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Worldwar 1939 - 1945

It is impossible to give a short describtion of the events during the war on one page.

But to keep a "real" imagination of that wartime you can read on this page a number of important events during the war 1939 - 1945.

Timeline

January 30th 1939 Threat (sound)

Mar 16th Invasion in Czechoslovakia

Sep 1st Invasion in Poland

Jan 30th 1939

Sep 3rd Declaration of War UK/Fr

Sep 10th Declaration of war Cnd

Sep 29th Poland split up between De/Ussr

Apr 9th 1940 Invasion in Dk en No

May 10th Invasion in BeNeLux and Fr

Jun 3rd Bombs on Paris

Jun 10th Italy declares war

Jul 10th Battle of Britain

Jun 22nd 1941 Invasion in Russia

Dec 7th Attack on Pearl Harbour

Dec 7th Attack of Japan on Asia

Dec 11th Declaration of War De/US

Jun 10th 1942 Liquidation of Heydrich/Lidice

Trimunt near Marum in Groningen:

On May 3rd 1943 there were 16 civilians executed because they were involved in the Railwaystrike of April/May.

General F Christiansen himself had promised 300.000 Dutch Militia men they would still be transported to Germany. After this declaration there was a National strike and Seyss Inquart ordered a "Polizei Standgericht" (Immidiate execution) per May 3rd to brake down the National strike.

Jul 9th 1943 landing on Sicily

Oct 4th Himmler in Posen (sound)

From Italy to Delfzijl
The activities of the Perth Regiment in Europe started at November 8th 1943 in Italy (Napels). Via Marseille and Belgium (Mons) they went to the Netherlands: to Nijmegen, Arnhem, Doesburg and Harderwijk.

In the year 1945 the Perth Regiment was involved in the fights North-East in the province of Groningen. The batalion had a big fight near Holwierde and that area was liberated at May 2nd 1945. The last fight of the Perth Regiment took place near the Eemskanaal in the neighbourhood of Delfzijl.
Website The Perth Regiment

Jan 17th 1944 1st attack Monte Cassino

Jul 19th Uk and Cnd reached Caen

Apr 13th 1945 Canadians in Paterswolde

Apr 16th Town of Groningen liberated



May 4th Delfzijl liberated

May 5th Capitulation

Nov 20th start Neurenbergprocess

Liberation of Groningen

On December 8th 1944 near Marum there were 5 men executed due to their involvement in the raid on the Steam Railway Company.

Liberation of the town of Groningen



The Canadian troups needed 4 days (April 13th-16th) to liberate the town of Groningen. In this battle 43 Canadians were killed and many civilians and Germans.

More then 2500 Germans surrendered. In the province of Groningen in total there were killed in actions 155 Canadian Militia men and 442 Germans.

Final fights

The final fights were unexpected. Heavy fighting took place in the Eems area.

Still today the bunkers are in place which do remember us to that fightings. For the defense of the harbour of Emden heavy cannons were placed by the Germans at the isle of Borkum, in the villages Nansum and Termunten.

In this last battle of the war in the Netherlands (April 24th - May 2nd), Holwierde was nearly destroyed and the other places had great damages. The local people had to move away for some days.

In the Eems area (the villages like Holwierde, Wagenborgen, Woldendorp, the towns of Delfzijl and Appingedam) a total of 112 Canadians and many Germans and civilians were the victims.

Sources of Information:

Timeline WW II

Extermination Camp

The battle of Britain

The attack on Pearl Harbour

The battle of Stalingrad

Canada-Holland



2nd Canadian Infantry Division

14th Royal Hussars/8th Recce Regiment
The Toronto Scottisch Regiment/MG Bn
The Royal Regiment of Canada/Infantry
The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry/Infantry
The Essex Scottisch Regiment/Infantry
The Black Watch -RHR- of Canada/Infantry
Le Régiment de Maisonneuve/Infantry
The Calgary Highlanders/Infantry
Les Fusilliers Mont-Royal/Infantry
Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada/Infantry
The South Saskatchewan Regiment/Infantry
The Fort Carry Horse/2 AB
1st CND Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment
Royal Canadian Artillery
Royal Canadian Engineers
Royal CND Corps of Signals
Royal CND Army Service Corps
Royal CND Army Medical Corps
Royal CND Dental Corps
Royal CND Ordnance Corps
Royal CND Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
The Canadian Provost Corps
Royal Canadian Air-Force

60 years after the liberation

This year is the 60th after the war and is celebrated with the presence of the Canadian Veterans.

From 1995 on we are a host and I will give some impressions of the events on this page.

To see the website of May 5th (and 4th) of Groningen you can click on the next image of the statue.

