen) is a harbour city and a commune in the northernmost part of France, in the département of Nord, 10 km from the Belgian border. ... The A4 (Aggregat 4) alias V-2 rocket or Vergeltungswaffe 2 (Reprisal weapon 2) was an early ballistic missile used by the German Army against mostly Belgian and British targets during the later stages of World War II. The V2 rocket became the first man-made object launched into space...

To their right, the British Second Army pushed forward into the Low Countries and captured Brussels on September 3 and Antwerp the next day, with its large port installations intact. Unfortunately, Allied logistics were strained to the limit by the rapid advances of all the armies under command (1st Canadian, 2nd British, 1st US, 3rd US, 9th US, and 1st French), coupled with a manufacturing fault which immobilised several hundred 3-ton lorries with cracked pistons. To make an armoured pursuit by the British 2nd Army possible, most of their infantry formations were temporarily "grounded" west of the Seine River, and no infantry units were available to consolidate the armoured divisions' gains. The advance therefore halted, with the British in possession of Antwerp but the Germans in control of the Scheldt Estuary which linked it to the sea. The British Second Army was extant in both World Wars. ... Nickname: The Capital Of Europe, Comic City City of a 100 Museums Map showing the location of Brussels in Belgium Coordinates: Country Belgium Region Brussels-Capital Region Founded 797 Founded (Region) June 18, 1989 Mayor (Municipality) Freddy Thielemans Area    - City 162 (Region) km²  (62. ... September 3 is the 246th day of the year (247th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal (Cathedral of our Lady) at the Handschoenmarkt, in the old quarter of Antwerp is the largest cathedral in the Low Countries and home to several triptychs by Baroque painter Rubens. ... This article is about the river in France; it should not be confused with the Senne, a much smaller river that flows through Brussels. ... The Scheldt in Antwerp Length 350 km Elevation of the source 95 m Average discharge 120 m³/s Area watershed 21860 km² Origin France Mouth Westerschelde Basin countries France, Belgium, Netherlands The Scheldt (Dutch: Schelde, French lEscaut) is a 350 km[1] (217 mile) long river that finds its...

Priorities had to be assigned, and the advance of all the armies was put on hold as resources were allocated to a bold plan for a single thrust into Germany. On September 17, three British and American airborne divisions, as well as a brigade of Polish parachute troops, landed deep behind enemy lines at Nijmegen, Eindhoven and Arnhem. Code-named Operation Market Garden, the mission's objective was to seize a bridge over the Rhine River at Arnhem. The operation failed with heavy losses, dashing hopes for a speedy end to the war. In the meantime, German forces in the Scheldt were able to reorganize and prepare to defend the estuary, though the two divisions in the area were low-quality Army units, eventually reinforced by paratroops of Battle Group Chill. September 17 is the 260th day of the year (261st in leap years). ... Country Netherlands Province Gelderland Area 57. ... Eindhoven is a municipality and a city located in the province of Noord-Brabant in the south of the Netherlands, originally at the confluence of the Dommel and Gender brooks. ... Arnhem is a municipality and a city in the east of the Netherlands, located on the Lower Rhine, and the capital of the Gelderland province. ... Combatants United Kingdom United States Poland Germany Commanders Bernard Montgomery Gerd von Rundstedt Strength XXX Corps, 35,000 airborne 20,000 Casualties 17,000 casualties 8,000 casualties Operation Market Garden (September 17-September 25, 1944) was an Allied military operation in World War II. Its tactical objectives were to... The Rhine canyon (Ruinaulta) in Graubünden in Switzerland Length 1. ... Wehrmacht troops of the Heer (military land forces) marching at a military parade in honour of the 50th birthday of Adolf Hitler, on April 20th, 1939. ...

In the wake of Market-Garden, bringing a major port into use became the top priority once again, as adequate supply lines for the winter now became paramount. As Europe's second-largest port, Antwerp's 45 kilometres of docks was an ideal landing ground for supplies. The presence of heavily fortified large calibre weapons on Walcheren Island required a campaign to reduce these positions. Seaport, a painting by Claude Lorrain, 1638 The Port of Wellington at night. ... Supply lines are roads, rail, and other transportation infrastructure needed to replenish the consumables that a military unit requires to function in the field. ...

Opening the Scheldt

Map of the Battle of the Scheldt, October to November, 1944.

