My father was one of those paratroopers in the Canadian Parachute Corps. But he never wanted to talk about what happened over there. To him the real heroes were all those fellas that didn't make it back home. He didn't even bother to receive his medals. I sent away for them not long before his death and I have them, along with my mother's, who also served.
When I was growing up, virtually every adult male I knew was a veteran or refugee of some sort. My uncles and grandfathers didn't talk about the war in front of me, but other adults did, more so as I got to the age they had been during it. I doubt any of them ever said a word to their own families.
My dad never talked about his own contributions unless there was something funny but he gladly shared those of his buddies. I have met some of those guys and they were all the same. They talked about dad and each other but never about themselves. They were real soldiers.
@@michaelhilborn4204 - My Dad's three brothers all were in different services, and it was mostly a rude comedy routine when they got together. It must have been in the late seventies, thirty years after the war, that a guy walked up to me while I was fishing and within ten minutes was telling me about cleaning out the turrets of bombers that had been shot up. That sort of thing happened occasionally. I was a big teenager and in Army Cadets, so I had a military haircut and usually wore at least a uniform jacket, generally American vietnam era surplus. I might have seemed like a young soldier to them.
My father, a Canadian Army veteran, told me often that during the war the only time he felt was at home was during his time in Holland. He was often billeted at Dutch homes during pauses in battles. He told me that the Dutch treated him like he was family. He was so-ever grateful to the Dutch. My father, and many Canadians like him, who grew up in rural Canadian familes as farmers, woodsmen, carpenters, etc., would help their "Dutch Famileis" in harvesting crops, cutting firewood for the family homes, building barns, etc. Dad always had a slight, contented smile on his face whenever he told those stories. Dad passed away in 1988 at the age of 66yrs. I will be so-ever grateful to the good people of Holland for giving my father peace in a time of such chaos and death. As a Canadian I will always be indebted to the good people of Holland.
My grandfathers village was liberated by Canadian troops. One of them gave him a bar of soap and a chocolate bar, Once he turned 18 he immigrated to Canada. On the other side of the family my Grandmothers brother was a Canadian solider in the Black Watch of Canada and fought in the Netherlands I like to think it was my Great Uncle giving my Grandfather those gifts and freedom from the Germans.
My father, a Canadian Army veteran, told me often that during the war the only time he felt was at home was during his time in Holland. He was often billeted at Dutch homes during pauses in battles. He told me that the Dutch treated him like he was family. He was so-ever grateful to the Dutch. My father, and many Canadians like him, who grew up in rural Canadian familes as farmers, woodsmen, carpenters, etc., would help their "Dutch Famileis" in harvesting crops, cutting firewood for the family homes, building barns, etc. Dad always had a slight, contented smile on his face whenever he told those stories. Dad passed away in 1988 at the age of 66yrs. I will be so-ever grateful to the good people of Holland for giving my father peace in a time of such chaos and death. As a Canadian I will always be indebted to the good people of Holland.
My uncle was in the Black Watch, help liberate the Netherlands met and married a Dutch young lady and came back to Canada and had two kids, my cousins. He passed away a few years back. My father served here in Canada an arrow engine mechanic. Looking after the flight schools in portage La Prairie.
A friend of my father's was part of the Canadian forces that liberated The Netherlands. He had both knees shot out in the process and would go back to Holland every decade and said they were all treated like rock stars. May Earl RIP.
A Canadian tactic from WWI that has always given our war fighters a tactical and morale advantage is everyone being given the full W5 for a battle/mission. Every soldier knows who, what, where, when, and why of objectives. Almost any soldier can become the leader if required when all hell breaks loose and the casualties require rapid changes. Obviously rank is still followed, but there's a leadership component to all CAF members I've ever interacted with..
A lot of Americans really underestimate how much of there modern militsry and battle tactics developed from them receiving training from the Canadians in world war 1 and 2 Fun fact- not only were the us army rangers when first set up trained by large numbers of Canadian soldiers on loan But there first combat mission ever was being brought along by us in the raid on dunkirk and then for like a year after that they would accompany Canadian forces launching small raids on the European mainland
Wait... Liberated _A TOWN_ in the Netherlands..? Mert, our boys did a hell of a lot more than liberate a _town..!_ We cleared the entire northern and western region of the country.
Not according to the Dutch in that town..."He reached the city and walked through deserted streets. He knocked on doors, but nobody dared to open the doors. "After a while I was so tired that I couldn't think straight anymore. But I had enough information, and I encountered enemies nowhere." He walked around in circles, left the town and came to a farmer whom he reassured by pointing at the word CANADA in the inside of his hat. Quickly he came in contact with the underground resistance. He was able to return to his unit with the message that the enemy left Zwolle. ... But in the decades that followed Leo Major became a 'Rambo' who according to many conquered street after street wildly shooting around on 'certainly a thousand' Germans who persistently resisted. It was a story that he - so his friends mildly laugh - in the end started to believe a little bit himself"@@primary2630
My dad was there. He was the guy in the front seat of the jeep right near the end of the video. Things got pretty tense but cooler heads ultimately prevailed.
It’s so amazing that your dad is in this video! It must make you exceedingly proud. I’m so glad that he made it home to your family. My only brother, an RCAF pilot was killed at the age of 21 in 1944. My dad fought in the English army in WW1 (mostly in Africa ) at the age of 17, shortly after becoming an orphan. He suffered from PTSD for years after the war. These dreadful wars affect so many people’s lives, and I’m hoping that my 6 great grandchildren nor anyone else will ever have to be conscripted, and that all wars will cease! Thanks for sharing your story, I have to watch the end again to see your dad! ❤🎉
@@maryloulauren8108 Amen. My mum is an English War Bride who lost her only brother a week before his 21st birthday in 1940. He was a naval aviator in the Fleet Air Arm. She turned 98 last Sunday. 😃
My grandfather was an officer in the 1st canadian parachute batallion. He was one of the first commonwealth troops to shake hands with the Russians as the two forces met in wismar. He was also in Bergen Belsen during its liberation. He said you could smell the burning bodies from several km out. Toughest yet most decent man I have ever met to this very day. Wish he was still alive, we could really use more men like him these days.
@@balghair1 You got it all wrong man.... 😞 He was a million miles above either of those things and countless other mindless selfish conservative talking points as well and would have felt sad for you for buying into the kind of bullshit that can make a man callous, judgemental and afraid.
@@rickywinthrop do you believe in Jesus? Are you a follower of his teachings? Would you sacrifice for another? Would you stand in the way of evil to protect the innocent? Do you believe that the globalist agenda is to the benefit of humanity? Were you at the Freedom Convoy or the Dutch farmers protests? Would you allow crimes to happen if you could prevent them? Wake up woketard.. look to what is coming here.. and is here already.. probably don't know ish about the collapse of the Roman empire either.. I don't understand how you watched this video and still don't know shit about history
My father was company sergeant major in B Co of the 1st Canadian Airborne Regiment. Dropped into occupied France in the wee hours before D Day as a Corporal. By the time he dropped over the Rhine he was CSM. He made it to Wismar as well. Never talked about the war other than French girl who helped him and the other guys who were trying to get organized in the hedges of Normandy, the Calvados, frost bite during the freezing winter in the Ardennes and meeting the Russian soldiers. Never talked about the fighting. Almost made it sound like a cake walk! Right! And that’s why he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. Because it was a cake walk. Tough bunch of bastards, all of them. God bless them all. ☮️
My uncle was in the Sherbrooke Fusiliers, a tank regiment at the time. He told me about entering the Netherlands, Canadian and British troops getting a ride on his Sherman. Crowds met them, flowers, cheering, I wish they'd had mobiles back then: imagine the photos and video. He'd landed at Normandy and fought through the Hitler Youth and SS divisions to get there. I think they lost a couple of tanks before this, managed to get out of them in time before they burned. Slept under the tank at night, learned to camouflage the vehicle like no one's business. He was a driver and mentioned how delicate the driving could be in the hedgerows and streets, had to be careful not to run over their own soldiers, that kind of thing. Also had to have good communications with his commander, not easy with the noise from the tank and battle noise. Fought in the Falaise Gap, the Scheldt, amazing run. He and many of his fellow tankers had talked about how they could probably be of use in the invasion of Japan, fortunately, that never happened. My uncle remained close to a couple of the guys he tanked with, including the commander. He never mentioned the Danish question noted here, nor much of the Russians. (Although I think he met some in Germany.) He remembers the British soldiers fondly and really admired the Polish soldiers -- was very impressed with them.
