The Canadian Liberation of West Brabant, 1944
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Canadian Military History Volume 4 Issue 1 Article 2 1995 “Where are our Liberators?”: The Canadian Liberation of West Brabant, 1944 Geoffrey Hayes University of Waterloo Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh Part of the Military History Commons Recommended Citation Hayes, Geoffrey "“Where are our Liberators?”: The Canadian Liberation of West Brabant, 1944." Canadian Military History 4, 1 (1995) This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Canadian Military History by an authorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Hayes: “Where are our Liberators?”: The Canadian Liberation of West Brab Fourth Canadian Armoured Division enters Bergen-op-Zoom, 29 October 1944. (Photo by H.G. Aikman, NAC PA 113666) 6 Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 1995 1 Canadian Military History, Vol. 4 [1995], Iss. 1, Art. 2 ''Where Are Our Liberators?'' The Canadian Liberation of West Brabant, 1944 Geoffrey Hayes anadian historians of the Second World War have tended the graves with extraordinary care. Chave long been interested in a strategic debate They have not forgotten their Canadian liberators, that has waged since 1944: should the Allies have for their fates were bound together by the same exploited the success of the capture of Antwerp, strategic decisions. Indeed, for the people of then the largest port in Northwest Europe, by Bergen-op-Zoom and the surrounding clearing its western approaches; or should they countryside, the months of September and have sought to "leap" the German defenses along October 1944 were marked by elation, despair, the Rhine, in the ill-fated Operation "Market tragedy, courage-and finally triumph through Garden." liberation. The liberation seemed long in coming, for despite being only some 25 kilometres north All Canadian writers on the issue are agreed of Antwerp, which fell on 4 September, the city's that the decision to go ahead with "Market Canadian liberators did not occupy its centrum Garden" held important consequences for the until 27 October 1944. What follows is the story soldiers of First Canadian Army. As British and of the liberation of West Brabant from both a American forces turned northeast of Antwerp in Canadian and Dutch perspective. It seeks the first weeks of September, the Canadians, ultimately to examine how the circumstances of already committed to opening the Channel ports, war so strongly bound the Dutch citizens of West were given the additional task of clearing the Brabant to their Canadian liberators. approaches to the city- the shores of the Scheldt estuary. The citizens of this medieval moated city have been no strangers to war. In 1944, Bergen-op The intense fighting in the areas surrounding Zoom was a permanent home to some 30,000 Antwerp through September and October 1944 people, though thousands more refugees were reflected the importance the Germans gave to crowded within its gates, old stonehouses and denying the Allies use of the port. Victory in the winding narrow roadways. Through the city's Battle of the Scheldt, fought from 1 October to 8 northern reaches, where small factories sat November 1944, came at a cost of 6,367 alongside neat homes and shops, flowed the Canadians killed, wounded, or missing. 1 Zoom river. Though little more than a creek, its steep banks formed an obvious barrier; Many of those killed through this time rest at throughout the occupation, the Germans installed the Commonwealth War Graves cemetery just east concrete abutments along the river's edge. Several of the city of Bergen-op-Zoom in West Brabant. hundred yards south of the Zoom is the centre of Any Canadian visitor to the site must be struck the old city, the centrum. Here the traditional by the care still given to each white grave. For cobblestoned market area known as the "Grote fifty years, local citizens of the ancient walled city 7 https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/vol4/iss1/2 2 Hayes: “Where are our Liberators?”: The Canadian Liberation of West Brab Canadian soldiers stand on the outskirts Qf "BERGEN OP ZOOM." (NAC PA 113667) Markt" is surrounded by a variety of shops, cafes, Jews in the country) were deported. The Dutch residences and the "Pepebus," the name given to underground tried to save some 25,000 Dutch the medieval clock tower that marks the entrance Jews, but the country was isolated, both to the Catholic church. geographically and strategically. This made resistance efforts difficult-and very dangerous. The city had been under German occupation DeJong estimates that of the 50,000 to 60,000 since May of 1940, but the strain and demands members of the Dutch underground, more than of occupation had deepened as the war continued. 