On September 12, 1944, the First Canadian Army under temporary command of Lieutenant-General Guy Simonds was given the task of clearing the Scheldt. Under command at that time was II Canadian Corps, with the Polish 1st Armoured Division, British 49th and 52nd Divisions attached, as well as British I Corps. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (850x518, 151 KB)Map of the Battle of the Scheldt, October to November 1944. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (850x518, 151 KB)Map of the Battle of the Scheldt, October to November 1944. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... Portal:Currentevents September 12 is the 255th day of the year (256th in leap years). ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... The First Canadian Army was the senior Canadian operational formation in Europe during the Second World War. ... Lieutenant-General Guy Simonds inspecting II Canadian Corps in Meppen, Germany, May 31st, 1945. ... Polish 1st Armoured Division at Haddington 1943 The Polish 1st Armoured Division (Polish 1 Dywizja Pancerna) was an Allied military unit during World War II, created in February 1942 in Scotland. ... This military division was formed on April 1, 1908 as the West Riding Division in the Territorial Force of the British Army. ... The British 52nd (Lowland) Division was a Territorial Army division. ... The British I Corps has a long history, and was in existence as an active formation in the British Army for longer than any other corps. ...

The plan for opening the Scheldt estuary involved four main operations conducted over daunting geography.

• The first task was to clear the area north of Antwerp and secure access to South Beveland.
• Second was to clear the Breskens pocket north of the Leopold Canal ("Operation Switchback").
• Third, dubbed "Operation Vitality", was the capture of South Beveland.
• The final phase would be the capture of Walcheren Island, which had been fortified into a powerful German stronghold.

Column of Alligator amphibious vehicles passing Terrapin amphibious vehicles on the Scheldt river, October 1944.

On September 21, the 4th Canadian (Armoured) Division moved northwards roughly along the line of the Ghent-Terneuzen Canal, given the task of clearing an area on the south shore of the Scheldt around the Dutch town of Breskens called the "Breskens pocket". The Polish 1st Armoured Division headed for the Dutch-Belgian border further east and the crucial area north of Antwerp. The Scheldt delta, including Zuid-Beveland (2) Zuid-Beveland is a part of the province of Zeeland in the Netherlands north of the Westerschelde and south of the Oosterschelde. ... The Breskens Pocket was a pocket of fortified German resistance against the 1st. ... The Leopold Canal is a canal in northern Belgium. ... Satellite image of the Scheldt estuary Walcheren is a former island in the province of Zeeland in the Netherlands at the mouth of the Scheldt estuary. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Alligatorterrapin. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Alligatorterrapin. ... A DUKW (commonly DUCK), during World War II Propeller on a French VAB An amphibian or amphibious vehicle, is a vehicle that, like an amphibian, can move on land as well as on water. ... A Terrapin can be seen on the left during the Battle of the Scheldt in the Netherlands, 1944. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... September 21 is the 264th day of the year (265th in leap years). ... The 4th Canadian (Armoured) Division was created by conversion of 4th Canadian Infantry Division at the beginning of 1942 in Canada. ... The Ghent-Terneuzen Canal (Dutch: Kanaal van Gent naar Terneuzen) is a canal linking Ghent in Belgium to the port of Terneuzen on the Westerschelde (Scheldt) estuary in the Netherlands, thereby providing the former with access to the sea. ... Coat of Arms of Breskens Breskens is a harbour town on the Westerschelde in the municipality of Sluis in the province of Zeeland, in the south-western Netherlands. ...

The 4th Canadian Armoured advanced from a hard-won bridgehead over the Ghent Canal at Moerbrugge to find themselves the first Allied troops facing the formidable obstacle of the double line of the Leopold and Dérivation de la Lys Canals. An attack was mounted in the vicinity of Moerkerke, crossing the canals and establishing a bridgehead before counter-attacks forced a withdrawal with heavy casualties. A bridgehead is literally a military fortification that protects the end of a bridge that is closest to the enemy. ... The Lys or Leie is a river originating in France entering Belgium and flowing into the river Scheldt in Ghent. ... Moerkerke is a town in Damme, a part of Belgium. ...

The Northern Front.

The 1st Polish Armoured Division enjoyed greater success to the east as it advanced northeast from Ghent. In country unsuitable for armour, and against stiffening resistance, the Division advanced to the coast by September 20, occupying Terneuzen and clearing the south bank of the Scheldt eastwards to Antwerp. Image File history File links Mapnorthernfront. ... Image File history File links Mapnorthernfront. ... September 20 is the 263rd day of the year (264th in leap years). ... Terneuzen is a city and municipality in the southwestern Netherlands, in the province of Zeeland, in the middle of Zeeuws-Vlaanderen. ...

