The Canadians and the Coalition Campaign in North West Europe 1944–45: To What Extent did the Canadian Army’s Fighting Power Increase Throughout the Campaign?

Abstract

A mixed perception of the Canadian contribution to the North West Europe campaign exists in the body of the literature. Some refer to the Canadian Army as the ‘Cinderella Army’ relegated after Normandy to clearing up the Channel coast, fighting with limited resources and largely unsung. This paper critically analyses the Canadian Army’s role in the campaign and considers the influences over its generation and employment from a political and military perspective. Through a comprehensive historical analysis this paper concludes that, despite political neglect, Canadian fighting power increased significantly as the campaign progressed due primarily to the experience and confidence gained by the operational level commanders. This is emphatically illustrated by a case study comparison of Operation ‘Spring’and the operations to clear the Scheldt Estuary to open the strategically important port of Antwerp.