From D-Day to V-Day
October 1944
October 31, 1944 - D-Day + 147
The 2nd Canadian Infantry Division from the First Canadian Army’s II Canadian Corps, which had started to advance across the dike from southern Beveland, was halted by enemy fire in the course of the day.
more informationOctober 30, 1944 - D-Day + 146
The First Canadian Army’s 2nd Canadian Infantry Division reached the eastern end of the Walcheren dike. A large part of the territory that had been regularly bombed by Allied bombers over the past days and weeks was underwater, creating a perfect picture of the horror and the ravages of war.
more informationOctober 29, 1944 - D-Day + 145
In the course of the day, the First Canadian Army’s II Canadian Corps mopped up southern Beveland and occupied the area in the Breskens Pocket. The men from the British 52nd Infantry and the 2nd Canadian Infantry Divisions met up in southern Beveland.
more informationOctober 28, 1944 - D-Day + 144
General Eisenhower issued instructions for a November offensive that aimed to destroy enemy troops west of the Rhine, and build a bridgehead to cross over the river and launch an advance into the German interior.
more informationOctober 27, 1944 - D-Day + 143
Combat units from the II Canadian Corps' 2nd Canadian Infantry Division reached the Beveland canal at the end of the Beveland Isthmus, and crossed the canal in the night from October 27 to 28.
more informationOctober 26, 1944 - D-Day + 142
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more informationOctober 25, 1944 - D-Day + 141
The 2nd Canadian Infantry Division from the First Canadian Army’s II Corps slowly advanced along the Beveland Isthmus and occupied Rilland. The US 104th Infantry Division from the British I Corps took its three Infantry Regiments and headed towards Zundert.
more informationOctober 24, 1944 - D-Day + 140
The First Canadian Army’s II Canadian Corps continued to methodically reduce the size of the Breskens Pocket. The 2nd Canadian Infantry Division started to advance through the Beveland Isthmus, leaving part of the units behind on the narrow neck of land.
more informationOctober 23, 1944 - D-Day + 139
Major General Terry de la Mesa Allen’s newly-deployed 104th Infantry Division from the First Canadian Army’s British I Corps started to advance to the line along the main road between Antwerp and Breda.
more informationOctober 22, 1944 - D-Day + 138
The 3rd Canadian Infantry Division from the First Canadian Army’s II Canadian Corps continued to do battle in the Breskens Pocket. At the same time, the British I Corps 4th Canadian Armored Division advanced towards Esschen.
more informationOctober 21, 1944 - D-Day + 137
During the day, General Bradley ordered the US Ninth, First and Third Armies to launch preparations to advance to the Rhine. The Ninth and First Armies were to start their offensives as early as November 5, 1944. Patton’s Third Army was to head to the Rhine five days later.
more informationOctober 20, 1944 - D-Day + 136
The First Canadian Army’s British I Corps, which secured the right flank of the II Canadian Corps, launched its advance to the main highway between Bergen-op-Zoom and Tilburg with the 4th Canadian Armored Division on the left, the 49th British Infantry Division in the centre and the Polish 1st Armored Division on the right.
more informationOctober 19, 1944 - D-Day + 135
A new player appeared on the European battlefield: the British 52nd Infantry Division, which was assigned to the First Canadian Army’s II Canadian Corps. After arriving on the front, the division took over the zone from the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division on the bridgehead over the Leopold Canal.
more informationOctober 18, 1944 - D-Day + 134
At a conference in Brussels, General Eisenhower issued provisional instructions to launch a further offensive. The priority for the 21st Army Group was to open the port in Antwerp, which was essential for speeding up the transport of provisions for the Allied armies.
more informationOctober 17, 1944 - D-Day + 133
The British 3rd Infantry Division from the British Second Army’s VIII Corps occupied Venray. In the meantime, the British 11th Armoured Division attacked eastwards through the bridgehead built by the US 7th Armored Division’s Combat Command B.
more informationOctober 16, 1944 - D-Day + 132
In the course of the day, Field Marshall Montgomery halted all offensives except those that led to quickly opening the strategic port in Antwerp.
