XGC HABS FAN
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Dutch Liberation
On Saturday, May 5th 2018 the Netherlands will celebrate Liberation Day. Why is this important? What a very astute question. Allow me to enlighten you; 73 years ago in 1945 General Foulkes, commander of Canadian forces, accepted the surrender of General Johannes Blaskowitz who was the commander of German forces in Holland. A momentous day for the Dutch for after 5 years under the yolk of Nazi tyranny they were finally free. A 1st attempt in July 1944 under the name Operation Market Garden, with British and and American paratroopers, was made but ultimately failed.
The road to liberation was long and deadly for the 1 Canadian Corps by the time hostilities ended 8,000 Canadians would pay the ultimate price for the Dutch people to be free. In April 1945, Canadians would encounter heavy resistance from the estuary to major house to house fighting in the cities. Often helped by the Dutch resistance; blowing up bridges to deny reinforcements, or uprisings to keep the Germans busy, or in one case a Canadian sniper helped capture a town without a shot being fired after he got angry when his friend was killed. With the resistance convinced the entrench Germans they were heavily surrounded by Canadians.
In gratefulness, 8,000 tulip bulbs which the Netherlands is known for was donated to the Canadian Government one for every Canadian killed. The Dutch make a yearly donation. The day is marked in the Netherlands, in some cities by displaying the Canadian flag on shop fronts or homes. It is a grim reminder that freedom is not free and is paid in blood and with the lives of soldiers. The day is celebrated every year but started out as a celebration every 5 years. The Dutch people remain grateful to Canada even after seven decades.
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