It became apparent to Simonds that any further gains in the Scheldt would come at heavy cost, as the Breskens pocket, extending from Zeebrugge to the Braakman Inlet and inland to the Leopold Canal, was strongly held by the enemy. The Breskens Pocket was a pocket of fortified German resistance against the 1st. ... Zeebrugge (French: Zeebruges) is a harbour-town at the coast of Belgium, a subdivision of Bruges, for which it is the modern port. ... The Braakman was a large tidal inlet in the middle of Zeeuws-Vlaanderen, on the south bank of the Westerschelde west of Terneuzen. ...

Fighting North from Antwerp

On October 2, the 2nd Canadian Division began its advance north from Antwerp. Stiff fighting at Woensdrecht ensued on October 6, the objective of the first phase. The Germans, reinforced by Battle Group Chill, saw the priority in holding there, controlling direct access to South Beveland and Walcheren Island. October 2 is the 275th day (276th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 90 days remaining. ...

There were heavy casualties as the Canadians attacked over open, flooded land. Driving rain, booby traps and land mines made advance very difficult. October 13, on what would come to be known as "Black Friday", saw the Canadian 5th Infantry Brigade's Black Watch virtually wiped out in an unsuccessful attack. The Calgary Highlanders would follow up with a more successful action, and their Carrier Platoon succeeded in taking the rail station at Korteven. Heavy fighting at Hoogerheide also ensued but by October 16, Woensdrecht was finally secured, cutting the land link to South Beveland and Walcheren. The Canadians had achieved their first objective, but suffered heavy casualties. October 13 is the 286th day of the year (287th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Canadian 5th Infantry Brigade was a Canadian military ubit during the Second World War. ... The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada is a reserve infantry regiment in 34 Brigade Group, Land Force Quebec Area. ... The Calgary Highlanders are a Land Force Reserve Infantry Regiment, headquartered at Mewata Armoury in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. ... October 16 is the 289th day of the year (290th in leap years). ...

Member of Canadian Provost Corps talking to members of the Belgian Resistance, Bruges, September 1944.

At this point, recognizing the opportunity, Field-Marshal Bernard Montgomery, issued a directive that made the opening of the Scheldt estuary the top priority of 21st Army Group. To the east, the British Second Army attacked westwards to clear the Netherlands south of the Maas River, securing the Scheldt region from counter-attacks. ImageMetadata File history File links Belgian_res. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Belgian_res. ... The Canadian Provost Corps (C Pro C) was the military police corps of the Canadian Army prior to its amalgamation into the Canadian Forces in 1968. ... Sometimes referred to as the Venice of the North, Bruges has many waterways that run through the city. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... Bernard Law Montgomery Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein (November 17, 1887 - March 24, 1976) was a British military officer during World War II often referred to as Monty. ... The Meuse(Maas) at Maastricht Length 925 km Elevation of the source 409 m Average discharge 230 m³/s Area watershed 36 000 km² Origin France Mouth Hollands Diep Basin countries France - Belgium - Netherlands The Meuse (Dutch Maas) is a large European river rising in France, flowing through Belgium and...

Meanwhile, Simonds concentrated forces at the neck of the South Beveland peninsula. The 4th Canadian Armoured moved north from the Leopold Canal and took Bergen-op-Zoom. By October 24 Allied lines were pushed out further from the neck of the peninsula, ensuring German counterattacks wouldn't cut off the 2nd Canadian Division, now moving west along it towards Walcheren Island. October 24 is the 297th day of the year (298th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 68 days remaining. ...

Operation Switchback

The second main operation of the Battle of the Scheldt opened with fierce fighting to reduce the Breskens pocket. Here, the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division encountered tenacious German resistance as they fought to cross the Leopold Canal. The Breskens Pocket was a pocket of fortified German resistance against the 1st. ... List of military divisions — List of Canadian divisions in WWII The formation of the Canadian 3rd Infantry Division was authorized on 17 May 1940. ...

An earlier failed attempt by the 4th Canadian (Armoured) Division at Moerbrugge had demonstrated the challenge they faced. In addition to the formidable German defences on both the Leopold Canal and the Dérivation de la Lys Canal, much of the approach area was flooded. The 10th Canadian Infantry Brigade was tasked to cross the Ghent Canal about five kilometers south of Bruges at a small village called Oostcamp. ...