My father went in at Normandy as shock troops . He was in signals in the Cameron Highlanders from Ottawa . He would never talk about his experience in the war , ever . It was kill or be killed and that was the truth . When I traveled to Europe in the seventies the bartender in Amsterdam would not let me pay for my drink and the same thing happened in Copenhagen in a jazz club . The people there held the Canadians in high esteem . Dad was from Glasgow , immigrated to Canada when he was seventeen and joined the army when war broke out . There are many Dutch who came to Canada after the war and settled here in Ontario along the St Lawrence . I appreciate your video , it made me think about dad .
We did have alot of Dutch here too on P.E.I(lots of dairy farmers) but now it's all from Asia and all they do is work in the service industry,get benefits and complain.. Filipinos are pretty cool tho. Actually work
The head general of the NATO forces was asked what would make up the perfect soldier and he said it would be American tech., British discipline and Canadian training.
When asked what would be the best fighting force, he said American arms because of their superior manufacturing capabilities, german generals because of the superior tactics and Canadian army because of their superior fighting capabilities
My grandfather fought in ww2 he made it to Belgium where he was wounded in action he made it home and lived until he was 95 he is my hero and every remembrance day i would phone or visit and thank him for his service he wouldn't talk about the war other than boot camp stories to all that serve thank you for your service and your sacrifice
I can't say how crazy it was. My wife's father went to WW2 without a single ask. And all of the Canadians gave all their rations to give them some kind of comfort.
To seome.yes to other not as much their was a town they burnt down all because one of there men got shot and they belived it was the civilians only to find out it was a German soldier then the fact they bombed thousands of Italians that were forced to build stuff for the germans canadians are a large reason the geneva convention became a thing ..
I grew up on my paternal grandfathers war stories. He spent the war aboard HMCS Huron escorting convoys to Murmansk. One time growing up he told me about this one Christmas(I forget the year) but the Hurons crew were on leave so they're walking through the port city and I guess someone saw the local orphanage in shambles and the kids having nothing so he took it up with the Captain upon arriving back to the ship. My grandfather said it was announced over the ship that they were starting a Christmas fund for the kids. Everyone donated their whole pay that month. Everyone. He said the orphanage was absolutely filled with toys for the kids, I hope they enjoyed it
Yes. I knew about this. The Canucks were known for being quite tough so they got sent to stand up to the Russians despite being outnumbered. The Soviets understood that the Canadians would not back down.
More like fodder for the empire. The Canadian military is not known for being fierce but rather making excuses for not fighting during the Cold War and it's military is clownish and poorly funded for 15 years.
Indeed. The SS feared the Canadians. After the SS murdered some Canadian POWs in the Normandy area, the Canadians were reputed to not take ansySS prisoners.
@@dmfraser1444 That is true. A number were shot while "trying to escape." The truth is, the paratroopers had neither the time nor the resources to babysit POWs.
"Stand up to the Russians"???? -- are you so CLUELESS that you don't realize that the Canadians and the Russians were on the same side. Ignorance like yours is dangerous.
My parents were born in the Netherlands and met during the liberation celebrations. They came to Canada in 1954 when my brother was a toddler. My sister and I were born in Canada. We didn’t talk much about the war because it brought back bad memories for them. They were very proud to become Canadian citizens. I was always glad that the Canadian soldiers helped liberate them and fought so bravely in other countries too.
my uncle landed in Normandy with Queens Own Rifles. he fought thru france, holland and germany. they liberated much of holland. every time i saw him he had a beer in his hand
This was an excellent story that I had not heard of before. Thank you so much for this. Both my parents were in the Canadian army and I had 3 uncles who served during WW-2 ( one who was shot down and is buried in Italy). It means a lot for the families to hear these ongoing heroic stories of sacrifices and bravery shown by our military. Thank you. 👏👏👏🥰🇨🇦
My Grandfather died in Holland. He was a Sargeant leading his troops. He jumped on a grenade so it wouldn't harm his friends. Greetings from Nova Scotia!
Canada didn't just liberate one town in the Netherlands. They liberated Northeastern and Western Netherlands including cities like Amsterdam, Rotterdam and the Hague.
You don’t hear much of Canadas achievements form WWII as the Brits and the Americans war documentaries always somehow think they were the only countries that fought the entire European war. We know what we did and that’s what matters. 🇨🇦🇨🇦
Well I'm British Canadian never seen a British movie where Canadian Australia New Zealand forces aren't mentioned as for documentary this one is British
@14:40 I think he was talking about other online documentaries he'd seen about the Canadian Army in WW2, including ones about Leo Major who'd single-handedly captured the town of Zwole, Netherlands.
Unfortunately the Trudeau/NDP are making it difficult to be a Proud Canadian!! Pierre Trudeau refused to fight in WW11 and tried to row a boat from Florida to Cuba. i guess the apple doesn’t fall from the tree.
52 year old Canadian Father's side been since 1635 Acadian Mother's side 300 plus years Scottish Irish and Welsh Luv your videos Luv you Your videos make me cry
I've been watching you on TH-cam and tonight I'm watching you showing this video of the Canadians. I'm a senior now My dad was in world War II He joined 1939 as as One of the first of volunteers his picture is a newspaper showing him and other recruits getting their uniforms and boots. He started out as a private and ended up n RSM l. My dad was born in England and moved to Canada when he was 16. Unfortunately Even though I survived the war he had a heart attack at 53. I was 20 years old. When you're young you don't think about asking your parents about things like that and my dad was reluctant to talk about it. He of course told my mother everything and I seen letters he wrote her. Very much like that letter that was written that you read where the soldier was saying how tired he was. I remember my mother having boxes of pictures and letters and reading the odd one about my dad being so tired And being hard of hearing after being near the tanks and close to the brenn guns. I probably spelled that wrong. I so wished I could have heard more from him and asked questions when I was an older adult. He was the best dad ever. And I knew that the Dutch really loved the Canadians. Living in Canada we had some Dutch people that immigrated and they were very very nice to us. I had two Dutch girls that were good friends of mine. Canadians were in the war right from the beginning. The Americans that didn't join until Pearl harbor. Of course there were many brave American soldiers but they get so much attention is so much credit for everything that other countries that fought are rarely talked about such as Canada. I love these videos that you have. And you mentioned about wondering if there is some Scottish because you're seeing some tartan well my dad belong to the Essex Scottish Regiment He had that on his cap! Since I didn't have my dad very long I've learned so much through the years about the war but I'm especially pleased to watch your videos and to hear you actually say you wanted to know more about the Canadians and their part in the war. By the way I love your Scottish accent 😊
My friend's grandfather served in the troups that liberated Denmark and had visited several times over his life for honorary events there. They were treated like gold! Friendships for life. My friends parents then hosted some Danish friends they made during one such trip, they they came to Canada for a visit. So generational friendships continue.
Merts silence during the video speaks volumes it shows grate respect for the subject matter. Many reaction TH-camrs would feel the need to say something.
This is an excellent video from Dr. Felton and I have seen it before, glad you and others have discovered his channels. Strangely I have learned more about WW2 and more importantly to me, Canada's military involvement in the war from his channel then I ever did in my Canadian History classes at school.
Agreed. I saw this original video when it was posted. And I had never heard of this event before from anyone in Canada (school or otherwise). There are so many things done by our forefathers of which we can be proud. The fact they never bragged about it or wanted recognition for it makes me feel that pride even moreso. It's just the Canadian "way". And we need to live up to that ourselves.
@@johnburns8660 Has been more years then I care to remember since my history classes in high school in the era before internet, and I agree the classes had to present limited detail on the matter. As you suggested I did explore the school and local library for books, with limited success where Canadian military history was concerned. Pleased to say that the situation has improved greatly since then. My continued interest in the subject is one of the reasons why I have enjoyed discovering Dr. Felton's channels and videos.
Hello from Denmark! Yes we do celebrate our liberation all over the country, every may 4th at 8 PM, we put candles in our windows to mark the end of blackout, speeches are held at every commemorating place, flowers put on every warriors grave etc. and every year the people of the island Bornholm reminds us that they were not liberated until almost a year later. The German commandant of the island ( Gerhard Von Kamptz ) did not want to surrender to the Russians, so the place was bombed from the air until the Germans finally gave up, then the Russians moved in and stayed there till April 6th 1946. The Russian troops were mainly veterans of the Eastern front and not suited to be around civilians, so for the inhabitants of Bornholm the 11 months of Russian occupation was much worse than the 5 years of German rule.
