This left the island of Walcheren as the last obstacle to securing the port of Antwerp for Allied use. With the canal line gone, the German defence crumbled and South Beveland was cleared. The engineers were able to bridge the canal on the main road. Thus this formidable defence was outflanked and the 6 th Canadian Infantry Brigade began a frontal attack in assault boats. The Canadians hoped to advance rapidly, by-passing opposition and seizing bridgeheads over the Beveland Canal, but they too were slowed by mines, mud and strong enemy defences.Īn amphibious attack was made across the West Scheldt by the 52 nd (Lowland) Division to get in behind the German's Beveland Canal defensive positions.
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On October 24, the third phase of the battle to free the Scheldt began with the 2 nd Canadian Infantry Division moving against South Beveland. More fighting followed, but by November 3 the south shore of the Scheldt was secured. Troops and tanks crossed the canal and the Germans withdrew into concrete bunkers along the coast.
Finally, on October 9, an amphibious assault broke the enemy's hold on the canal, and the bridgehead was deepened. The attack began on October 6 against fierce opposition, and for three days a slender bridgehead was in constant danger of elimination.
Here, the 3 rd Canadian Infantry Division encountered tenacious German opposition as it fought to cross the Leopold Canal and clear the Breskens pocket behind the canal. The Breskens Pocketįighting along the Scheldt's southern shore was equally fierce. of National Defence/Library and Archives Canada/PA-134419. Wageningen, Netherlands (vicinity).Ĭredit: Alexander M. By October 31, the area was secured by the Allies.Ĭonvoy of trucks of Allied foodstuffs being moved to German occupied territory in western Netherlands. By October 24, the entrance to South Beveland was breached and secured and the 2 nd Canadian Division began the advance into South Beveland, assisted by an amphibious landing by the 52 nd British Division. The 4 th Canadian Armoured Division, which had been engaged at the Leopold Canal, moved north of the Scheldt and drove hard for the town of Bergen-op-Zoom. Meanwhile, Lieutenant-General Simonds concentrated on the area north of South Beveland. This helped secure the Scheldt region from an outside counter-attack. To the east, the British Second Army attacked westwards to clear the Netherlands south of the Maas River. Securing access to South BevelandĪt this point, the challenge and opportunity was clear to all and Field-Marshal Bernard Montgomery, overall commander of the First Canadian Army and Second British Army, issued a directive making the opening of the Scheldt estuary the top priority. Casualties were heavy as Canadian troops attacked over open flooded ground, but by October 16 they had seized the town of Woensdrecht at the entrance to South Beveland. The 2 nd Canadian Infantry Division, advancing north to close the eastern end of South Beveland, made good progress against the enemy paratroopers who were barring the way. The well-entrenched German forces made it difficult for the Allied forces to advance. On October 2, the 2 nd Canadian Infantry Division began its advance north of Antwerp, while the 3 rd Canadian Infantry Division, supported by the 4 th Canadian Armoured Division, began the assault over the Leopold Canal. The final phase would be the capture of Walcheren Island. The second was to clear the Breskens "pocket" behind the Leopold Canal, and the third was the capture of South Beveland. The first was to clear the area north of Antwerp and secure access to South Beveland. The plan for opening the estuary involved four main operations. of National Defence/Library and Archives Canada/PA-138420 A four-phased plan 1944 / Krabbendijke, Netherlands.Ĭredit: Ken Bell/Canada.
Personnel of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry riding in Universal Carrier 27 Oct. Reichswald Forest War Cemetery and Rheinberg War Cemetery.The Final Phase: Securing Northwest Europe.
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