It was decided that the best place for an assault would be immediately east of where the two canals divided: a narrow strip of dry ground only a few hundred metres wide at its base beyond the Leopold Canal (described as a long triangle with its base on the Maldegem-Aardenburg road and its apex near the village of Moershoofd some five kilometres east).

Members of the 4th Canadian (Armoured) Division demonstrating the use of flame throwers across a canal, Balgerhocke, October 1944.

A two-pronged assault commenced. The 3rd Canadian Division's 7th Brigade made the initial assault across the Leopold Canal, while the 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade mounting an amphibious attack from the northern or coastal side of the pocket. The assault began on October 6, supported by extensive artillery and Canadian-built Wasp Universal Carriers, which were equipped with flamethrowers. The Wasps launched their barrage of flame across the Leopold Canal, allowing the 7th Brigade troops to scramble up over the steep banks and launch their assault boats. Two precarious, separate footholds were established, but the enemy recovered from the shock of the flamethrowers and counter-attacked, though they were unable to move the Canadians from their extremely vulnerable bridgeheads. By October 9, the gap between the bridgeheads was closed, and by early morning on October 12, a position had been gained across the Aardenburg road. ImageMetadata File history File links Flamethrowerscheldt. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Flamethrowerscheldt. ... The 4th Canadian (Armoured) Division was created by conversion of 4th Canadian Infantry Division at the beginning of 1942 in Canada. ... German troops use a flamethrower on the Eastern Front during the Second World War A flamethrower is a mechanical device designed to throw flames or, more correctly, project an ignited stream of liquid. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... October 6 is the 279th day of the year (280th in leap years). ... The Universal Carrier, usually known as a Bren Gun Carrier (even when it was not carrying a Bren), was a small, tracked British-designed military vehicle, used widely by Allied forces during World War II. Universal Carriers were usually used for transporting personnel and equipment, or as machine gun platforms. ... October 9 is the 282nd day of the year (283rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... October 12 is the 285th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (286th in leap years). ...

Corporal Kormendy, a scout from the Calgary Highlanders Scout and Sniper Platoon, in a shot from a series of staged photos by Army photographer Ken Bell, taken near Kappellen, October, 1944. PAC Photo

The 9th Canadian Brigade conducted an amphibious operation with the aid of Terrapin and Buffalo amphibious vehicles, crewed by the British 5th Assault Regiment, from the Royal Engineers. The brigade planned to cross the mouth of the Braakman Inlet in amphibious vehicles and to land in the vicinity of Hoofdplaat, a tiny hamlet in the rear or coastal side of the pocket, thus exerting pressure from two directions at once. In spite of difficulties in manouvering vehicles through the canals and the resulting 24-hour delay, the Germans were taken by surprise and a bridgehead was established. Once again, they recovered quickly and counter-attacked with ferocity; however, they were slowly forced back. The 10th Canadian Brigade, from the 4th Armoured Division, crossed the Leopold Canal and advanced at Isabella Polder. Then the 3rd Division's 8th Canadian Brigade was called to move southwards from the coastal side of the pocket. This opened up a land-based supply route into the pocket. ImageMetadata File history File links Highlanders44. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Highlanders44. ... Scouts and Guides from different countries on World Scout Moot 1996 Scouting, or the Scout movement, is a worldwide youth movement of multiple organizations for both boys and girls whose aim is to develop young people physically, spiritually and mentally so that youth may take a constructive place in society. ... The Calgary Highlanders are a Land Force Reserve Infantry Regiment, headquartered at Mewata Armoury in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. ... Ken Bell was a Canadian wartime photographer during the Second World War, operating in Belgium and Germany. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers (RE), and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army. ... The Braakman was a large tidal inlet in the middle of Zeeuws-Vlaanderen, on the south bank of the Westerschelde west of Terneuzen. ...

The 3rd Division fought additional actions to clear German troops from the towns of Breskens, Oostburg, Zuidzande and Cadzand, as well as the coastal fortress Fort Frederik Hendrik. Operation "Switchback" ended on November 3 when the First Canadian Army liberated the Belgian towns of Knokke and Zeebrugge, officially closing the Breskens Pocket and eliminating all German forces south of the Scheldt. Coat of Arms of Breskens Breskens is a harbour town on the Westerschelde in the municipality of Sluis in the province of Zeeland, in the south-western Netherlands. ... Oostburg (population: 18,174) is a town in the southwestern Netherlands, in the province of Zeeland. ... November 3 is the 307th day of the year (308th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 58 days remaining. ... Knokke is a town in Knokke-Heist, a part of Belgium. ... Zeebrugge (French: Zeebruges) is a harbour-town at the coast of Belgium, a subdivision of Bruges, for which it is the modern port. ...

