The Final Push – 70th Anniversary ‘s-Heerenberg, 1 April 2015 The Final Push ‘s-Heerenberg Planning Team • Keep Them Rolling – Rob van’t Oost • Town of ‘s-Heerenberg – • Heemkundekring Bergh - • ‘s-Heerenberg Volunteers – – Wilco Bosch – Kapt Henk Groote • 48th Highlander of Holland P&D – John Fundter • Canada – Brig-Gen Ernest Beno Keep Them Rolling Netherlands “The Final Push - 2015” Organization: Rob van't Oost Chairman Bauke Schuurman Secretary Teun Hemelman Treasurer Bert van de Maat PR Dick Jansen New Media Contact [email protected] 48th Highlanders of Holland Pipes and Drums The Netherlands – Key Points Groningen Arnhem Nijmegen & Amsterdam Groesbeek Wageningen ‘s-Heerenberg Rhineland, Ge Scheldt ‘s-Heerenberg The town of 's-Heerenberg lies 30kms southeast of Arnhem, close to the German frontier, just north of the Rhine and the city of Emmerich. The town received its municipal charter in 1379. ‘s-Heerenberg was liberated by the First Canadian Army in April 1945. The First Canadian Army – Liberation of Holland ‘s-Heerenberg The Liberation of Holland The Liberation of the Netherlands, from September 1944 to April 1945, played a key role in the culmination of the Second World War, as the Allied forces closed in on Germany from all sides. The First Canadian Army played a major role in the liberation of the Dutch people who had suffered terrible hunger and hardship under the increasingly desperate German occupiers. In early June 1940, Princess Juliana and her two small daughters secretly boarded a Dutch vessel bound for Halifax. Safe in the Ottawa region, Princess Juliana was able to take over the reins of government-in-exile if the need arose. The birth of Princess Margriet Francisca, the third daughter of Princess Juliana and Prince Bernhard, was a symbol of hope and a source of inspiration for the Dutch people who were fighting for their survival in Europe. Liberation Day– Bevrijdingsdag • In The Netherlands, Liberation Day is celebrated each year on 5 May, to mark the end of the occupation by Nazi Germany during World War II. • The liberation of the Netherlands officially took place on May 5th 1945 when occupational forces signed the capitulation treaty in Hotel ‘De Wereld’ in Wageningen in the presence of General Charles Foulkes (Commander-in- chief of the Canadian liberation army) and Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands. • On 4 May, the Dutch hold the Remembrance of the Dead for the people who have fought and died during World War II, and wars in general. Throughout the country, two minutes of silence are observed at 8:00 p.m. • Liberation Day is commemorated and celebrated every year. On 5 May, the liberation is celebrated and festivals are held at most places in the Netherlands. Quotes - The Liberation of ‘s-Heerenberg • “The advance northward was launched by the 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade on March 31 (1945). They met little resistance and, on April 1, the Highland Light Infantry of Canada passed through to clear the first Dutch town to be liberated, s’Heerenberg, situated only a little more than a kilometre north of Emmerich. Here “C” Company of the HLI met resistance at an anti-tank ditch in front of the town. The ditch was bridged under fire and the advance continued against a number of strongpoints based on a large castle and monastery.” • “When the 3rd Division surged through s’Heerenberg as their advance got under way on April 1, they found it difficult to pass through this town, despite the fact that German resistance had been overcome. The North Nova Scotia Highlanders noted: Progress was slow through the town because of the cheering and waving crowds of Dutch lining the street. The First Canadian Army was liberating again and it certainly was a change from the sullen mass of Germans we continually bumped into on the other side of the Rhine and up to Emmerich…After five years of oppression, the Dutch people were expressing their joy and thanks at being liberated.” • “But most impressive of all, after seeing deserted German villages and towns from the border into the city of ‘s Heerenberg, was that there were now hundreds of civilians waving flags and cheering the passing transport. There was damage in the city and in the following villages, but they were not deserted, and everywhere civilians were cheering and Dutch national flags were flying from almost every house and building – with a smattering of British flags too.” Celebrating and Commemorating the Canadian Artillery’s Role in the Liberation of The Netherlands • The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery commemorated its role in the Liberation of The Netherlands in the City of ‘s-Heerenberg on May 5th, 2010, the 65th Anniversary of the Liberation of Holland. • A World War II