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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}{{more citations needed|date=February 2011}}

factoids

{{flag>United Kingdom}}Nazi Germany|name=Germany}}CanadaHarry Crerar{{flagicon>United Kingdom}} Brian HorrocksGermany|Nazi}} Alfred Schlemm|strength1=|strength2=|casualties1=| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Central Europe}}{{Campaignbox Western Europe (1944-1945)}}}}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 {{Interlanguage link multi|Uedemer Hochwald|de|3=Uedemer Hochwald|lt=Hochwald forested ridge}}, 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 Canadian infantry and armoured regiments to earn battle honours for actions during Operation Blockbuster, emblazoned on their regimental colours as The Hochwald, include:

• Algonquin Regiment
• Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada
• Lake Superior Regiment (Motor)
• Lincoln and Welland Regiment
• Sherbrooke Fusiliers Regiment
• South Alberta Regiment
• The South Saskatchewan Regiment
• British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught’s Own)

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.{{cn|date=February 2024}}

See also

• Canada in World War II

Notes

{{notelist}}{{reflist}}

Further reading

• BOOK, Major L. F., Ellis, Lieutenant-Colonel A. E., with Warhurst, Butler, J. R. M., James Ramsay Montagu Butler, History of the Second World War United Kingdom Military Series, Victory in the West: The Defeat of Germany, II, Naval & Military Press, 2004, 1st. pub. HMSO 1968, 978-1-84574-059-7, amp,
• The Dukes, D.E. Harker p179-181.

External links

{{Commons category|Operation Blockbuster}}

• “The Hochwald Gap” at Canadianheroes.org
• Official history of the Canadian Army (Chapter XIX): The Battle of the Rhineland. Part II: Operation “BLOCKBUSTER”

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