more informationOctober 15, 1944 - D-Day + 131
In the course of October 15, 1944, the 21st Army Group received reinforcements from the US Ninth Army’s 104th Infantry Division. The division was assigned to the First Canadian Army’s British I Corps in the port of Antwerp sector.
more informationOctober 14, 1944 - D-Day + 130
The II Canadian Corps from the 21st Army Group approached the Breskens Pocket. From the east, the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division secured the pocket in Isabelle, located on the Savojaars Plaat neck of land.
more informationOctober 13, 1944 - D-Day + 129
The first V-2 rockets fell on Antwerp. Next up would be London, which would become the main target for the rockets. There was practically no defense against them.
more informationOctober 12, 1944 - D-Day + 128
The British 3rd Infantry Division from the British Second Army’s VIII Corps attacked southwards towards the bridgehead at Peel Marshes and, after many days of fighting, cleared Overloon. During the day, the American 7th Armored Division carried out a false attack to distract the enemy.
more informationOctober 11, 1944 - D-Day + 127
With only minor problems, a battalion from the 120th Infantry Regiment of the US XIX Corps’ 30th Infantry Division conquered Bardenberg. When the battalion advanced halfway through the city, it was attacked by tank and semi-track vehicle fire from the German 108th Panzer Brigade.
more informationOctober 10, 1944 - D-Day + 126
At night, the battalion of the 30th Infantry Division’s 119th Infantry Regiment withdrew from Bardenberg so that artillery fire could be aimed at the enemy in the village. Its sister regiment, the 120th, occupied the intersection in Birk on the highway to Bardenberg.
more informationOctober 9, 1944 - D-Day + 125
The First Canadian Army’s II Canadian Corps continued with mopping up operations in the Breskens Pocket. Amphibious assault forces from the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division landed on the eastern end of the pocket and built a bridgehead.
more informationOctober 8, 1944 - D-Day + 124
The border between the 21st and 12th Army Groups was shifted back to its former position. The British were now responsible for the Peel Marshes corridor west of the Meuse River. The British 2nd Army’s VIII Corps took command of the US 7th Armored Division and the Belgian 1st Brigade.
more informationOctober 7, 1944 - D-Day + 123
The First Canadian Army’s 2nd Canadian Infantry Division encountered fierce resistance in the Woensdrecht zone. The division was reassigned from the British I Corps to the II Canadian Corps, whose mission now was to open the port of Antwerp in the first phase of the operation.
more informationOctober 6, 1944 - D-Day + 122
The First Canadian Army’s II Canadian Corps launched an attack on the Breskens Pocket. The 3rd Canadian Infantry Division crossed the Leopold Canal north of Maldegem and despite strong enemy resistance, it built a small bridgehead here.
more informationOctober 5, 1944 - D-Day + 121
The British I Corps from the First Canadian Army sent vanguard units out to Alphen, located southwest of Tilburg.
more informationOctober 4, 1944 - D-Day + 120
RAF bombers increased the size of the crack in Westkappele Dike by repeatedly hitting it. Attacks against targets like these, which were often very well defended, were often very risky and as a result were given to specialized units such as the famous No. 617 Squadron RAF.
more informationOctober 3, 1944 - D-Day + 119
The 117th Infantry Regiment from the XIX Corps’ 30th Infantry Division reached Uebach and started to mop up the city, moving from house to house. Here, too, they encountered tanks from the 2nd Armored Division’s Combat Command B, which had crossed the Wurm River in Marienberg and expanded the bridgehead to the north, while the infantry attempted to make contact with the US VII Corps operating in the south.
more informationOctober 2, 1944 - D-Day + 118
In the course of the day, Field Marshall Montgomery decided to advance to the southeast out of Nijmegen and towards the Ruhr River. As a result, the path to the north through Arnhem remained closed. General Eisenhower called on the British Second Army to relieve two American divisions that were temporarily under British command from its contingent.
more informationOctober 1, 1944 - D-Day + 117
It is October 1944. The Allied forces’ unrelenting battle against the German Reich has now advanced into its fifth month. The armies landed on two fronts in France, liberated Paris, and made their way into Belgium and recently into the Netherlands.
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