(6 months, 14 days until VE Day)

The late weeks of October 1944 were miserable for the Canadian forces, their Allies, and their enemy alike. Major operations continued in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, while the 1st Canadian Corps continued to push northwards in Italy.

Famously inclement weather in the lowlands of Europe proved to be terrible for both Allied and Axis forces, as it had in the First World War thirty years before. This was made far worse, though, by the Germans’ willingness to destroy dams and dykes, flooding fields and greatly raising rivers. These obstacles did far more than impede advancing Allied soldiers - they ruined roads, homes, and farmers’ fields.

Great obstacles could not stop the Allied war machine. For weeks, the troops in this area had been focused on a small “bubble” of German resistance, known as the Breskens Pocket. Around 10,000 German troops had been condensed in a (roughly) 75 km area, encompassing the Breskens Pocket, the South Beveland Peninsula, and the heavily defended Walcheren Island - all of which were covered with defensive positions and huge gun batteries. This was a hugely difficult task - and once again, it would be spearheaded by Canadians.

This operation (christened Operation Switchback) was underway on October 2nd, 1944. After initial difficulties, a bridgehead was made - and by the 21st, Breskens had been captured by the 3nd Canadian Division. To the east, Fort Frederik Hendrik stood as a stronghold, and took until the 25th to fall.

On their eastern flank, the 2nd Canadian Division had been advancing on Walcheren Island. Every step was paid for in blood, as the advancing Canadians encountered innumerable enemy strongpoints and dogged German resistance.

Meanwhile, the 4th Canadian Division snaked northwards through the Netherlands. The city of Bergen-op-Zoom fell into Allied hands on the 24th.

Things were far different on the Italian Front. The 1st Canadian Corps had been in Italy even before D-Day, engaged in fierce combat while the remainder of the Canadian Army remained in Britain.

The Gothic Line ( the last real line of Axis defenses before hitting the Alps) had been broken, and the German defenders shattered. Technically speaking, the Allied and Axis still had around 20 “divisions” in Italy, but in name only: the past year of fighting had depleted these divisions to a shadow of what they once were. Nevertheless, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill called for the campaign to continue, and the Allies pushed past Rimini and into Northern Italy.