Operation Vitality

The third major operation of the Battle of the Scheldt opened on October 24 when the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division began its advance down the South Beveland peninsula. The Canadians hoped to advance rapidly, bypassing opposition and seizing operations over the Beveland Canal, but they too were slowed by mines, mud and strong enemy defences. October 24 is the 297th day of the year (298th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 68 days remaining. ... List of military divisions — List of Canadian divisions in WWII Units of the Canadian 2nd Infantry Division were mobilized on 1 September 1939, even before the declaration of war, and the battalions were promptly fleshed out by volunteers. ... The Scheldt delta, including Zuid-Beveland (2) Zuid-Beveland is a part of the province of Zeeland in the Netherlands north of the Westerschelde and south of the Oosterschelde. ... The Canal through Zuid-Beveland in the Netherlands is the western of the two canals crossing Zuid-Beveland. ...

An amphibious attack was made across the West Scheldt by the British 52nd (Lowland) Division to get in behind the German's Beveland Canal defensive positions. Thus this formidable defence was outflanked, and the Canadian 6th Infantry Brigade began a frontal attack in assault boats. The engineers were able to bridge the canal on the main road. With the canal line gone, the German defence crumbled and South Beveland was cleared. The third phase of the Battle of the Scheldt was now complete. The word amphibious or amphibian, when used alone, has several possible meanings in the English language. ... The British 52nd (Lowland) Division was a Territorial Army division. ... The Scheldt delta, including Zuid-Beveland (2) Zuid-Beveland is a part of the province of Zeeland in the Netherlands north of the Westerschelde and south of the Oosterschelde. ...

Operation Infatuate: Capture of Walcheren Island

Soldiers of the Royal Regiment of Canada rest in Blankenberge, September 1944.

As the fourth phase of the Battle of the Scheldt opened, only the island of Walcheren at the mouth of the West Scheldt remained in German hands. The island's defences were extremely strong: heavy coastal batteries on the western and southern coasts defended both the island and the Scheldt estuary, and coastline has been strongly fortified against amphibious assaults. Furthermore, a landward-facing defensive perimeter had been built around the town of Vlissingen to further defend its port facilities should an Allied landing on Walcheren succeed. The only land approach was the Sloedam—a long, narrow causeway from South Beveland, little more than a raised two-lane road. To make matters more difficult, the flats that surrounded this causeway were too saturated with sea water for movement on foot, but had too little water for an assault in storm boats. ImageMetadata File history File links Blankenberge. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Blankenberge. ... The Royal Regiment of Canada is the 2nd largest reserve regiment of the Canadian Forces. ... The beach at Blankenberge circa 1895 Blankenberge is a municipality in the Belgian province of West Flanders. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... Satellite image of the Scheldt estuary Walcheren is a former island in the province of Zeeland in the Netherlands at the mouth of the Scheldt estuary. ... The Scheldt (Dutch: Schelde, French Escaut) is a 350 km[1] long river that finds its origin in the north of France, enters Belgium and near Antwerp flows west into the Netherlands towards the North Sea. ... Flushing (Dutch Vlissingen) is a municipality and a city in the southwestern Netherlands on the former island of Walcheren. ... The Scheldt delta, including Zuid-Beveland (2) Zuid-Beveland is a part of the province of Zeeland in the Netherlands north of the Westerschelde and south of the Oosterschelde. ...

To hamper German defence, the island's dykes were breached by attacks from RAF Bomber Command: on 3 October at Westkapelle with severe loss of civilian life; on 7 October at two places, west and east of Vlissingen; and on 11 October at Veere. This flooded the central part of the island, forcing the German defenders onto the high ground around the outside and in the towns, but also allowed the use of amphibious vehicles. Bomber Command badge RAF Bomber Command was the organisation that controlled the RAFs bomber forces. ... October 3 is the 276th day of the year (277th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Veere is a municipality and a city in the southwestern Netherlands, on Walcheren in the province of Zeeland. ... October 7 is the 280th day of the year (281st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... October 11 is the 284th day of the year (285th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Veere is a municipality and a city in the southwestern Netherlands, on Walcheren in the province of Zeeland. ...

