After the Rhineland campaign of February and March 1945, when casualties and German resistance to the invasion of their homeland again soared, it began to be clear that the war in Europe would soon be over. Second Canadian Infantry Division took part in the Rhine crossing and had some sharp clashes in various canal crossings as we drove north through Eastern Holland. Alas, we sadly also lost a few veterans who had survived months of conflict, only to lose their lives in the final stretch.
By 12 April 1945 we had crossed the Oranje Kanaal, and we had helped to liberate Kamp Westerbork (1) which "A" Company then occupied for three days to ensure the Germans could not return. In the following two days, 4 and 5 Brigade had advanced through our positions to liberate Assen, and pushed north to Groningen, the main northern city, and the main escape route for the now fleeing German garrison of most of Holland to the west.
On 14 April 45, the South Saskatchewan Regiment received a briefing on the heavy fighting, mainly by 4 Canadian Infantry Brigade in the outskirts of Groningen. The Battalion was warned to be prepared to move to the town of Eelde, which we in fact reached by 16:00 hours British Summer Time, or 3:00 in the afternoon local time. Six Canadian Infantry Brigade (Cameron Highlanders of Canada, Les Fusiliers Mont Royal, and the South Saskatchewan Regiment, with support from Fort Garry Horse (10th Armoured Regiment) 6th Field Regiment RCA, and platoons from the Toronto Scottish (MG)), all under command of Brigadier Jean Victor Allard, DSO and Bar, were to pass through the bridgehead over the canal, gained by the Essex Scottish, and to clear the centre of the city. But first we had to make a tactical move through terrain that had been checked by the 8th Recce Regiment (14th Canadian Hussars) but was known to contain isolated groups of enemy troops trying to flee to the Fatherland.
Because of the possibility of enemy interference, the companies moved by bounds from one tactical point to another, so as to arrive in the Assembly Area just at the bridge over the canal, ready to go directly into the assault. As was his custom, LT-Col Vern Stott, DSO, had prepared a careful plan, fully documented with traces, or diagrams, which unfortunately are no longer available. We were to be joined by the tanks at first light, since they were reluctant to move in the dark through uncleared terrain, since the Germans were heavily armed with Panzerfausten, and the German versions of the Bazooka. The Mortar platoon, commanded by Captain Cecil Law, was ordered to take up a baseplate or firing position, and then be ready to follow the lead elements across the bridge, ready to set up again in a suitable place to support the further advance. We were reluctant to further damage Dutch housing when the Dutch had already suffered so much, and thus depended on the lighter mortars, rather than field artillery when we could. Pioneer Platoon Assault Sections for mine and obstacle clearing went with "C" and "B" companies, as shown in the War Diary (2). Each rifle company had one sniper and one observer, with the remaining snipers with battalion TAC (Tactical HeadQuarters). Artillery Forward Observation Officers went with "C" and "D" Companies in case of heavy opposition, while Mobile Fire Controllers from the Mortar Platoon went with "A" and "B" Companies. The 4.2 inch Mortar Rep from Toronto Scottish went with Battalion Command Post. In that manner the Battalion "leap-frogged" its way to the assigned positions, each of which was assigned a Code-Word.
With a one hour delay due to the late arrival of "A" Company's Troop Carrying Vehicles, we finally moved off and were in position, ready to charge across the bridge. By 08:00 hours BST, the first objective (BASEBALL) was reached and the PW (Prisoners of War) began to roll in. Objectives CRICKET and TENNIS followed and then a brief stop for lunch while we reviewed our status. By this time, the mortars were firmly esconced in the main square (see photos) and the situation looked pretty good. The Mortar Platoon commander recalls that one of the mortar Mobile Fire Controllers in fact engaged a German squad. 20 mm cannon that was harassing the company he was supporting. With a little luck they succeeded in silencing the 20 mm with only 21 bombs, not bad for firing strictly off the map. The Carrier Platoon moved about to give flank protection. To prepare for casualties, the Regimental Aid Post was set up immediately south of the railroad near the bridge. The weather was sunny, clear, and warm.
During the day, warnings were received that a number of somewhat drunken civilians had been encountered, taking supplies from former German warehouses, as reported in Menno Huizinga's Book "Maple Leaf Up" (2) and troops were warned to beware of illicit alcohol. Predictably, that order was not fully obeyed! The Battalion had only one casualty, and he was suspected of having ignored the illicit liquor warning! The Mortars had fired a few HE rounds and some smoke, and were asked to smoke off the eastern canal, where considerable firing had been observed. But during the day some overzealous, or perhaps careless German, in the west end of town, either blew up a truck full of explosives, or became a target for a stray tank round which had the same effect. At 21:00 BST, Lt-Col Stott held an "O Gp" (Orders Meeting) with Company Commanders and Support Unit Commanders. A curfew was placed on the city for both civilians and soldiers not on duty. Orders for the following day were much like the previous one, with "H Hour" at 07:30, to be a continuation of clearing the city center. Just after the "O Gp.", the Dutch Police brought in the civilian Nazi leader and his wife for fear of civil retaliation. The I/O (Intelligence Officer) conducted them to the Field Security Section at Division. During the day, "B" Company and the Carrier Platoon captured the Post Office, which contained 250 million guilders, which had been destined for Amsterdam under a special Nazi agent. After being suitably admired, the "loot" was turned over to the authorities. The Battalion score of PWs for the day was 181, with one German officer attempting to break away, but being brought down immediately by a charging Lt. Carmichael. By 12:02 all objectives for the Battalion were taken.
