As the Dutch once again celebrate their liberation by Canadians in 1945. The question aagin comes to mind. The citizens of Holland are still thankfull to the Canadians who landed in their country and liberated them from their NAZI oppressors. SIXTY FIVE years and they still maintain the cemeteries for Canadian soldiers.
How long after Canada leaves Afghanistan will they honour our soldiers killed in defence of their freedoms.How long will they even remember Canada and the men and women who travelled across the world to help them. I certainly have my doubts that 65 years will be a period of time that they will celebrate Canada and their sacrifices.
The people of the Netherlands, together with Canadian veterans and dignitaries, are marking the 65th anniversary of the country's release from Nazi occupation.
May 5 is celebrated as Liberation Day in the Netherlands.
In the city of Wageningen, where Canadian forces accepted the surrender of the Germans in 1945, about 500 veterans marched through the streets or rode in the backs of restored World War II trucks to the applause of spectators.
David Common of CBC News said thousands of people lined the city's cobblestone streets waving Canadian flags.
The Canadians are once again being honoured as the liberators that they were for this country, and certainly for this village, he said.
About 2,500 Canadian students are in the country for the ceremonies, meeting with veterans and touring cemeteries and former battlefields.
Veterans Affairs Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn was in attendance and Prime Minister Stephen Harper was to fly to the Netherlands later Wednesday to attend memorial ceremonies. Harper was flying in from Brussels, where he had been meeting with the president of the European Union Commission.
Almost 8,000 Canadian soldiers died fighting in the Netherlands.
On Tuesday, the Canadians participated in a memorial ceremony at Holten Canadian War Cemetery, the resting place of 1,355 Canadians who died in the latter phases of the war in Europe.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/05/05/netherlands-liberation-canadians.html#ixzz0n4PDdfLb
About Victory in Europe Day
By May 1945, with most of western Germany under Allied control and Berlin besieged by shellfire, the days of the Nazi regime were clearly numbered.
The war had been long and hard on Canadians and the rest of the Allies. But, finally, tragedy and loss began giving way to victory after victory many of which Canada had helped win.
Major successes in Italy and during D-Day which saw Canadians fight their way deeper into France than even the British and Americans helped solidify Canadas status as a force to be reckoned with. But Canadas most notable role in bringing about the end of the Second World War was the liberation of the Netherlands on May 5, 1945. To this day, the Dutch Royal Family sends 10,000 tulip bulbs to Ottawa each year as a show of thanks.
Finally, after 1.1 million Canadians had served in the army, navy and air force and after more than 42,000 of those had given their lives the violence came to a standstill. In the early hours of May 7th, just two days after Canadas victory in the Netherlands, Germanys High Command of Armed Forces signed an unconditional surrender at a schoolhouse in Rheims, France. The following night, a second and final surrender was signed at a villa just outside Berlin.
World War II had ended in Europe.
With victory in the Pacific just over the horizon, celebrations broke out all over the world. Declared Victory in Europe Day, May 8th remains a time when people across the globe pay tribute to those who courageously fought for the freedom we share today.
General Foulkes accepts German Surrender May 5 1945 Holland
Photos of Liberation and surrender compliments of Captain Terry Hunter
Now 65 years on Canadians are still fighting for freedom and democracy.
Please Support Your Troops
Nil Sine Labore
Robby