I have to tell you a story. My uncle died a hero during the D-day landing. Pt. Louis Valmont Roy, who lied about his age to enlist with the Canadian Army at the very young age of 17. He was born on December 29, 1922. He was an anti-tank gunner with the Régiment de la Chaudière. They landed at Juno Beach on June 6, 1944. They started their advance. Each gun had two soldiers to man it, one to load it, and one to aim and shoot it. Valmont loaded the gun. They arrived on a hill overlooking a narrow pass. A row of German tanks were advancing through the pass to help hold the German lines. They shot the first one and the last one. Then, once the tanks could no longer move back or forward, nor climb the sides of the narrow pass, they proceeded to shoot all the tanks in the middle. When a sniper shot his Army buddy, Valmont removed his body and handled both jobs of loading and shooting. I've seen reports of over a dozen tanks destroyed, some said 19, and some said 21 in total. When dawn broke on June 7th, Valmont was found dead on his gun. He had been shot, but not before saving his Regiment, so they could continue on. Valmont is now buried in the Canadian cemetery at Bernière-sur-Mer. To this day, a French family continues to care for the grave. The task of caring for the grave is passed down through the generations within the same family. My mother got to meet the family and corresponded with them for years. It started with a father, then his daughter, and now the grand-daughter, who come to lay flowers and clean the grave. Lest we forget. The people from France certainly didn't.
Yeah, I knew one veteran from the Canadian 1st parachute bn. Raised 7 or more kids in a shack of a house, like a lot of vets. Not that old when he died (smoker and drinker, wife preceded him). Never talked about his experiences, just a 1st pararachute bn plaque on the kitchen wall.
Part of Canadian history in grade schools and university. I am a later Boomer and grew up with the WWWII legacy. Knowing history Canada (with all the countries of the British Empire) gave the same effort and spirit in the Great War.
Amazing feats of courage and determination by those fine Canadians. If you are interested, one of the other amazing Canadian effort is in a video entitled "How This WW2 Canadian Major Sealed Off the Falaise Pocket". It is the stunning story of Maj. David Vivian Currie V.C. and his small group of incredible men. I had the coolest uncle that fought with the Canadians in Holland, he drove an ammunition truck! Nothing bothered or worried him the rest of his life.
my grandfather drove an ammo truck in italy when his regiment was seconded to indian army group, the hilly dirt roads of italy were as terrifying as the nazis
there is a theme of Canadians standing their ground against what appear to be overwhelming odds. happens in all wars and 'military actions' that they get involved in.
Mert, I have watched several of your videos and you are amazed at the Scottish reflections in the Canadian Military. During WWII there were at least 12 "Highland" Regiments, and at least 4 others with Scottish in their regimental name. The 48th highlanders was and still is a well known regiment and is the primary reserve regiment in Canada. The Black Watch is the oldest highland regiment in Canada formed in 1862. It is known today as the Royal Highland Regiment.
I am Canadian. I had heard of this incident previously but only just a few years ago. Canada contributed troops to the war but it also contributed production. Canada, for example, built about 500,000 trucks for use by Commonwealth forces. It also built ships and other war materiel.
The first thing Canada did was the Billion Dollar Gift to Britain. $1 billion cash which was very unpopular since the Depression. Canada never took any Lend Lease, but passed it on to other Commonwealth countries - another $4 billion. Canada wrote off the cost of BTAC for another $500 million. Canada produced another $5 billion in war materials. Russia still owes Canada for refitting all their merchant ships, $400 million 1945 dollars. 11 million population, $11 billion and 1 million personnel. Canada did have a draft, but none of those drafted were never sent to fight. Only volunteers were sent to fight.
@@bradyelich2745 Maps of D-Day show three flags for the countries leading the landings on the five beaches - Two American flags, two British flags and a Canadian flag for Juno beach.
Canada won against the Soviets and saved Holland. The Holland people have sent Canada every year since the end of War their World famous Tulip bulbs to Ottawa to express their gratitude. ❤
My ex’s parents were teens in Holland during the war. They sabotaged bridges, roads, anything they could, to stop the Germans. At the age of 15-18! As young adults they moved to Canada, as did many Dutch survivors of the war. 🇨🇦🖖🏻🇨🇦
We also declared a hospital room Dutch territory so that Princess Juliana's child would be born a Dutch citizen, because if it was a boy, it would have to be a citizen in order to take the throne.
My father was with the 48th Highlanders and part of the troops that liberated Holland. He returned for the 40th celebration of liberation and was billeted in a Dutch home. Our parents have all died, but we have remained in touch with this family and call them our Dutch family and they call us their Canadian family. They have come to Canada and we have gone to Holland. The connection is continuing with our adult children. I did know about the Canadian paratroopers saving Denmark. It is such an amazing story. Thanks for posting it.
My father owned a coffee shop in Ottawa. The Brits were arrogant towards us. These were people that were advised to go to Canada as food and other things were extremely short in Britain. The English, ordinary people tried to put us down In our own country. Snotty people.
Dr Felton always does a good job of presenting the facts,there is another video on the cdn paras that involves the vets who were there in the story telling..its a slightly different but much better telling of the same story
My father owned a coffee shop in Ottawa. The Brits were arrogant towards us. These were people that were advised to go to Canada as food and other things were extremely short in Britain. The English, ordinary people tried to put us down In our own country. Snotty people. The Brits treated us a second class in our own country.
I am thoroughly enjoying watching your videos on my countries military during WW1 &WW2. Yes indeed, we were a force to reckon with and the respect was earned through a fearless approach to fighting a battle…”always move forward”. My father, an immigrant from Honduras, became a proud Canadian and when the Second World War broke out, he volunteered and was in the Canadian Army from 1939 to 1945. He was typical of that generation in that he rarely spoke of that period but I grew up being so proud of him. When you consider that Canada had a population of 11 million and the enormous contributions this country made, it makes it all the more remarkable. God Bless our troops!
You are correct Stalin was Hitlers Allie when they both invaded Poland which started WW11. Also the terrible Dieppe conflict was to appease and help Stalin.
Lol we say sorry alot because we don't want to fight.. not that we can't fight but we would feel bad about leaving you in pieces.. so don't flick a sleeping bear in the nuts..🙂
Ive had the honour to step inside of a DC3 used to drop our Canadian troops behind enemy lines during operation overlord aka D-Day. Inside I got to sit where they sat, looking to my left and right I seen some scratches in the metal. Looking closer it was the names of the men that jumped on June 6th 1944. It was a moving moment for sure. Reading and hearing stories is great but to be in the same spot and seeing the names of those was different. Knowing a good few of those men wouldn’t live past a few hours after engraving their names. Brings it home and makes it real
One of the best WW2 Canadian military documentaries is "The Harrowing Story of an Elite Allied Sniper Unit | The Black Watch Snipers". It is a mix of documentary, re-enactments and interviews with remaining Black Watch veterans. It's about an hour long so may not be suitable for a reaction but well worth watching.
Killed at 16 years and 11 months, Canadian Gerard Doré is considered the youngest Allied soldier to die on the Western Front during the Second World War. He was buried at the Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian Cemetery in Normandy.
My mother born at the beginning of the war in Holland, for years remembered an older brother living with them for years. Turned out after the war, my grandfather told her, when he left, that he was a Canadian pilot shot down over Holland in 1940, and my grandfather hid him for nearly 5 years before Holland was liberated. He left with the departing Canadians after their town was liberated never to be seen or heard from again.
I was in Netherlands last year for 6 months and was surprised to have two elderly Dutch telling me that Canadians run out the Germans in WW11. And that Canadians have a bit of leeway when visiting Netherlands….I don’t remember exactly but something like we can stay longer and or we get into the country easier. I did both. ❤❤❤
I was not aware of this, but in my job as a Care Aide, with Saskatchewan Health Authotity, delivering home care assistance to seniors, including veterans, I can only say I'm privileged to assist these persons. They do not often speak of what they did, but when they do, I'm privileged to hear, and privileged to care for these men and women.
Thank you for spreading the word about Canada's role in WW2. While my mother's brother was not in that action, he was part of the liberation of Holland.as an engineer in the Canadian Army. The Canadians opened up the miserable area of the waterway into Antwerp. Without this, the other allies would have had no access to a deep water port until Rotterdam could be taken. The Canadian operations allowed the full flood of Allied logistics through weeks sooner. On another note, I noted the presenter's accent. He speaks with the accent that Hollywood thinks all Canadians have. Though it is more Scottish and only appears here in a small part of the province of Newfoundland. Most Canadians have the same neutral accent as the USA has on their west coast. But this means we have no trouble blending in to the US population. This Canadian lived in the Los Angeles area for 10 years and was never taken as a Canadian once until I told someone. They were expecting what Mert Can sounds like. There is nothing wrong with it. It is part of his heritage. I just thought it was interesting that he sounds like most Americans think Canadians speak.
