Liberation of the Netherlands Canada General Charles Foulkes Nazi Germany General Blaskowitz The Netherlands

Where? The Netherlands

When? Taken over by Nazis in 1940 8 months of fighting to win back land Liberated May 5th, 1945

Why? Hitler believed the Netherlands would be an easy target Hitler would easily be able to invade and take control Canada and the Allies wanted to stop Hitler’s control

What? Nazis invaded Netherlands 8 months of fighting for Canada in 1944-45 The people were starved (very hungry) Canada came to liberate the Dutch Canada pushed German troops back into Germany German General Blaskowitz surrendered to Canadian General Foulkes

Significance To Canada Canadians suffered 7,600 casualties Canada dropped food from planes Canadian corps liberated the Netherlands Dutch send 10,000 tulips to Canada annually

Eastern Front (June 22nd, 1941 – May 8th, 1945)

Operation Barbarossa (June 1941) “Red Beard” – Hitler attacked the Soviet Union Soviet propaganda poster from World War II, depicting a Red Army soldier aiming a bayonet at Hitler's temple. The torn paper document is titled "The Agreement on non-Aggression between Germany and USSR". The poster title is "Mercilessly, we will humiliate and destroy the enemy!"

Hitler referred it as a "war of annihilation". Fascism against Communism Hitler against Stalin Both the Germans and Soviet’s targeted civilians using a scorched-earth (leave nothing behind) strategy Perhaps up to seventeen million civilians were killed by the Nazis in the east.

The Eastern Front was by far the largest and bloodiest battle of World War II. It is generally accepted as being the most costly conflict in human history with over 30 million dead as a result. It involved more land combat than all other World War II battles combined. It resulted in the destruction and division of Nazi Germany and the rise of the Soviet Union as a military and industrial superpower.

The bodies of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini & his mistress Claretta Pettaci were hung by their heels after their execution by a vengeful Italian mob in January 1945.

Hitler committed suicide in April 1945

Victory in Europe Day (May 8th, 1945) Tuesday 8 May 1945 was 'Victory in Europe' (VE) Day, and it marked the formal end of Hitler's war. With it came the end of six years of misery, suffering, courage and endurance across the world. Individuals reacted in very different ways to the end of the nightmare: some celebrated by partying; others spent the day in quiet reflection; and there were those too busy carrying out tasks to do either. Although the war was over in Europe everyone knew the war in Asia continued.

Canada’s overall WWII Commitment The Facts: Over 1 Million Canadians served in World War Two 45,000 Canadians were killed 55,000 were seriously wounded