The island was attacked from three directions: across the causeway from the east, across the Scheldt from the south, and by sea from the west.

The Canadian 2nd Infantry Division attacked the causeway on October 31, 1944. An initial attack by the Black Watch was rebuffed; The Calgary Highlanders then sent a company over which was also stopped halfway down the Causeway. A second attack by the Highlanders on the morning of 1 November managed to gain a precarious foothold; a day of fighting followed, and the Highlanders were relieved by Le Regiment de Maisonneuve who struggled to maintain the bridgehead. The "Maisies" withdrew onto the Causeway on 2 November, to be relieved by a battalion of the Glasgow Highlanders of the British 52nd (Lowland) Division. In conjunction with the waterborne attacks, 52nd continued the advance.^[2] October 31 is the 304th day of the year (305th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 61 days remaining. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland (3 SCOTS) is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. ... The Calgary Highlanders are a Land Force Reserve Infantry Regiment, headquartered at Mewata Armouries in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. ...

The amphibious landings were conducted in two parts on 1 November. Operation Infatuate I consisted mainly of infantry of the British 155th Infantry Brigade (4th and 5th battalions King's Own Scottish Borderers, 7/9th battalion The Royal Scots) and No. 4 Commando, who were ferried across from Breskens in small landing craft to an assault beach in the south-eastern area of Vlissingen, codenamed Uncle Beach. During the next few days they engaged in heavy street fighting against the German defenders. November 1 is the 305th day of the year (306th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 60 days remaining. ... Kings Own Scottish Borderers cap badge and tartan The Kings Own Scottish Borderers was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Scottish Division. ... The Royal Scots were the oldest, and therefore most senior, infantry regiment of the line in the British Army, having been raised in 1633 during the reign of Charles I of Scotland. ... In military science, the term commando can refer to an individual, a military unit or a raiding style of military operation. ... Coat of Arms of Breskens Breskens is a harbour town on the Westerschelde in the municipality of Sluis in the province of Zeeland, in the south-western Netherlands. ...

Operation Infatuate II was the amphibious landing at Westkapelle, also conducted on the morning of 1 November. After a heavy naval bombardment by the British Royal Navy, troops of 4th Special Service Brigade (Nos. 41, 47 and 48 Royal Marine Commando and No. 10 Inter Allied Commando, consisting mainly of Belgian and Norwegian troops) supported by specialised armored vehicles (amphibious transports, mine-clearing tanks, bulldozers, etc.) of the 79th Armoured Division were landed on both sides of the gap in the sea dyke, using large landing craft as well as amphibious vehicles to bring men and tanks ashore. Heavy fighting ensued here as well before the ruins of the town were captured. Part of the troops moved south-eastward, toward Vlissingen, while the main force went north-east to clear the northern half of Walcheren and link up with the Canadian troops who had established a bridgehead on the eastern part of the island. Fierce resistance was again offered by some of the German troops defending this area, so that fighting continued until 7 November. The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore the Senior Service). ... The Corps of Royal Marines, usually just known as the Royal Marines (RM), are the United Kingdoms amphibious forces and a core component of the countrys Rapid Reaction Force. ... In military science, the term commando can refer to an individual, a military unit or a raiding style of military operation. ... November 7 is the 311th day of the year (312th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 54 days remaining. ...

On November 6, the island's capital Middelburg fell after a calculated gamble on the Allies' part when the German commander was reported to consider surrendering only to an armored force. As Middelburg was impossible to reach with tanks, a force of amphibious Buffaloes were driven into Middelburg, forcing an end to all German resistance by November 8. November 6 is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 55 days remaining. ... This is about the city in the Netherlands. ... The Landing Vehicle Tracked (LVT) was an amphibious vehicle used by the United States Navy, Marine Corps and Army during World War II. It was widely known as amphtrack, amtrak, amtrac etc. ... November 8 is the 312th day of the year (313th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 53 days remaining. ...

Meanwhile, the 4th Canadian (Armoured) Division had pushed eastwards past Bergen-op-Zoom to St. Philipsland where it sank several German vessels in Zijpe harbour. Bergen op Zoom is a municipality and a city in the southern Netherlands. ...

