Content deleted Content added
Bluelinking 1 books for verifiability.) #IABot (v2.1alpha3 |
m →Battles for the Rhine (November 1944 – March 1945): Task 16: replaced (1×) / removed (0×) deprecated |dead-url= and |deadurl= with |url-status=; |
||
Line 180:
[[Operation Veritable]] was designed to bring the 21st Army Group to the west bank of the [[Rhine River]], the last natural obstacle before entering Germany.<ref name="JunoBeachVictory">{{cite web |url=http://www.junobeach.org/e/2/can-eve-rod-rhi-e.htm |title= Juno Beach Centre—Liberation of the Netherlands and capitulation of Germany|accessdate=15 August 2008 |work= |publisher= Juno Beach Centre|date= | archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20080818055617/http://www.junobeach.org/e/2/can-eve-rod-rhi-e.htm| archivedate= 18 August 2008 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> Initially scheduled for December 1944, the operation was delayed until February by the German [[Battle of the Bulge|Ardennes Offensive]].<ref>Bercuson, p. 258</ref> Plans were developed to breach three successive defensive lines: the outpost screen; a formidable section of the [[Siegfried Line]] running through the [[Hochwald Forest]]; and finally the Hochwald Layback covering the approach to the ultimate objective of [[Xanten]].<ref name="Zuehlke171"/> The first phase began on 8{{nbsp}}February 1945, with the 2nd Division's advance following up one of the largest artillery barrages seen on the Western Front.<ref name="JunoBeachVictory"/> The Germans had prepared significant defences in depth, both within the outpost screen and the Siegfried Line itself,<ref name="JunoBeachVictory"/> and to add to the Canadians' difficulties, constant rain and cold weather obscured the battlefield. However, by the end of the first day, the 2nd Division had captured their objectives—the fortified towns of [[Wyler, North Rhine-Westphalia|Wyler]] and [[Den Heuvel]].<ref name="Bercuson263">Bercuson, p. 263</ref> On 11{{nbsp}}February, the division moved southeast to assist [[XXX Corps (United Kingdom)|British XXX Corps]] in their assault on Moyland Wood.<ref name="Bercuson263"/>
The operational plan's second phase called for the 2nd and 3rd Divisions to take the Hochwald Forest. Following its capture, the 4th Canadian Armoured would sweep through the Hochwald Gap towards [[Wesel]],<ref>Bercuson, p. 265</ref> followed by the 2nd Division "leap-frogging" towards Xanten. [[Operation Blockbuster]] was scheduled for 27{{nbsp}}February, but despite initial gains, stubborn German resistance prolonged the battle for six days.<ref name="JunoBeachVictory"/><ref name="Zuehlke171">Zuehlke, p. 171</ref> It was not until 3{{nbsp}}March that the forest was cleared—during the intense close-quarter fighting, Major [[Frederick Albert Tilston|Frederick Tilston]] of the Essex Scottish Regiment won a [[Victoria Cross]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/general/sub.cfm?source=history/secondwar/citations/tilston |title=Major Frederick Tilston, Victoria Cross |accessdate=15 August 2008
Operation Blockbuster's final phase was the attack on Xanten itself, which lasted from 8{{nbsp}}to 10{{nbsp}}March.<ref name="Zuehlke172">Zuehlke, p. 172</ref> This fell primarily to the 2nd Division and [[2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade]], although the [[43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division]] was temporarily assigned to Simonds's II Canadian Corps for the assault.<ref name="Copp190">Copp, p. 190</ref> Despite an elaborate preceding artillery barrage, dogged German resistance caused the battle to degenerate into one of attrition.<ref name="Copp190"/> Because effective air-support was prevented by fog and movement was hindered by German mortar barrages,<ref name="JunoBeachVictory"/> the British and Canadians suffered heavy casualties.<ref name="Copp190"/> However, by 10{{nbsp}}March, the 2nd Division's 5th Brigade had linked up with elements of the [[52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division]], bringing the offensive to a close.<ref>Copp, p. 192</ref> Total Canadian casualties during Veritable and Blockbuster were 5,304 killed or wounded.<ref name="Zuehlke172"/>
| |||