I'm Canadian and, sadly, I didn't know about this. Facinating, to be sure. Makes me proud of that heritage. Canada's military unfortunately is but a shadow of what it once was. We've let that truly honourable heritage fall from modern memory.
Thought I would check this out and glad I did,, I did not know this at all,this is a really big piece of history,there they go those pesty Canadians lol, always punching above their weight Those people always have great soldiers,nasty to fight.Thank you for this.
Canada itself and the various branches of the Canadian military have played a major and essential role in many areas. Here are a few subjects that may be covered (some of which are not well known). Thus (among others), - We played a vital role in escorting convoys in the Atlantic; - Canadian pilots fought in the Battle of Britain; - We took part in the ill-fated Dieppe Raid. On a more "humanitarian" level: - We provided supplies to the British population throughout the conflict (according to some experts, 57% of the wheat and flour consumed by the United Kingdom during this period was of Canadian origin); - We took in thousands of children from the UK to protect them from the war. In total some 3,000 children were evacuated under the government scheme, with around 10,000 evacuated privately. As for the Netherlands, not only did our troops take part in its liberation, but some of our airmen also took part in Operation Manna, during which 7,000 tonnes of food were dropped.
Hey. We 🍁 also had ground troops on the beach during the liberation of Kiska Island. (Even though the Japanese had previously evacuated by submarine, it still counts.) Lots of surfaced Canadian 🍁 whales were collateral damage, as they looked a lot like submarines from far away, to my father and his people on Venturas flying out of 🍁Halifax 🍁.
Outnumbered and outgunned - and facing the Soviets, who genuinely were pretty lawless and unforgiving - we once again see Canadians being put into a situation where they are required be absolutely resolute and to behave in a way that is diplomatic and leaning toward conflict resolution rather than being trigger happy. Once again we see the dichotomy between British propaganda from WW1 - that "Canadians go crazy in times of war" and the fact that once again, Canadians are picked for a mission that requires restraint, intelligence and strict discipline.
The Canadian checkpoint isn’t a terribly imposing and hulking roadblock but it does feature a battery of antitank canons at the ready. A Canadian translator in Russian: “Welcome to Wismar, comrades! You have come a long way and now your fighting is over! Time for a celebratory drink!”. Bottles of vodka and tin cups are brought out. The Canadians are all smiles. The Russians discuss amongst themselves. “Who the hell do these Canadians think they are? We have orders to occupy Wismar and we must occupy it!” The Canadians, still all smiles, start pouring. Russians continue debating. “The Nazi SS f@cked around and found out who the Canadians are. Maybe we should just have a drink with them while they are still smiling.”
I, too, had 3 uncles that served in WW2. One of them was shot down in his plane. When I visited Holland, mt husband's uncle insisted on taking me to all of the cemeteries where Canadians were buried. He wanted me to take a picture of his grave to show my family. After the third cemetery, he had me call my father to find out where he was buried. It turned out that everyone in the plane was incinerated and the only remains were some mangled dog tags. This experience gave me a real opportunity to recognize how many Canadians made the ultimate sacrifice in this area. Also worth noting was that one of the cemeteries (the largest) was started by the dutch resistance near the border of Germany. If a plane went down, they would sneak across the border and either rescue the men and help them escape back to allied forces or bury their remains on a farm that was owned by someone in the resistance who had been killed by the Germans. That way they weren't laid to rest on enemy soil.
In the first World War my great-grandfather served in the Canadian expeditionary Force under the command of the British. In the Second World War his son my grandfather served in the Canadian expeditionary Force under command of the British. 20 years after the end of World War II Queen Elizabeth gave Canada our independence based on the performance of Canadian Armed Forces in the two World Wars.
This move by the western allies to send in the Canadians was a political move with great importance. Not only were the Canadians experienced soldiers, but they were not British or American. Had they been one of the big three, a fight would likely to have happened. I think that the Soviets were dumbfounded by meeting the Canadians and it took them a few days to figure out what to do about it. Many of the Canadian soldiers were of Ukrainian descent, so could speak with the Russians. For my family this was an important action. My mother's family had a farm near Lubeck and could have been occupied by the Soviets instead of the British. My mother, then 13 years old, was shot in the leg by the British. She was afraid that her uncles leather boots that he had bought in France would be stolen by the soldiers, so she put them in a sack and was going to hide them in the barn. She was told not to leave the house, but did anyways. She was later treated by a British doctor and recovered. This would have been about May 2. My father was fighting the Soviets and Czech partisans in Prague about the same time, before surrendering to the Americans in Pilsen. In the 1950's they immigrated to Canada. Near my home in Alberta, Canada there is a mountain and war memorial dedicated to the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion. Wismar is noted as one of the actions on the memorial. airborneassociation.com/e/media/oldnews/12D70/
My grandfather was an officer of secondary guns on the HMS Birmingham town class cruiser during Operation Pedestal to save Malta and during the chase of the Scharnhorst in WW2 and before WW2 he was fighting Chinese pirates in the waters off China.
My dad was in Belgium when the Canadians rolled in with tanks with live German troops tied to them, he seen them they drive the tanks through barbed wire and brick walls with them attached
According to the Dutch in Zwolle: He reached the city and walked through deserted streets. He knocked on doors, but nobody dared to open the doors. "After a while I was so tired that I couldn't think straight anymore. But I had enough information, and I encountered enemies nowhere." He walked around in circles, left the town and came to a farmer whom he reassured by pointing at the word CANADA in the inside of his hat. Quickly he came in contact with the underground resistance. He was able to return to his unit with the message that the enemy left Zwolle. ... But in the decades that followed Leo Major became a 'Rambo' who according to many conquered street after street wildly shooting around on 'certainly a thousand' Germans who persistently resisted. It was a story that he - so his friends mildly laugh - in the end started to believe a little bit himself"
you should look into sir alexander mackenzie, a scot, who was the first european to traverse the north american continent. the mackenzie river is named after him. lewis and clark did it 12 years later trying to replicate his feat in the united states.
Alexander MacKenzie’s journals are published and it’s interesting to follow his route in Ontario and compare notes as you follow the same often rocky portages.
What you do well - which most reaction TH-camrs don't - is not constantly interrupt the video content with superfluous comments or questions, saving most of your commentary until the video is finished.
I really enjoy your reactions. Have you ever seen this slam poetry video? It was from Vancouver's Olympic opening ceremony in 2010. “We Are More," “Define Canada You might say the home of the Rocket Or The Great One Who inspired little No. 9s and little No. 99s But we’re more than just hockey and fishing lines Off of the rocky coast of the Maritimes And some say what defines us ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Is something as simple as ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ And as for ‘your welcome,’ well, we say that, too But we are more than genteel or civilized We are an idea in the process of being realized We are young, we are cultures strung together then woven into a tapestry And the design is what makes us more than the sum totals of our history We are an experiment going right for a change With influences that range from A to Zed And yes, we say ‘Zed’ instead of ‘Zee’ We are the brightness of Chinatown and the laughter of Little Italy We dream so big that there are those Who would call our ambition an industry We reforest what we clear Because we believe in generations beyond our own Knowing now that so many of us Have grown past what we used to be We can stand here today Filled with all the hope people have When they say things like ‘someday’ Because we are more Than a laundry list of things to do and places to see More than hills to ski Or countryside ponds to skate We are the abandoned hesitation of all those who can’t wait We are first-rate greasy spoon diners and healthy living cafes A country that is all the ways you choose to live A nation that can give you variety Because we are choices We are millions upon millions of voices Shouting, keep exploring We are more We are the surprise the world has in store for you, it’s true Canada is the ‘what’ in ‘what’s new’ So don’t let your luggage define your travels Each life unravels differently And experiences are what make up The colours of our tapestry We are the true North Strong and free And what’s more Is that we didn’t just say it We made it be”
If you didn't know most war industry in Germany went underground because of the bombing. My grandfather was parachuted behind German lines to find out where the Germans were manufacturing ball bearings. No bearing no wheels would turn which means, engines, wheels and anything that moved needs bearings.
My grandfather lived all though the ww2, he didnt speak a word of it ever. A man threatened his family and grandfather told him " ive killed many men and i would kill again" that was his only mention. Canadian, Scottish decent
My native grandfather finished world war 2 as a regimental sergeant major, and wound up living in a mining town in northern Ontario where he raised seven kids with his British war bride He lived in a little community of other veterans ; and my dad grew up with lots of cousins always coming and going and staying with the family because anytime one of his siblings was worried that the government was going to take there kids and send them to a residential school they would just send them to live with my grandpa And it was never explained why in the family , but somehow nobody from the church or the government ever succesfully managed to take a kid out of that house
Thank you for highlighting Canada’s contributions . My father was a Canadian paratrooper that recently retired.
