76th Anniversary of the liberation of Belgium
Video / November 3, 2020
Transcript
This month, the world celebrates the 76th anniversary of the liberation of Belgium in the Second World War.
It’s an anniversary that’s particularly meaningful to Canadians, as our own troops were instrumental in bringing peace and freedom back to the Belgian people, and so much of Europe.
In 1944, Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy.
Canadian, British, and Polish troops, fighting together in the First Canadian Army, were tasked with securing Maritime ports along the English Channel.
Then, they were to advance on Germany, itself.
If it seems that Canadians were entrusted with delivering critical victories for the Allies, that’s because they were.
The First Canadian Army had secured key ports along the French and Belgian coastline in early September 1944.
Those ports enabled the Allied forces to receive a steady stream of new troops, equipment and food supplies, while the war raged.
As the First Canadian Army crossed the recently liberated territory, they encountered deserted enemy posts and were welcomed with smiles and flowers by grateful citizens.
But not long afterward, Nazi Germany decided to reinforce its defences in the Scheldt Estuary in order to block access to the major port of Antwerp.
The First Canadian Army was assigned the difficult task of eliminating those defences in the Battle of the Scheldt.
In the five weeks of that brutal conflict, over 6,000 Canadians were killed, seriously wounded, or went missing.
This month, we remember the tremendous sacrifice that so many Canadians made to liberate Europe from the grips of tyranny.
And we take pride in the bravery and determination that Canadians demonstrated in their battle for what is good and just.
We recall, with solemn respect, that over 45,000 of our brothers and sisters were lost in the War.
Their tombs are eternal monuments to the cost of battle and the price of freedom.
Today, Canadians say to the Belgian people, that we are humbled to have been part of the Allied Forces that played a role in securing your nation’s freedom.
We are inspired by the way you have rebuilt your country to become a model, for all the world, of peace, liberty, and multilateralism.
This month, as Belgium marks the anniversary of its liberation, Canada stands by your side and remembers.
Lest we forget.
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