Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command of The Royal Canadian Legion www.ns.legion.ca 35 continued ... This uncertainty took a psychological toll on our soldiers in the final weeks of the war as no one wanted to lose their lives when victory seemed so close at hand. In April the Canadians had also began to advance in the western Netherlands - a populous region containing the major cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague. Canadian troops were prepared to continue their assaults but there were serious concerns this would prompt the desperate German forces to breach all the dykes and completely flood the low-lying terrain. To help ease the pressure, a truce was arranged later in the month that saw the Allied advance there come to a temporary halt. In return, the Germans allowed relief supplies to reach the suffering Dutch citizens still trapped behind enemy lines. To show their appreciation to our forces who air-dropped food and other desperately needed supplies during this time, some Dutch people painted “Thank you, Canadians!” on their rooftops. Thanks to the hard work, courage and great sacrifices of so many Canadian and other Allied troops, enemy forces in the country surrendered on May 5, 1945, finally liberating all of the Netherlands. All German forces on the continent would unconditionally surrender on May 7, 1945, and the next day was declared Victory in Europe (V-E) Day. Sacrifice The fighting in the Netherlands was often bitter but ultimately Canadian service members were able to liberate the Dutch people and help bring the Second World War to an end in Europe. This great victory, however, came at a terrible cost. More than 7,600 Canadians died in the efforts to free the country and are buried far from their homes and loved ones. Others returned home with injuries to body and mind that they would bear for the rest of their lives. Legacy Great bravery and sacrifice on the battlefield were not the only help our country offered the Netherlands during the Second World War. Some members of the Dutch royal family also found sanctuary in Canada during the conflict and Princess Margriet was born in Ottawa in 1943. These powerful connections helped form warm bonds of friendship and respect between the people of Canada and the Netherlands which continue to this day. Evidence of this enduring connection may be seen in the tulips-gifts from the Dutch people - which bloom in Canadian cities each spring, and in the care and attention Dutch children give to the burial places of our war dead in their country. Even though the price was heavy, Canadians are proud to be seen as liberators in the Netherlands. Bergen-op-Zoom Canadian War Cemetery
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