Battle of the Scheldt :September-November
1944
Part 1: The Leopold Canal
In
September 1944, following the rout of the German armies from
Normandy, the allied armies of the U.S., Britain and Canada surged
eastward from France into Belgium. While reaching the Rhine was
their main focus, attention was finally given to the liberation of
Antwerp, a port that could handle the vast logistical supply
necessary for three armies on the move.
Although the city of Antwerp had fallen to the British, the docks
had not been cleared, and the approaches to it along both banks of
the Scheldt River were strongly held by the vaunted 15th German
Army, who were determined to prevent the Allies from making use of
the port of Antwerp. Until the mouth of the Scheldt estuary was
closed, Antwerp–60 miles inland–was of no value.
German General
Gustav von Zangen, commanding 15th Army, issued an order declaring
that: "the defence of the approaches to Antwerp represents a task
which is decisive for the further conduct of the war.”
First Canadian Army had three divisions under command: 4th Canadian
Armoured (including the Polish Armoured), and the Second and Third
Infantry: in all, some 50,000 men.
Fourth Canadian Armoured was ordered to clear a crossing of the Gent
Canal at Moerbrugge. The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of
Canada, supported by the Lincoln and Welland Regiment, struggled for
the objective for three days, with heavy casualties.
On
the morning of Sept. 10, the engineers completed a bridge. The tanks
of the South Alberta Regiment joined the infantry and began flushing
the enemy from houses and haystacks.
The division was next ordered to do an immediate crossing of the
Leopold Canal "to keep the Germans on the move." The Canadians
discovered they were fighting an enemy whose well-organized delay
actions and determination revealed just how committed the Germans
were to defending the approaches to Antwerp. The Algonquin Regiment
had 28 killed, 40 wounded and 66 taken prisoner. The German
counterattack employed all available resources, but the Algonquins
held on.
The Canadian Grenadier Guards with the Lincoln and Welland Regt. on
board led the way to Maldegem on the morning of Sept. 15. The enemy
was gone and they continued east past open fields where one day the
Commonwealth War Graves Commission would establish the Canadian
military cemetery at Adagem where 848 Canadian and 298 Polish and
British soldiers lie.
Adapted from an account by historian Terry Copp, published
in Legion Magazine (www legionmagazine.ca)
The Canadian Battlefields Foundation battle
bursary student Katie Bunting, University of Ottawa Honours History,
visited Adegem in 2005. These are her comments:
“My favorite war museum we visited was the Canadian Museum in
Adegem-Maldegem. It was built and opened by Mr. Gilbert Van
Landschoot in 1995. He had promised his father on his deathbed to
create a tribute to the Canadians who had liberated them and to
share their war experiences with the younger generations. Over 40
years had passed since their liberation and still no commemoration
had been made. Creating the Canadian Museum became Mr. Van
Landschoot’s mission. As he spoke to us, his eyes shone brightly
and he was incredibly animated. His pride in the museum was
contagious. All of the artifacts had been donated and the variety
and completeness of the collection was impressive.
“I
wish every Canadian had the opportunity to visit the Canadian War
Museum in Belgium. The importance of Canada’s contribution and
sacrifice is celebrated so sincerely and passionately. It warmed my
heart and filled me with pride.”
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