10,000 were shot or died in German Louis de Jong has noted that the Germans held concentration camps. 2 to four primary objectives in the Netherlands: they sought to transform the country into a national The evidence is limited, though local accounts socialist state as part of the broader Reich; to do not show West Brabant, or Bergen-op-Zoom, develop its economic resources and labour force to be very much different from the rest of the for German benefit; to purge the country of its country. Piet Hoedelman's account of the Jewish population; and to stop any resistance liberation of Bergen-op-Zoom, Jeeps & movements. De Jong has concluded that the Klaprozen, notes that there were few Jews in this German record of success was mixed. Very few largely Catholic city, though nine Jewish citizens Dutch people became ardent National Socialists, are known to have been deported. Still he though their economic "contribution to the recounts local episodes of what Professor de Jong German war effort was not inconsiderable." Dutch describes as acts of"moral resistance." These acts Jews were particularly vulnerable; some 82 varied: bicycles stolen from the German garrison; percentofthem(l07,000 of an estimated 130,000 individuals refused to salute German funeral 8 Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 1995 3 Canadian Military History, Vol. 4 [1995], Iss. 1, Art. 2 processions. National acts of protest were also remaining bridge leading north, the British forces played out in West Brabant. In April 1943, the remained in the city. Those liVingjust across the German authorities ordered all Dutch men Dutch border saw an important opportunity lost. between the ages of 18 to 35 to work in German war industry. Those who refused became On 6 September, Bergen's mayor, H.A.F. Onderduikers (Divers) who escaped the German Lijnkamp, was busy preparing his welcome roundups by fleeing into the countryside. Often speech, when the local German garrison these men became members of various Dutch commander called him to his office. resistance groups, such as the Orange Garde or Reinforcements were coming, the mayor was told, the Orde Dienst. Still the story of two area men and reprisals would follow if the population did who were shot in August 1944 while transporting not stay in check. The mayor posted a request banned literature confirmed the inescapable later that day urging that all articles taken from problem of the Dutch landscape: there were few the Germans be returned. Many simply gave back places in the country for large numbers of people things useless to the Germans, although one to hide and organize.3 mother of thirteen children reportedly returned twelve Edam cheeses.6 News of the Allied invasion in June 1944 brought obVious anticipation, but also a greater The euphoria of Mad Tuesday returned briefly danger. This was especially true for the resistance a few weeks later when waves of aircraft brought who began to put long held plans into action. In droves of citizens into the streets, waving to the early May 1944, seven men were arrested after armada overhead. The aircraft were heading east an attack failed on a German distribution centre towards Nijmegen and Arnhem: Operation in Bergen-op-Zoom. Five of the seven were "Market Garden" had begun. For many, the executed three weeks later. A string of arrests of operation marked "the beginning of the end of the Orde Dienst followed through the summer the Third Reich." A strike of Dutch rail workers after the German internal forces learned of their erupted throughout the country, prompting the membership. But the resistance fought back: on Germans to cut food supplies to the west of the 29 July two members of the resistance bicycled country. In West Brabant. funeral processions into the city and shot dead one local who had held for flyers brought down in the area grew into worked actively with the Germans. Tinus Vervest demonstrations against the Germans. Some was buried with full German military honours. A locals also began trying to move local resistance city-wide curfew followed his funeral, enforced by members through the lines. 7 members of the NSB (Nationaal-Socialistische Beweging), a much hated fascist group of which Again this was dangerous work, for the Vervest was a member. 4 Germans in the area were gaining valuable time to reorganize and prepare their defences. On 22 The Allied advance into Belgium prompted a September, Bergen's city police were disarmed. full celebration on "Mad Tuesday," 5 September At all levels, the importance of denying the Allies 1944. German personnel flowed from the city, the use of Antwerp was made clear. The German their fears fed by rumour. The emboldened Dutch, 15th Army was to defend to the last the line from weary of shortages, began to parade through the Antwerp to the cities ofTilburg-s'Hertogenbosch streets with whatever the German stores held.