My father was one of those paratroopers in the Canadian Parachute Corps. But he never wanted to talk about what happened over there. To him the real heroes were all those fellas that didn't make it back home. He didn't even bother to receive his medals. I sent away for them not long before his death and I have them, along with my mother's, who also served.
When I was growing up, virtually every adult male I knew was a veteran or refugee of some sort. My uncles and grandfathers didn't talk about the war in front of me, but other adults did, more so as I got to the age they had been during it. I doubt any of them ever said a word to their own families.
My dad never talked about his own contributions unless there was something funny but he gladly shared those of his buddies.
I have met some of those guys and they were all the same. They talked about dad and each other but never about themselves.
They were real soldiers.
@@michaelhilborn4204 - My Dad's three brothers all were in different services, and it was mostly a rude comedy routine when they got together.
It must have been in the late seventies, thirty years after the war, that a guy walked up to me while I was fishing and within ten minutes was telling me about cleaning out the turrets of bombers that had been shot up. That sort of thing happened occasionally. I was a big teenager and in Army Cadets, so I had a military haircut and usually wore at least a uniform jacket, generally American vietnam era surplus. I might have seemed like a young soldier to them.
@@GWNorth-db8vn Guys like that are rude to each other but have each others' backs come hell or high water.
@@michaelhilborn4204 - Hang onto your dreams, Sparky. Appeals come during prison, not before.
My father, a Canadian Army veteran, told me often that during the war the only time he felt was at home was during his time in Holland. He was often billeted at Dutch homes during pauses in battles. He told me that the Dutch treated him like he was family. He was so-ever grateful to the Dutch. My father, and many Canadians like him, who grew up in rural Canadian familes as farmers, woodsmen, carpenters, etc., would help their "Dutch Famileis" in harvesting crops, cutting firewood for the family homes, building barns, etc.
Dad always had a slight, contented smile on his face whenever he told those stories.
Dad passed away in 1988 at the age of 66yrs. I will be so-ever grateful to the good people of Holland for giving my father peace in a time of such chaos and death.
As a Canadian I will always be indebted to the good people of Holland.
And the good Dutch feel the same way about the Canadians.
My grandfathers village was liberated by Canadian troops. One of them gave him a bar of soap and a chocolate bar, Once he turned 18 he immigrated to Canada. On the other side of the family my Grandmothers brother was a Canadian solider in the Black Watch of Canada and fought in the Netherlands I like to think it was my Great Uncle giving my Grandfather those gifts and freedom from the Germans.
My father, a Canadian Army veteran, told me often that during the war the only time he felt was at home was during his time in Holland. He was often billeted at Dutch homes during pauses in battles. He told me that the Dutch treated him like he was family. He was so-ever grateful to the Dutch. My father, and many Canadians like him, who grew up in rural Canadian familes as farmers, woodsmen, carpenters, etc., would help their "Dutch Famileis" in harvesting crops, cutting firewood for the family homes, building barns, etc.
Dad always had a slight, contented smile on his face whenever he told those stories.
Dad passed away in 1988 at the age of 66yrs. I will be so-ever grateful to the good people of Holland for giving my father peace in a time of such chaos and death.
As a Canadian I will always be indebted to the good people of Holland.
My uncle was in the Black Watch, help liberate the Netherlands met and married a Dutch young lady and came back to Canada and had two kids, my cousins. He passed away a few years back. My father served here in Canada an arrow engine mechanic. Looking after the flight schools in portage La Prairie.
My Uncle was killed in the Netherlands while liberating the country. He has a plaque with his name in a town there.
A friend of my father's was part of the Canadian forces that liberated The Netherlands. He had both knees shot out in the process and would go back to Holland every decade and said they were all treated like rock stars. May Earl RIP.
A Canadian tactic from WWI that has always given our war fighters a tactical and morale advantage is everyone being given the full W5 for a battle/mission. Every soldier knows who, what, where, when, and why of objectives. Almost any soldier can become the leader if required when all hell breaks loose and the casualties require rapid changes. Obviously rank is still followed, but there's a leadership component to all CAF members I've ever interacted with..
A lot of Americans really underestimate how much of there modern militsry and battle tactics developed from them receiving training from the Canadians in world war 1 and 2
Fun fact- not only were the us army rangers when first set up trained by large numbers of Canadian soldiers on loan
But there first combat mission ever was being brought along by us in the raid on dunkirk and then for like a year after that they would accompany Canadian forces launching small raids on the European mainland
That's were the High Command messed up in WW2 protecting the Enigma.. sacrificed everyone to protect a secret.
Wait... Liberated _A TOWN_ in the Netherlands..?
Mert, our boys did a hell of a lot more than liberate a _town..!_ We cleared the entire northern and western region of the country.
There was a guy who saved a town by himself, Leo Major
So your boys never liberated a town? Pffff…amateurs!
@@primary2630 Zwolle
His exploits have been proven to be greatly exaggerated...@@primary2630
Not according to the Dutch in that town..."He reached the city and walked through deserted streets. He knocked on doors, but nobody dared to open the doors. "After a while I was so tired that I couldn't think straight anymore. But I had enough information, and I encountered enemies nowhere." He walked around in circles, left the town and came to a farmer whom he reassured by pointing at the word CANADA in the inside of his hat. Quickly he came in contact with the underground resistance. He was able to return to his unit with the message that the enemy left Zwolle. ... But in the decades that followed Leo Major became a 'Rambo' who according to many conquered street after street wildly shooting around on 'certainly a thousand' Germans who persistently resisted. It was a story that he - so his friends mildly laugh - in the end started to believe a little bit himself"@@primary2630
My dad was there. He was the guy in the front seat of the jeep right near the end of the video.
Things got pretty tense but cooler heads ultimately prevailed.
It’s so amazing that your dad is in this video! It must make you exceedingly proud. I’m so glad that he made it home to your family. My only brother, an RCAF pilot was killed at the age of 21 in 1944. My dad fought in the English army in WW1 (mostly in Africa ) at the age of 17, shortly after becoming an orphan. He suffered from PTSD for years after the war. These dreadful wars affect so many people’s lives, and I’m hoping that my 6 great grandchildren nor anyone else will ever have to be conscripted, and that all wars will cease! Thanks for sharing your story, I have to watch the end again to see your dad! ❤🎉
@@maryloulauren8108 Amen.
My mum is an English War Bride who lost her only brother a week before his 21st birthday in 1940.
He was a naval aviator in the Fleet Air Arm.
She turned 98 last Sunday. 😃
My grandfather was an officer in the 1st canadian parachute batallion. He was one of the first commonwealth troops to shake hands with the Russians as the two forces met in wismar. He was also in Bergen Belsen during its liberation. He said you could smell the burning bodies from several km out. Toughest yet most decent man I have ever met to this very day. Wish he was still alive, we could really use more men like him these days.
We definitely needed more of that Spirit now instead of dei and forced 💉
@@balghair1 You got it all wrong man.... 😞 He was a million miles above either of those things and countless other mindless selfish conservative talking points as well and would have felt sad for you for buying into the kind of bullshit that can make a man callous, judgemental and afraid.
@@rickywinthrop do you believe in Jesus? Are you a follower of his teachings? Would you sacrifice for another? Would you stand in the way of evil to protect the innocent? Do you believe that the globalist agenda is to the benefit of humanity? Were you at the Freedom Convoy or the Dutch farmers protests? Would you allow crimes to happen if you could prevent them? Wake up woketard.. look to what is coming here.. and is here already.. probably don't know ish about the collapse of the Roman empire either.. I don't understand how you watched this video and still don't know shit about history
I appreciate that you watch the video, without commenting, you give it your total attention. Respectful .
