After the Rhine crossing in Mar 1945, the First Canadian Army was given two tasks: the liberatation of the western Netherlands, and a drive to the North Sea protecting the left flank of the British 2nd Army driving into northern Germany.

Seven allied armies (now) fanned out in a spectacular six-week 200-mile armoured drive across Germany that culminated in the German surrender on May 8.¹

In the west I Canadian Corps attacked to open the Arnhem-Zutphen road, allowing II Canadian Corps to move northeast in support of their goals. Arnhem and Apeldoorn were liberated on 14 and 17 Apr respectively.

Secondary objectives made themselves apparent as the malnutrition rife among the civil population was observed by troops of I Canadian Corps, indicating a general famine in the western Netherlands. Wary of prompting German flooding (as had been done at Walcheren), the corps stopped its advance on 22 Apr and instead negotiated a truce to deliver food to the starving population.

The advance of II Canadian Corps to their right was rapid, though enemy resistance was still serious in places, such at Zutphen and along the Twente Canal, where the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division was halted by Infanterie Division 361. The 2nd Canadian Infantry Division also faced considerable opposition, notably at Groningen. The 4th Canadian (Armoured) Division advanced into Germany early in Apr, reaching the Kόsten Canal on the 14th.

German prisoner of war camps, such as Stalag VI C, began to fall to Allied soldiers, as well as concentration camps. German resistance ended by early May, following the fall of Berlin and the suicide of Adolf Hitler. Victory in Europe Day was announced on 7 May 1945 to take effect at one minute past midnight on May 8.