With the approaches to Antwerp clear, the fourth phase of the Battle of the Scheldt was complete. The Scheldt was then swept of mines, and on November 28, the first convoy entered the port, led by the Canadian-built freighter Fort Cataraqui. The Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal (Cathedral of our Lady) at the Handschoenmarkt, in the old quarter of Antwerp is the largest cathedral in the Low Countries and home to several triptychs by Baroque painter Rubens. ... A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy ships or submarines. ... November 28 is the 332nd day (333rd on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship that carries goods and materials from one port to another. ... The Fort Cataraqui was a North Sands class merchant vessel. ...

Aftermath

Road flooded by German forces near Veurne, September 1944.

The waterlogged terrain and the tenacity of the well-fortified German defences made the Battle of the Scheldt an especially gruelling and costly campaign. Field-Marshall Bernard Montgomery noted that "The Canadians have proved themselves magnificent fighters. Clearing the Scheldt was a job that could have been done only by first-rate troops. Second-rate troops would have failed." At the end of the five-week offensive, the First Canadian Army had taken 41,043 prisoners, but suffered 12,873 casualties (killed, wounded, or missing), 6,367 of whom were Canadians.^[3] ImageMetadata File history File links Furnesflooding. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Furnesflooding. ... Veurne is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... Formed in December of 2004, Fortified began creating and shaping their destiny to becoming what it is now. ... Offensive may relate to In sports or combat, the team which is attacking, pitching or moving forwards In language or morals, terms and concepts which are unacceptable to some people, such as swearing and profanity. ...

After the first ship arrived on November 28, convoys started bringing a steady stream of supplies to the continent, which began to re-sustain the stalled 'Drive to the Siegfried Line'. Germany recognised the importance of the Allies having a deep water port, so in an attempt to destroy it, or at least disrupt the flow of supplies, the German military fired more V-2 ballistic missiles at Antwerp than any other city. In fact, nearly half of the V-2s launched during the war, were fired at Antwerp. The port of Antwerp was so vitally strategic, that during the Battle of the Bulge one of the primary German objectives was to retake the city, and its port. It has been suggested that without having secured the Scheldt estuary, the Americans would not have been victorious, and the Germans would have been able to hold the allies from advancing, if not push them back to France. In reference to the Canadian victory at the Battle of the Scheldt, Supreme Allied Commander General Dwight D. Eisenhower stated, "The end of Nazism was in clear view when the first ship moved unmolested up the Scheldt." This article is about the general concept, particularly its use by the military. ... The drive to the Siegfried Line was one of the final Allied phases in World War II of the Western European Campaign. ... German test launch. ... Wikisource has original text related to this article: The Ardennes: Battle of the bulge Combatants United States United Kingdom Germany Commanders Dwight Eisenhower George Patton Bernard Montgomery Walther Model Gerd von Rundstedt Strength Dec 16 - start of the Battle: about 83,000 men; 242 Sherman tanks, 182 tank destroyers, and... Dwight David Ike Eisenhower (October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969) was an American soldier and politician. ...

See also

Books

• Moulton, James L. 'Battle for Antwerp'
• Stacey, C.P. Official History of the Canadian Army in the Second World War. Volume III: The Victory Campaign: The Operations in North-West Europe, 1944-1945 (Ottawa: The Queens Printer, 1960)
• Whitaker, Denis and Shelagh Whitaker. Tug of War: Eisenhower's Lost Opportunity: Allied Command & the Story Behind the Battle of the Scheldt (Beaufort Books, 1985) ISBN 0-8253-0257-9

Wikipedia

• List of battles of World War II
• List of campaigns and battles of World War II

The following is a list of battles during World War II: 1938 Battle of Lake Khasan 1939 Battle of Halhin Gol 1939 Poland September 1 - October 6 - Start of World War II in Europe (see: Polish September Campaign for details) Battle of the Bzura River Battle of Tomaszow Lubelski Battle... German soldiers during the Battle of Stalingrad. ...

Footnotes

External links

• Canadians on the Scheldt Photos, battle information, video and more on the Canadian role in the battle.
• Testaments of Honor, The Scheldt Official digital collection of experiences from WWII.
• BBC, The Peoples War.
• War Amps of Canada Against All Odds, a documentary by Cliff Chadderton
• Liberation of the Netherlands at the online Canadian War Museum
• The Calgary Highlanders Includes detailed history section with maps and descriptions of key battles such as Hoogerheide, The Coffin, and the storming of Walcheren Causeway.
• canadiansoldiers.com article on the battle, including maps and detailed information on German formations.