My father was company sergeant major in B Co of the 1st Canadian Airborne Regiment. Dropped into occupied France in the wee hours before D Day as a Corporal. By the time he dropped over the Rhine he was CSM. He made it to Wismar as well. Never talked about the war other than French girl who helped him and the other guys who were trying to get organized in the hedges of Normandy, the Calvados, frost bite during the freezing winter in the Ardennes and meeting the Russian soldiers. Never talked about the fighting. Almost made it sound like a cake walk! Right! And that’s why he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. Because it was a cake walk. Tough bunch of bastards, all of them. God bless them all. ☮️
Your dad was John Kemp? He landed just west outside of Varaville France on D-Day behind the lines of the Merville Battery
God keep our land glorious and free Oh Canada we stand on guard for thee 😊
🇨🇦 ❤
My uncle was in the Sherbrooke Fusiliers, a tank regiment at the time. He told me about entering the Netherlands, Canadian and British troops getting a ride on his Sherman. Crowds met them, flowers, cheering, I wish they'd had mobiles back then: imagine the photos and video. He'd landed at Normandy and fought through the Hitler Youth and SS divisions to get there. I think they lost a couple of tanks before this, managed to get out of them in time before they burned. Slept under the tank at night, learned to camouflage the vehicle like no one's business. He was a driver and mentioned how delicate the driving could be in the hedgerows and streets, had to be careful not to run over their own soldiers, that kind of thing. Also had to have good communications with his commander, not easy with the noise from the tank and battle noise. Fought in the Falaise Gap, the Scheldt, amazing run. He and many of his fellow tankers had talked about how they could probably be of use in the invasion of Japan, fortunately, that never happened. My uncle remained close to a couple of the guys he tanked with, including the commander. He never mentioned the Danish question noted here, nor much of the Russians. (Although I think he met some in Germany.) He remembers the British soldiers fondly and really admired the Polish soldiers -- was very impressed with them.
My father went in at Normandy as shock troops . He was in signals in the Cameron Highlanders from Ottawa . He would never talk about his experience in the war , ever . It was kill or be killed and that was the truth . When I traveled to Europe in the seventies the bartender in Amsterdam would not let me pay for my drink and the same thing happened in Copenhagen in a jazz club . The people there held the Canadians in high esteem . Dad was from Glasgow , immigrated to Canada when he was seventeen and joined the army when war broke out . There are many Dutch who came to Canada after the war and settled here in Ontario along the St Lawrence . I appreciate your video , it made me think about dad .
My grandfather was a Cameron Highlander out of Ottawa too. My great grandfather was from.... Glasgow! Neat. 😁
what is up with this formatting Sandy lol
Its very interesting that our fathers and grandfather's collectively didn't speak of the war, EVER. Goes to show.
@@paddington1670 I speed read and find it even easier if I double space . it turned into a habit .
We did have alot of Dutch here too on P.E.I(lots of dairy farmers) but now it's all from Asia and all they do is work in the service industry,get benefits and complain.. Filipinos are pretty cool tho. Actually work
The head general of the NATO forces was asked what would make up the perfect soldier and he said it would be American tech., British discipline and Canadian training.
🤔 Winston Churchill said something very similar.
If I had American Technology British General's and Canadian Soldiers I would rule the world.
I swear this uses different nouns and a different source every time I see it. Who actually said what? Gawdamn
My guess is each speaker who says it agreed and simply said it in their own words . Thuse multiple versions of the same idea.
It was actually the German general edwin rommel who said that
When asked what would be the best fighting force, he said American arms because of their superior manufacturing capabilities, german generals because of the superior tactics and Canadian army because of their superior fighting capabilities
My grandfather fought in ww2 he made it to Belgium where he was wounded in action he made it home and lived until he was 95 he is my hero and every remembrance day i would phone or visit and thank him for his service he wouldn't talk about the war other than boot camp stories to all that serve thank you for your service and your sacrifice
I have a letter. Canadians were and kind. Gave all their rations away. Smokes and chocolate. Then went back to fight.
I can't say how crazy it was. My wife's father went to WW2 without a single ask. And all of the Canadians gave all their rations to give them some kind of comfort.
And in the modern day, my brother and his troops made sure the kids had shoes. Means nothing to you but it means everything to them.
And we have most of the secret troops.
To seome.yes to other not as much their was a town they burnt down all because one of there men got shot and they belived it was the civilians only to find out it was a German soldier then the fact they bombed thousands of Italians that were forced to build stuff for the germans canadians are a large reason the geneva convention became a thing ..
I grew up on my paternal grandfathers war stories. He spent the war aboard HMCS Huron escorting convoys to Murmansk. One time growing up he told me about this one Christmas(I forget the year) but the Hurons crew were on leave so they're walking through the port city and I guess someone saw the local orphanage in shambles and the kids having nothing so he took it up with the Captain upon arriving back to the ship. My grandfather said it was announced over the ship that they were starting a Christmas fund for the kids. Everyone donated their whole pay that month. Everyone. He said the orphanage was absolutely filled with toys for the kids, I hope they enjoyed it
Yes. I knew about this. The Canucks were known for being quite tough so they got sent to stand up to the Russians despite being outnumbered. The Soviets understood that the Canadians would not back down.
More like fodder for the empire. The Canadian military is not known for being fierce but rather making excuses for not fighting during the Cold War and it's military is clownish and poorly funded for 15 years.
They could also match the Russians, drink for drink.
Russians respect that. 🙂
Indeed. The SS feared the Canadians. After the SS murdered some Canadian POWs in the Normandy area, the Canadians were reputed to not take ansySS prisoners.
@@dmfraser1444 That is true.
A number were shot while "trying to escape."
The truth is, the paratroopers had neither the time nor the resources to babysit POWs.
"Stand up to the Russians"???? -- are you so CLUELESS that you don't realize that the Canadians and the Russians were on the same side. Ignorance like yours is dangerous.
The Canadians punched well above their weight. The Greatest Generation indeed.
awesome to hear that Canadians have not been forgotten the 1st CDN Army all someone visualizes is Patton's 3rd Army.
So glad you did this reaction.Not a lot of Canadians know this story!!! Excellent.
My parents were born in the Netherlands and met during the liberation celebrations. They came to Canada in 1954 when my brother was a toddler. My sister and I were born in Canada. We didn’t talk much about the war because it brought back bad memories for them. They were very proud to become Canadian citizens. I was always glad that the Canadian soldiers helped liberate them and fought so bravely in other countries too.
My grandfather and his brothers fought for Canada in WW2; I've always wanted to visit Denmark.
I have a metal of service on my wall from my grandfather who fought in ww2 and another from his father who fought in ww1 ( both for canada ).
my uncle landed in Normandy with Queens Own Rifles. he fought thru france, holland and germany. they liberated much of holland. every time i saw him he had a beer in his hand
This was an excellent story that I had not heard of before. Thank you so much for this. Both my parents were in the Canadian army and I had 3 uncles who served during WW-2 ( one who was shot down and is buried in Italy). It means a lot for the families to hear these ongoing heroic stories of sacrifices and bravery shown by our military. Thank you. 👏👏👏🥰🇨🇦
My Grandfather died in Holland. He was a Sargeant leading his troops. He jumped on a grenade so it wouldn't harm his friends.
Greetings from Nova Scotia!
The way you say about makes you Canadian, welcome 😁
No, we say about the way he says it. Well, some of us
Canada didn't just liberate one town in the Netherlands. They liberated Northeastern and Western Netherlands including cities like Amsterdam, Rotterdam and the Hague.
You don’t hear much of Canadas achievements form WWII as the Brits and the Americans war documentaries always somehow think they were the only countries that fought the entire European war.
We know what we did and that’s what matters. 🇨🇦🇨🇦
Well I'm British Canadian never seen a British movie where Canadian Australia New Zealand forces aren't mentioned as for documentary this one is British
@@wavygravy63
The US didn't join until WWll had been going on for two years already.
@@brendamiller5785-- didn’t the Americans win the war all by themselves. lol
@14:40 I think he was talking about other online documentaries he'd seen about the Canadian Army in WW2, including ones about Leo Major who'd single-handedly captured the town of Zwole, Netherlands.
Thank you, Canada! Love from Denmark
I am proud to be a Canadian!
Unfortunately the Trudeau/NDP are making it difficult to be a Proud Canadian!! Pierre Trudeau refused to fight in WW11 and tried to row a boat from Florida to Cuba. i guess the apple doesn’t fall from the tree.
🇨🇦
I didn't realize that about Pierre Trudeau...hmm..
@@brendamiller5785 he is a wannabe. I have served in the military. He hides like a coward.
The only tattoo I have say proud to be with a canadian flag
52 year old Canadian
Father's side been since 1635
Acadian
Mother's side 300 plus years
Scottish Irish and Welsh
Luv your videos
Luv you
Your videos make me cry
with the name Arsenault you are definitely from Acadian stock. My family made it over in 1671.
I've been watching you on TH-cam and tonight I'm watching you showing this video of the Canadians. I'm a senior now My dad was in world War II He joined 1939 as as One of the first of volunteers his picture is a newspaper showing him and other recruits getting their uniforms and boots. He started out as a private and ended up n RSM l.
My dad was born in England and moved to Canada when he was 16.
