At the end of March 1945, Allied units enter Dutch territory in the Achterhoek. After heavy fighting, the path to liberate the rest of the Netherlands is open. On 5 May 1945, German General Blaskowitz meets with Canadian General Foulkes in Hotel de Wereld in Wageningen. Blaskowitz signs the surrender orders for the German troops in the Netherlands, and with this, the country is finally free after five years of occupation and war.
While British and American troops advance further into Germany, the Canadians liberate the eastern and northern Netherlands. In March and April heavy fighting takes place in the Achterhoek. The German troops are forced out of Arnhem, and the Veluwe is conquered. In April, the Allied troops liberate large parts of northeast Netherlands (Source: wegnaardebevrijding.nl).
On 5 May 1945, German General Blaskowitz meets Canadian General Foulkes in Hotel de Wereld in Wageningen. Blaskowitz signs the surrender orders for the German troops in the Netherlands and with this, the country is finally free after five years of occupation and war.
Read more about the liberation of the east of the Netherlands on Liberationroute.com.
After five years of occupation, the Netherlands was liberated in 1945. A lot happened in the Veluwe during the war years. On this route, you cycle along various historical locations that were central to the liberation of the Veluwe by the Canadian army. You will, for example, learn how Apeldoorn escaped a heavy artillery bombardment in the night of 16 and 17 April 1945 and new victims of war were prevented.
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