Gun, the famed 25 Pounder, was dedicated on the market square in ‘s- Heerenberg to memorialize the service of Canadian Gunners. • This monument will perpetuate the memory of the service of more than 29,000 Canadian Gunners in Holland who manned more than 1,100 guns in 38 Artillery Regiments. Canadian Gunners suffered about 900 killed from D Day to VE Day. • The 25 Pounder was the principal artillery piece of the Canadian Artillery in World War II, so it is most fitting that it represent the Gunners who served in Holland. • ‘s-Heerenberg is at the centre of the start of the Liberation campaign, when the First Canadian Army, under command of a Gunner (General Harry Crerar) swung north, crossed the Rhine and brought the occupying forces to capitulation. • This was the first major town liberated in Operation PLUNDER, commencing March 31st 1945. "B" Troop, 5th Field 7th Medium Regiment, Regiment, firing 25- 12th Battery, "A" Troop, pounder near fire on German Malden, Holland, 1 positions with 5.5 inch February 1945. guns Sexton SP guns of the 8th Field Regiment, R.C.A., firing 21 gun salute to celebrate VE Day, Groningen, Netherlands, 8 May 1945. Canada’s Artillery in World War II Draft Program • Band Display – 48th Highlanders of Holland Pipes and Drums • Soldiers March On • Dignitaries Arrive • Roll Past and Salute • Gun Salute • Parade forms up • Flag Raising and National Anthems of Canada and The Netherlands • Master of Ceremonies • Addresses by KTR, Canadian Delegate, Dignitaries, Wilco Bosch • Greetings from Veterans • Laying of Wreaths at Gun Monument • Last Post, Two Minutes Silence, Reveille • Final Words of Greetings and Thanks • March off Parade and Soldiers • Band Concert • Reception Follow-on Actions - Next Steps • Program – H Groote, R van’t Oost and W Bosch • Music Program – 48th Highland P&D. J Fundter • NL Gun Salute – Artillerie Museum or Marine Corps – H Groote • Police and Traffic – W Bosch • Liaison with Town and Region – W Bosch • VIPs and Protocol – W Bosch • Invitations – W Bosch • Seating, Flags, Sound System, Stage/Platform, etc – W Bosch • Master of Ceremonies – H Groote • Certificates and Presentations – W Bosch • Canadian Government Participation – E Beno • Netherlands Military Coordination – H Groote • Canadian Soldier Participation – E Beno • Post-Parade Reception – W Bosch • Communications, Public Affairs, Advertising – W Bosch Extracts from Reports/Books • Please note the following extracts from various Reports and Books, for info. The next phase of the brigade's advance was a job for H.L.I. of C. The battalion passed through Nth N.S. Highrs and thrust northward toward the junction of the `s Heerenberg - Emmerich road with the autobahn. At 1035 hours they found their objective mined, and the road blocked (W.D., H.Q. 9 Cdn Inf Bde, March 1945: Appx 3, Ops Log, 31 Mar 45, Serial 58). This obstruction was by-passed, and the battalion worked its way forward once more. All this time 7 Cdn Recce Regt had been patrolling northward from Klein Netterden and had contacted the H.L.I. of C. near the autobahn junction. (Ibid, Serial 78). The task of probing to the right and front of 9 Cdn Inf Bde was assigned to "A" Sqn, which Lt- Col Baerman had placed at Brigadier Rockingham's disposal, while he himself established his own tactical Command Post at the headquarters of 9 Cdn Inf Bde. At a little after noon, 31 Mar, the two units, closely attended by some tanks of 27 Cdn Armd Regt, had reached the Grens Kanaal, south of `s Heerenberg. (2 Cdn Corps Ops Log, 31 Mar 45, Serial 29). By 1400 hours, however, it was clear that the enemy intended to hold `s Heerenberg. H.L.I. of C. then reported to the brigade that it would be necessary to bridge the "anti-tank ditch" bounding the canal, in order to get supporting tanks forward to root the enemy out of the town. Most of the opposition in front of H.L.I. of C. was coming from a large monastery south of the town. Although the buildings were clearly marked as a hospital the Germans were using it as a strong point. After some time a bridgehead was established, and the monastic fortress was finally occupied at 2100 hours (31 Mar). (W.D., H.L.I. of C., 31 Mar 45). A company was then passed through to take up positions on the left side of the road protecting the bridgehead, and by 2200 hours the engineers were busy putting up a bridge. Thus the month of April began with 3 Cdn Inf Div beyond Emmerich on a two brigade front. On the left 8 Cdn Inf Bde was in possession of the coveted heights of Hoch Elten, and on the right 9 Cdn Inf Bde was about to begin clearing `s Heerenberg. Thence the brigade would go to Zeddam and Kilder, which lie on the eastern and northern edge of the great Stokkummer Bosch, the forest which streams up into Holland from the Hoch Elten pinnacle.