The invasion of Normandy on 6 June 1944, marked the start of the liberation of Europe. In early September, the majority of France and Belgium were rapidly liberated. And on Sunday, 17 September 1944, the Allies tried to bring a quick end to the war with an advance from Belgium and through the Netherlands: Operation Market Garden.
As part of this major plan, the bridges over the Rhine at Arnhem needed to be captured by airborne units. But the ‘Battle of Arnhem’ ended in defeat. The Allies progressed no further than the Betuwe region and the Rhine became the new front line.
On 23 March 1945, the Allies, setting out from their base at Nijmegen, crossed the Rhine at Wesel. This heralded the last phase of the liberation of Europe. The Canadians headed north and in the course of March and April liberated parts of Germany and the east and north of the Netherlands. In the night of 12 to 13 April, the British 49th Infantry Division ‘Polar Bears’ moved out from their base at Achterhoek by Westervoort and crossed the River IJssel, liberating Arnhem in the following days.
On 15 April 1945, the 5th Canadian Tank Division moved out from Arnhem to commence Operation Dutch Cleanser. The aim was to advance rapidly via Otterlo, Barneveld and Putten through to Harderwijk. This would encircle the German troops in the Veluwe area, because another Canadian division had crossed the River IJssel at Deventer and was advancing towards Apeldoorn.
On the same day, 15 April 1945, a German gun was set up right next to Café De Waldhoorn, on Dorpsstraat: an 88 mm artillery piece, pointing in the direction of De Houtkamp Farm. From here, this feared weapon had a command of the entire Dorpsstraat. The first Canadian tank to enter the village was quickly hit, killing three of the crew. Gravely wounded, the tank commander managed to crawl out of the burning tank ‘Algiers III’ and take shelter in the ditch at the side of the road, but he died two days later. Café De Waldhoorn was seriously damaged during the fighting.
And so began the liberation of Otterlo…
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