The generations from and after the war do not have the feelings of the moment of liberation and it is hard to imagine the meaning of freedom therefore some information of important events during the war on the left side of this page.

Liberated by Polish and Canadians

O Canada thanks a lot!

Many Canadian regiments took part in the liberation of Groningen. My personnal remenberence concerns Mr Bill Stiles from the Sept-îles Armoured Forces, he landed at Sicily and ended the "voyage" in Dokkum, Friesland. And to Mr Murray Rogers of The Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. He landed in Belgium and went to Wilhelmshafen via Groningen

2nd of May, town of Groningen

The celebration in the town of Groningen started by decoration the Canadian Veterans present (or represented) in the townhall. On May 2nd these decorations were done by the Maire (interim) Willem Smeenk. Amoungst them Murray Rogers, at the image he just received this decoration. In 1945 he "visited" also Groningen.

3rd of May, Groesbeek

The Canadian War Cemetry in Groesbeek was visited by the Canadian Veterans on the 3rd of May.

At this cemetry in Groesbeek there are buried 2617 Militairy victims of which 2331 Canadians, they all died in the fights liberating the Netherlands. At the cemetry in Holten there are the graves of the Canadian Militairy victims from the last fights in the North of the Netherlands and the North of Germany, total 1394 of which 1347 Canadians.

During the ceremonies Queen Beatrix honoured the Militairy people by placing a garland. At this event there was also present Mrs Clarkson, Gouvernor General of Canada. Presenting Canada she placed a garland.

4th of May, remembrance

The 4th of May remembrance meeting in Loppersum. At 18:30 the war and the end of the war were remembered in a meeting in the church of Loppersum. An impressive story was told to the audience by Mr Nienhuis. For him and his family the last days in the war ended desastrous.
At the photo Mr Murray Rogers, as a Canadian Veteran after 60 years he recognized a college of him at the photo brougt in by Mr Huizinga of Loppersum. Organized by the History Society there was also an exhibition in the church of Loppersum.

5th of May, National Celebration

A parade of more the 20 vehicles went through the streets of Loppersum.

A special service took place in the Martinichurch in Groningen (due to Ascention Day). The main item was the rememberence of 60 years of freedom in Groningen. The invited Canadian Veterans were in the middle of this service also present were the maire Mr Wallage and Deputee Mr Bleeker. In the afternoon there was a parade through the streets of Groningen ending at the Festivities in the Stadspark. This festival was special organized for the youth of Groningen and they could participate in many different activities. The veterans had a pleasant meeting in the cantine of the Samplonhouse.

6th of May, Liberationwood

Commissioner of the Queen Mr Albers together with the Canadian Liberators unveiled the statue in the Liberationwood at Noorddijk.

It stands for a symbolic presentation of the fallen Canadians and of the rights of the child brought together with the doves of piece. Imagined in an improvisation based on the Maple Leaf of Canada. This has been a spontanious developed design by different peole from Groningen. (Excecution by Mr R. de Krijger).

After the unveiling of the Maple Leaf statue there was a short ceremony. Garlands and flowers were placed at the Monument of the Canadian Forces. In the Liberationwood different aspects of the rights of the child are represented.

Mr Dan Nkomi, Director of the South West Gauteng College in Soweto South Africa planted a tree in the liberationwood. Since 1994 (the end of the apartheidspolicy) in South Africa it is possible to introduce education for everyone. With the help (projects) of the Noorderpoortcollege and other Dutch sources.

7th of May reception with Governor Gen. Clarkson at the University

This day the veterans were welcomed at the Townhall to meet Governor General Mrs Clarkson and her husband Mr Clarkson Saul. In the afternoon a reception was organized by the University of Groningen. Mr H Albers, Commissionar of the Queen visited this reception.

Some students explaned their succesfull experience taking part of the exchanging program between Canada and the University of Groningen. Already over 500 students took part in that program. On the image you see Mr Clarkson Saul during his stimulating speech at the University of Groningen.

8th of May National Parade in Apeldoorn

Veterans, surviving relatives and residents of Apeldoorn participated in the National Parade on Sunday, May 8. Exactly as in the year 1985, 1990, 1995 and 2000, HRH Princess Margriet has taken the salute. The parade departed from the 'Naald bij paleis Het Loo' at 14:00 hrs. Numerous historic army vehicles were in the parade belonging to the foundation 'Keep Them Rolling'. A number of Canadian and Netherlands bands provided the musical accompaniment.

9th of May Farewell Party

Le Breton, Casey, Forsyth, Greene, Mc Lean, Maluta, Morphy, Rogers, Smith, Thompson, Schmidt, Martin, Barr, Green, Law, Murphy, Newman, Rapley, Ruddock, Stoppler, Swistun, Baker, vPolson.