Unfortunately Even though I survived the war he had a heart attack at 53. I was 20 years old. When you're young you don't think about asking your parents about things like that and my dad was reluctant to talk about it. He of course told my mother everything and I seen letters he wrote her. Very much like that letter that was written that you read where the soldier was saying how tired he was. I remember my mother having boxes of pictures and letters and reading the odd one about my dad being so tired And being hard of hearing after being near the tanks and close to the brenn guns. I probably spelled that wrong. I so wished I could have heard more from him and asked questions when I was an older adult. He was the best dad ever. And I knew that the Dutch really loved the Canadians. Living in Canada we had some Dutch people that immigrated and they were very very nice to us.
I had two Dutch girls that were good friends of mine. Canadians were in the war right from the beginning. The Americans that didn't join until Pearl harbor. Of course there were many brave American soldiers but they get so much attention is so much credit for everything that other countries that fought are rarely talked about such as Canada.
I love these videos that you have. And you mentioned about wondering if there is some Scottish because you're seeing some tartan well my dad belong to the Essex Scottish Regiment
He had that on his cap!
Since I didn't have my dad very long I've learned so much through the years about the war but I'm especially pleased to watch your videos and to hear you actually say you wanted to know more about the Canadians and their part in the war.
By the way I love your Scottish accent 😊
Stories like these make me so proud to be Canadian, regardless of the current government running it right now.
The government now is NOT Canadian but part of the globalist cabal
My friend's grandfather served in the troups that liberated Denmark and had visited several times over his life for honorary events there. They were treated like gold! Friendships for life. My friends parents then hosted some Danish friends they made during one such trip, they they came to Canada for a visit. So generational friendships continue.
Merts silence during the video speaks volumes it shows grate respect for the subject matter. Many reaction TH-camrs would feel the need to say something.
This is an excellent video from Dr. Felton and I have seen it before, glad you and others have discovered his channels. Strangely I have learned more about WW2 and more importantly to me, Canada's military involvement in the war from his channel then I ever did in my Canadian History classes at school.
Agreed. I saw this original video when it was posted. And I had never heard of this event before from anyone in Canada (school or otherwise). There are so many things done by our forefathers of which we can be proud. The fact they never bragged about it or wanted recognition for it makes me feel that pride even moreso. It's just the Canadian "way". And we need to live up to that ourselves.
I agree his videos out do Canadian history classes.
They haven't got the time to go into much detail in history classes at school. The student can take what's presented and do extra reading.
@@johnburns8660 Has been more years then I care to remember since my history classes in high school in the era before internet, and I agree the classes had to present limited detail on the matter. As you suggested I did explore the school and local library for books, with limited success where Canadian military history was concerned. Pleased to say that the situation has improved greatly since then. My continued interest in the subject is one of the reasons why I have enjoyed discovering Dr. Felton's channels and videos.
Love and respect from Canada ❤️🇨🇦🤘🏼
Hello from Denmark! Yes we do celebrate our liberation all over the country, every may 4th at 8 PM, we put candles in our windows to mark the end of blackout, speeches are held at every commemorating place, flowers put on every warriors grave etc. and every year the people of the island Bornholm reminds us that they were not liberated until almost a year later. The German commandant of the island ( Gerhard Von Kamptz ) did not want to surrender to the Russians, so the place was bombed from the air until the Germans finally gave up, then the Russians moved in and stayed there till April 6th 1946. The Russian troops were mainly veterans of the Eastern front and not suited to be around civilians, so for the inhabitants of Bornholm the 11 months of Russian occupation was much worse than the 5 years of German rule.
god bless my grand papa je me souvien
I have to tell you a story. My uncle died a hero during the D-day landing. Pt. Louis Valmont Roy, who lied about his age to enlist with the Canadian Army at the very young age of 17. He was born on December 29, 1922. He was an anti-tank gunner with the Régiment de la Chaudière. They landed at Juno Beach on June 6, 1944. They started their advance. Each gun had two soldiers to man it, one to load it, and one to aim and shoot it. Valmont loaded the gun. They arrived on a hill overlooking a narrow pass. A row of German tanks were advancing through the pass to help hold the German lines. They shot the first one and the last one. Then, once the tanks could no longer move back or forward, nor climb the sides of the narrow pass, they proceeded to shoot all the tanks in the middle. When a sniper shot his Army buddy, Valmont removed his body and handled both jobs of loading and shooting. I've seen reports of over a dozen tanks destroyed, some said 19, and some said 21 in total. When dawn broke on June 7th, Valmont was found dead on his gun. He had been shot, but not before saving his Regiment, so they could continue on.
Valmont is now buried in the Canadian cemetery at Bernière-sur-Mer. To this day, a French family continues to care for the grave. The task of caring for the grave is passed down through the generations within the same family. My mother got to meet the family and corresponded with them for years. It started with a father, then his daughter, and now the grand-daughter, who come to lay flowers and clean the grave. Lest we forget. The people from France certainly didn't.
Yeah, I knew one veteran from the Canadian 1st parachute bn. Raised 7 or more kids in a shack of a house, like a lot of vets. Not that old when he died (smoker and drinker, wife preceded him). Never talked about his experiences, just a 1st pararachute bn plaque on the kitchen wall.
That Canadian officer standing off the Soviets reminds me of Brock at Detroit. Wonder if it crossed his mind as well.
Thought of this as well!
What happened with Brock at Detroit?
Part of Canadian history in grade schools and university. I am a later Boomer and grew up with the WWWII legacy. Knowing history Canada (with all the countries of the British Empire) gave the same effort and spirit in the Great War.
Amazing feats of courage and determination by those fine Canadians. If you are interested, one of the other amazing Canadian effort is in a video entitled "How This WW2 Canadian Major Sealed Off the Falaise Pocket". It is the stunning story of Maj. David Vivian Currie V.C. and his small group of incredible men. I had the coolest uncle that fought with the Canadians in Holland, he drove an ammunition truck! Nothing bothered or worried him the rest of his life.
my grandfather drove an ammo truck in italy when his regiment was seconded to indian army group, the hilly dirt roads of italy were as terrifying as the nazis
My father was re-patriated to Canada from Edinburgh after WWII; no problem
there is a theme of Canadians standing their ground against what appear to be overwhelming odds.
happens in all wars and 'military actions' that they get involved in.
Mert, I have watched several of your videos and you are amazed at the Scottish reflections in the Canadian Military. During WWII there were at least 12 "Highland" Regiments, and at least 4 others with Scottish in their regimental name. The 48th highlanders was and still is a well known regiment and is the primary reserve regiment in Canada. The Black Watch is the oldest highland regiment in Canada formed in 1862. It is known today as the Royal Highland Regiment.
Excellent episode…and you are correct, it was an engrossing doc.
Cheers. 🇨🇦
I am Canadian. I had heard of this incident previously but only just a few years ago. Canada contributed troops to the war but it also contributed production. Canada, for example, built about 500,000 trucks for use by Commonwealth forces. It also built ships and other war materiel.
The first thing Canada did was the Billion Dollar Gift to Britain. $1 billion cash which was very unpopular since the Depression. Canada never took any Lend Lease, but passed it on to other Commonwealth countries - another $4 billion. Canada wrote off the cost of BTAC for another $500 million. Canada produced another $5 billion in war materials. Russia still owes Canada for refitting all their merchant ships, $400 million 1945 dollars. 11 million population, $11 billion and 1 million personnel. Canada did have a draft, but none of those drafted were never sent to fight. Only volunteers were sent to fight.
@@bradyelich2745 Maps of D-Day show three flags for the countries leading the landings on the five beaches - Two American flags, two British flags and a Canadian flag for Juno beach.
Excellent Mert! Definitely look into the documentary Canada A People’s History. You will be blown away
Apocryphal story - the Canadian officer told the invading Russians that Patton was half a day south with half a million gallons of gasoline.
Finally someone shared
Canada won against the Soviets and saved Holland. The Holland people have sent Canada every year since the end of War their World famous Tulip bulbs to Ottawa to express their gratitude. ❤
You have it wrong. The Soviets never set foot in Holland. It was the NAZI's that were defeated in Holland.
My ex’s parents were teens in Holland during the war. They sabotaged bridges, roads, anything they could, to stop the Germans. At the age of 15-18! As young adults they moved to Canada, as did many Dutch survivors of the war. 🇨🇦🖖🏻🇨🇦
We also declared a hospital room Dutch territory so that Princess Juliana's child would be born a Dutch citizen, because if it was a boy, it would have to be a citizen in order to take the throne.
You are supremely ignorant, Lady. The Soviets were on the same side as the Canadians and the other allies. IGNORANCE LIKE YOURS IS DANGEROUS.
