Day 27 - Sept 23, 2017: Friesland to Delfzjil
Day 27 - Sept 23, 2017: Friesland to Delfzjil
Note: Edits and photos to follow.
Hotel de Wereld - Waginingen
We stopped by Hotel de Wereld the site where Lt General Charles Foulkes negotiated the terms of the surrender of the Germans in the Netherlands with German General Johannes Blaskowitz on 5 May 1945. In attendance was Prince Bernard of the Netherlands the Supreme Commander of the Dutch Armed forces.
We were able to go inside the room where the negotiations took place however it is now a functioning dining room and didn't want to disturb those enjoying their Saturday morning breakfast. It was great to be in the very room where the oppression of the Dutch people had come to an end after five years.
Friesland
As we travel across the Netherlands I give a "Tip of the Hat" to my father-in-law John Wind's parents who were from Hassett and Gheitorn. The tip of the hat extends to all the Dutch civilians who had to endure starvation and extreme cold. The winter of 1944/45 was one of the coldest in prior history and each person was rationed to 320 calories per day. 20,000 civilians had starved to death over the winter and millions more were in peril of suffering the same fate. Some had resorted to eating tulip bulbs. The soldiers recanting the experience of liberating the Netherlands would all speak of the starving populace they encountered. And yet when the Canadians entered the towns the civilians would offer up bread or whatever food they had to the soldiers. It was indicative of just how appreciative the Dutch were of their liberators. They had barely anything themselves yet offered it all to the soldiers.
We were able to go inside the room where the negotiations took place however it is now a functioning dining room and didn't want to disturb those enjoying their Saturday morning breakfast. It was great to be in the very room where the oppression of the Dutch people had come to an end after five years.
Friesland
As we travel across the Netherlands I give a "Tip of the Hat" to my father-in-law John Wind's parents who were from Hassett and Gheitorn. The tip of the hat extends to all the Dutch civilians who had to endure starvation and extreme cold. The winter of 1944/45 was one of the coldest in prior history and each person was rationed to 320 calories per day. 20,000 civilians had starved to death over the winter and millions more were in peril of suffering the same fate. Some had resorted to eating tulip bulbs. The soldiers recanting the experience of liberating the Netherlands would all speak of the starving populace they encountered. And yet when the Canadians entered the towns the civilians would offer up bread or whatever food they had to the soldiers. It was indicative of just how appreciative the Dutch were of their liberators. They had barely anything themselves yet offered it all to the soldiers.
The 1st Canadian Division was tasked with clearing the remaining German forces out west Netherlands - the area including Rotterdam and Amsterdam. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th Divisions moved across the Rhine into northern Germany before heading back into the Netherlands and liberating the remainder of that country.
We followed the route of the 5th Canadian Armoured Division from Arnhem. They had been involved in skirmishes at Apeldoorn, Otterloo and Nijkerk as they made their way northward to the coast. The three infantry battalions attached (the Irish Regiment of Canada, the Cape Breton Highlanders and the Perth Regiment) were garrisoned for a time in Friesland at Lemmer, Sneek and Makkum to control that area and protect the causeway that connect the two peninsulas from being blown by the Germans.
The 2nd Division had moved on Groningen liberating that city, trying to flush the Germans without causing any damage to the ancient historical city itself. The 3rd Division had cornered the German forces in Delfzjil and once relieved by the 5th, they proceeded into northern Germany. Once the 5th Canadian Armoured Division was in place they descended upon Delfzjil having liberated it and while there the war ended just a few day later.
Mounted on the wall at the Delfzjil town hall are three plaques commemorating the Canadians of the 5th Division. Unfortunately the town hall so closed on Saturdays and we were unable to see these fine plaques.
We made our way to Marsum to check out a memorial there, It was nicely done for a small town!
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