|
European Tensions |
War |
Mobilization | Poland -
France | Battle of
Britain | Dieppe |
North Atlantic |
Training the Empire |
The Pacific |
Quebec Conference |
Hong Kong |
Home Front |
Sicily |
Italy | Conscription
| Normandy |
France
| Netherlands |
Germany
The Canadians landed on Juno Beach on June 6th, 1944
and although the day saw some heavy fighting, this was
to be just the beginning of a tough campaign. Their
initial objective was the French city off Caen but
German counterattacks with some of their best Panzer
units made every step costly.
The capture of Caen came slowly but the
next real target was Falaise. By holding down much of
the German force that was reinforcing the Normandy
theatre, the Canadians had allowed the Americans an
opportunity to breakout in the west towards Cherbourg
and then south and so that hey could awing around behind
the German lines and then turn North to meet the
Canadians and British at Falaise.
The Canadian attacks towards Falaise were
through rough hedge growth countryside which was ideal
for defence and Canadian attacks used the tanks as
support for the infantry rather then the razor sharp
knife for cutting deep into German lines and speeding
through to Falaise. Eventually the gap was closed and
tens of thousands German troops were captured in the
Falaise pocket in July.
This blew open the front for allied
armies to advance all along the front and on August 25th
Paris was liberated. The Canadian troops moved along the
coast of France, liberating towns, cities and citizens
as they went. The Germans were in full retreat and the
advance was lighting fast. At home in Canada the talk
turned to the war in European being over by Christmas.
By the fall France was liberated and the allies moved
into the low countries. |