CQMS (Company Quarter Master Sergeant) Mickey Faille, as usual up to his eyes in the action, was almost single handedly responsible for crashing the defences of the city. While bringing up lunch and ammunition for his company, Mickey took a wrong road and was stopped by a German officer, a Lt-Col, who offered to surrender with all his troops, but only to an officer of suitable rank. Lt-Col Stott was summoned, but he realized that the Germans were in the Fusilier Mont Royal area. He reluctantly informed the FMR. The two Majors who took the German surrender with Lt-Col "Jimmy" Dextrase, were actually the same two who came to the Liberation Celebration of 2000. The bag was 181, including 5 Lt-Colonels and 8 Majors, later expanded to nearly 800, with 60 officers, quite a score!
By 19:45 hours, the Battalion was briefed to go to Bedum and Zuidwolde, in preparation to clear to the North Sea (Actually the Waddenzee). In the meantime, one company was sent to guard the German Military Hospital, where just under 1000 German wounded were being treated. By the morning of 17 April 1945, the move to Zuidwolde was commenced.
After some rest and cleanup, with various false alarms about German troop movements, the Battalion was briefed on 20 April to move to the Bremen area to protect the left flank of the 21st Army Group. By 21 April this 200 mile move was underway, and we left Holland for three months duty in Germany, the final actions of a long war for some of us who had served from 1939 or '40, mainly in the UK, over five long years. And it wasn't over yet. There were still 30 some casualties to come, five of them officers. From 7 July 44 to 8 May 45, the SSR had suffered 156 Officer casualties, or 405% of the officer strength, and 1845 Other Rank casualties, or 236%. Fatal casualties were 34, or 92% of Officer strength, and 305 or 38% of ORs. Dieppe casualties were an additional 24 Officer casualties and 351 Other Ranks.
(1) Cecil E. Law, Kamp Westerbork-Transit Camp to Eternity-The Liberation Story, Pearson Peacekeeping Press, Clemensport, NS, 2000.
(2)War Diary, South Saskatchewan Regiment, April 1945, Pages 19 to 28 attached, (Appx A)
(3)M.H. Huizinga, Maple Leaf Up-de Canadese opmars in Noord-Nederland-April 1945, Uitgeverij J. Niemeijer, Groningen, 1980.
(4)Huizinga, M.H. & B. van Leusen, Vier Dagen in April, Groningen, 1999.
(5)Bollen, H. & P. Vroemen, Canadezen in Actie, Terra, Leende, 1990.
Copyright of Prof. C.E. Law. Used by J Piest with permission.
Because of very difficult weather conditions here, it wasn't practical to dig out all the information I needed, not to obtain additional photos. Here are some suggestions that may be available with permission.
Pages 46 and 96, of "Maple Leaf Up" show sections of the Canadian Army 1945 Defense Overprints for Groningen. These might be available from Huizinga's son.
Page 112 of that publication shows the Heerebrug, over which the South Saskatchewan Regiment passed to enter the center of the town. I recall very clearly the dead German lying at the side of the bridge as we passed.
Page 118 shows SSR men with "hot packs" (drinks) for lunch.
Page 150 shows an SSR Carrier and an SSR rifle company soldier escorting prisoners. It says 14 April, but I seem to recall it as 15 April when they passed our position.
Page 156 shows a rifle platoon of the SSR advancing up the Guldenstraat, Sunday morning. I believe this was "A Company".
The next page, 157 shows the smoke screen on the Grote Markt. My mortars helped to set up that screen. The lower photo shows German PWs marching past the Oude Boteringestraat corner. Page 159 shows another view of the same group of the 181 prisoners we took that day.
Page 189 shows an SSR carrier with CSM Bill Outhwaite standing tall in the front.
"Vier Dagen in April" which I got through the kind efforts of Albert Dijkstra, also has many SSR photos, and much very useful information, now lost in history.
Page 89 shows the early portion of the SSR after crossing the outer harbour.
Page 111 shows a quad 20 mm, one of several we overran during that battle. I think the German gunners didn't really have their hearts in that battle!
Page 115 mentions the Ubbo Emminssingel and the Praedinssingel which we had captured.
The map facing page 117 shows the rapid progress towards the Vismarkt and the capture of the Post Office at about noon, with the bags of gold in the hands of the Nazi Agent. We all heard the story, but only a few people saw the gold. "A Company" and the Carrier Platoon did most of the work here. The mortars were somewhere along the Zuiderdeep at the time, as I recall, surrounded by eager civilians, whose safety I feared for.
On page 131, the carrier is a T-16, not a Bren Carrier (see the double bogies) and may be mine. The signalman looks like Wes Calder of my platoon.
Page 174 shows SSR stretcher bearers of the RAP (Regimental Aid Post) and a company carrier.
Page 192, the SSR riflemen mainly wore "full battle order", that is, small pack and all gear.
By Sunday night, general confusion reigned as the Germans were nearly driven out, but there was much street damage, and the next day was another battle. The SSR suffered only one casualty in Groningen! Great good luck, and good planning and organization on the part of Lt-Col Stott and all the commanders. Not flashy, but effective. He was an excellent Commander.
Page 216 SSR Carrier Platoon.
I personally took only a few photos. We had only recently (end November) been allowed cameras and film had to come mainly from Canada, so was in short supply. We had to send it to the army for processing, and censorship! One photo, of the five young ladies by the hospital, has already appeared in the Groningen newspaper. But I can't find my copy! I will have to download the one from the SSR website, where I sent it.
Page 206 of the "Canadezen in Actie" gives a good summary map of the liberation of Groningen. It might be available to you.
SSR Casualty Summary -Ver. 7+ -- Page Summary 8
