Operation Blockbuster

Operation Blockbuster was the completion of the larger Operation Veritable by the First Canadian Army, reinforced by the XXX Corps from the British Second Army from late February to early March, 1945. Veritable had been slower and more costly than expected and the Canadian commander, General Harry Crerar, had decided on a fresh start for the operation. Three British and Canadian divisions advanced south-eastwards, capturing unprepared German positions in the Hochwald forested ridge, before advancing on Xanten. They linked up with the Ninth US Army at Berendonk, near Geldern on 3 March.

Operation Blockbuster
Part of the Western Allied invasion of Germany in the Western Front of the European theatre of World War II

Operation Blockbuster (yellow)
Date26 February – 3 March 1945
Location
Lower Rhine region Germany
Result Allied victory
Belligerents
 Canada
 United Kingdom		  Germany
Commanders and leaders
Canada Harry Crerar
United Kingdom Brian Horrocks		 Germany Alfred Schlemm

Battle honours

Attached to the 10th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 4th Canadian (Armoured) Division, the Canadian infantry and armoured regiments to earn battle honours for actions during Operation Blockbuster, emblazoned on their regimental colours as The Hochwald, include:

The Battle of the Hochwald Gap was the topic of an episode of the documentary series Greatest Tank Battles. Veterans on both sides gave testimonies on the violence of the campaign. The Canadians in particular spoke of the tenacity of German soldiers in the Rhineland while former German soldiers gave testimonies on their own experiences with the Canadians.

Further reading
  • Ellis, Major L. F. & with Warhurst, Lieutenant-Colonel A. E. (2004) [1st. pub. HMSO 1968]. Butler, J. R. M. (ed.). Victory in the West: The Defeat of Germany. History of the Second World War United Kingdom Military Series. Vol. II. Naval & Military Press. ISBN 978-1-84574-059-7.
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See also

Footnotes


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