Operation Blockbuster was the completion of the larger
Operation Veritable by the
First Canadian Army
The First Canadian Army (french: 1reArmée canadienne) was a field army and a formation of the Canadian Army in World War II in which most Canadian elements serving in North-West Europe were assigned. It served on the Western Front from July 1944 ...
, 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 , before advancing on
Xanten. They linked up with the
Ninth US Army at Berendonk, near
Geldern on 3 March.
Battle honours
Attached to the
10th Canadian Infantry Brigade,
4th Canadian (Armoured) Division
The 4th Canadian Division is a formation of the Canadian Army. The division was first created as a formation of the Canadian Corps during the World War I, First World War. During the World War II, Second World War the division was reactivated ...
, 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 Algonquin Regiment
*
The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada
The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise's), or A & SH of C, is a Primary Reserve Scottish regiment, Highland infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces, based at John Weir Foote, John W. Foote VC Armoury in Hamilton, Ontario ...
*
The Lake Superior Regiment (Motor)
, colors =
, march = Quick: "Hielan' Laddie"
, battles = First World WarSecond World WarWar in Afghanistan
, anniversaries =
, battle_honours ...
*
The Lincoln and Welland Regiment
*
Sherbrooke Fusiliers Regiment
The Sherbrooke Hussars is a Primary Reserve armoured warfare, armoured regiment of the Canadian Forces and perpetuates the Sherbrooke Fusilier Regiment of the Second World War.
Lineage
The Sherbrooke Regiment
The Sherbrooke Regiment was initiall ...
*
South Alberta Regiment
*
The South Saskatchewan Regiment
In popular culture
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
*
External links
"The Hochwald Gap" at Canadianheroes.org* Official history of the Canadian Army (Chapter XIX)
See also
*
Canada in World War II
The history of Canada during World War II begins with the German invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939. While the Canadian Armed Forces were eventually active in nearly every theatre of war, most combat was centred in Italy, Northwestern Europ ...
Footnotes
Western European Campaign (1944–1945)
Battles of World War II involving Canada
Military operations of World War II involving Germany
Blockbuster
Blockbuster or Block Buster may refer to:
*Blockbuster (entertainment) a term coined for an extremely successful movie, from which most other uses are derived.
Corporations
* Blockbuster (retailer), a defunct video and game rental chain
** Blo ...
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