My father was with the 48th Highlanders and part of the troops that liberated Holland. He returned for the 40th celebration of liberation and was billeted in a Dutch home. Our parents have all died, but we have remained in touch with this family and call them our Dutch family and they call us their Canadian family. They have come to Canada and we have gone to Holland. The connection is continuing with our adult children. I did know about the Canadian paratroopers saving Denmark. It is such an amazing story. Thanks for posting it.
My Uncle was wounded in the Netherlands with the 3rd Canadian Div. Regina Rifles.
Churchill was an amazing leader in WWII. So many issues.
My father owned a coffee shop in Ottawa. The Brits were arrogant towards us. These were people that were advised to go to Canada as food and other things were extremely short in Britain. The English, ordinary people tried to put us down In our own country. Snotty people.
Dr Felton always does a good job of presenting the facts,there is another video on the cdn paras that involves the vets who were there in the story telling..its a slightly different but much better telling of the same story
Thank you. I wasn’t aware of this.🇨🇦
My father owned a coffee shop in Ottawa. The Brits were arrogant towards us. These were people that were advised to go to Canada as food and other things were extremely short in Britain. The English, ordinary people tried to put us down In our own country. Snotty people. The Brits treated us a second class in our own country.
I am thoroughly enjoying watching your videos on my countries military during WW1 &WW2. Yes indeed, we were a force to reckon with and the respect was earned through a fearless approach to fighting a battle…”always move forward”. My father, an immigrant from Honduras, became a proud Canadian and when the Second World War broke out, he volunteered and was in the Canadian Army from 1939 to 1945. He was typical of that generation in that he rarely spoke of that period but I grew up being so proud of him. When you consider that Canada had a population of 11 million and the enormous contributions this country made, it makes it all the more remarkable. God Bless our troops!
I refuse to view the Soviets as true "allies". At best, they were allies of convenience.
You are correct Stalin was Hitlers Allie when they both invaded Poland which started WW11. Also the terrible Dieppe conflict was to appease and help Stalin.
fair weather friends
That’s why we are polite because we know how we can fight. 👊🏻🇨🇦
What I’m taking away from this video is that if it wasn’t for Canada, LEGO never would of become what it is
Great historical account and kudos to Mark Felton of course....go team🇨🇦 go!
The Italian campaign worked for Sicily, France and the Netherlands. They just had to get to know them first. ☺
I'm so proud to be Canadian. We're strong and humble
Lol we say sorry alot because we don't want to fight.. not that we can't fight but we would feel bad about leaving you in pieces.. so don't flick a sleeping bear in the nuts..🙂
Ive had the honour to step inside of a DC3 used to drop our Canadian troops behind enemy lines during operation overlord aka D-Day. Inside I got to sit where they sat, looking to my left and right I seen some scratches in the metal. Looking closer it was the names of the men that jumped on June 6th 1944. It was a moving moment for sure. Reading and hearing stories is great but to be in the same spot and seeing the names of those was different. Knowing a good few of those men wouldn’t live past a few hours after engraving their names. Brings it home and makes it real
One of the best WW2 Canadian military documentaries is "The Harrowing Story of an Elite Allied Sniper Unit | The Black Watch Snipers". It is a mix of documentary, re-enactments and interviews with remaining Black Watch veterans. It's about an hour long so may not be suitable for a reaction but well worth watching.
Killed at 16 years and 11 months, Canadian Gerard Doré is considered the youngest Allied soldier to die on the Western Front during the Second World War. He was buried at the Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian Cemetery in Normandy.
This is why we have many beautiful tulips
My mother born at the beginning of the war in Holland, for years remembered an older brother living with them for years. Turned out after the war, my grandfather told her, when he left, that he was a Canadian pilot shot down over Holland in 1940, and my grandfather hid him for nearly 5 years before Holland was liberated. He left with the departing Canadians after their town was liberated never to be seen or heard from again.
I was in Netherlands last year for 6 months and was surprised to have two elderly Dutch telling me that Canadians run out the Germans in WW11. And that Canadians have a bit of leeway when visiting Netherlands….I don’t remember exactly but something like we can stay longer and or we get into the country easier. I did both. ❤❤❤
Thank you brother from a different father lol I learned something im a .McMillan as well
I was not aware of this, but in my job as a Care Aide, with Saskatchewan Health Authotity, delivering home care assistance to seniors, including veterans,
I can only say I'm privileged to assist these persons.
They do not often speak of what they did, but when they do, I'm privileged to hear, and privileged to care for these men and women.
Thank you for spreading the word about Canada's role in WW2. While my mother's brother was not in that action, he was part of the liberation of Holland.as an engineer in the Canadian Army. The Canadians opened up the miserable area of the waterway into Antwerp. Without this, the other allies would have had no access to a deep water port until Rotterdam could be taken. The Canadian operations allowed the full flood of Allied logistics through weeks sooner.
On another note, I noted the presenter's accent. He speaks with the accent that Hollywood thinks all Canadians have. Though it is more Scottish and only appears here in a small part of the province of Newfoundland. Most Canadians have the same neutral accent as the USA has on their west coast. But this means we have no trouble blending in to the US population. This Canadian lived in the Los Angeles area for 10 years and was never taken as a Canadian once until I told someone. They were expecting what Mert Can sounds like. There is nothing wrong with it. It is part of his heritage. I just thought it was interesting that he sounds like most Americans think Canadians speak.
I'm Canadian and, sadly, I didn't know about this. Facinating, to be sure. Makes me proud of that heritage. Canada's military unfortunately is but a shadow of what it once was. We've let that truly honourable heritage fall from modern memory.
Thought I would check this out and glad I did,, I did not know this at all,this is a really big piece of history,there they go those pesty Canadians lol, always punching above their weight
Those people always have great soldiers,nasty to fight.Thank you for this.
I recognize that theme music. Mark Felton is one of the best ww2 historians out there.
Canada itself and the various branches of the Canadian military have played a major and essential role in many areas. Here are a few subjects that may be covered (some of which are not well known).
Thus (among others),
- We played a vital role in escorting convoys in the Atlantic;
- Canadian pilots fought in the Battle of Britain;
- We took part in the ill-fated Dieppe Raid.
On a more "humanitarian" level:
- We provided supplies to the British population throughout the conflict (according to some experts, 57% of the wheat and flour consumed by the United Kingdom during this period was of Canadian origin);
- We took in thousands of children from the UK to protect them from the war. In total some 3,000 children were evacuated under the government scheme, with around 10,000 evacuated privately.
As for the Netherlands, not only did our troops take part in its liberation, but some of our airmen also took part in Operation Manna, during which 7,000 tonnes of food were dropped.
Hey. We 🍁 also had ground troops on the beach during the liberation of Kiska Island. (Even though the Japanese had previously evacuated by submarine, it still counts.) Lots of surfaced Canadian 🍁 whales were collateral damage, as they looked a lot like submarines from far away, to my father and his people on Venturas flying out of 🍁Halifax 🍁.
Mark Felton is one of may other favourite TH-camrs
he is also a fraud, be careful
Outnumbered and outgunned - and facing the Soviets, who genuinely were pretty lawless and unforgiving - we once again see Canadians being put into a situation where they are required be absolutely resolute and to behave in a way that is diplomatic and leaning toward conflict resolution rather than being trigger happy.
Once again we see the dichotomy between British propaganda from WW1 - that "Canadians go crazy in times of war" and the fact that once again, Canadians are picked for a mission that requires restraint, intelligence and strict discipline.
and there's nothing wrong with exercising diplomacy with a little vodka, comrade
The Canadian checkpoint isn’t a terribly imposing and hulking roadblock but it does feature a battery of antitank canons at the ready. A Canadian translator in Russian: “Welcome to Wismar, comrades! You have come a long way and now your fighting is over! Time for a celebratory drink!”. Bottles of vodka and tin cups are brought out. The Canadians are all smiles.
The Russians discuss amongst themselves. “Who the hell do these Canadians think they are? We have orders to occupy Wismar and we must occupy it!” The Canadians, still all smiles, start pouring. Russians continue debating. “The Nazi SS f@cked around and found out who the Canadians are. Maybe we should just have a drink with them while they are still smiling.”
"facing the Soviets"????? The Soviets and the Canadians WERE ON THE SAME SIDE, YOU FOOL!!!! Ignorance like yours is dangerous.
I, too, had 3 uncles that served in WW2. One of them was shot down in his plane. When I visited Holland, mt husband's uncle insisted on taking me to all of the cemeteries where Canadians were buried. He wanted me to take a picture of his grave to show my family. After the third cemetery, he had me call my father to find out where he was buried. It turned out that everyone in the plane was incinerated and the only remains were some mangled dog tags. This experience gave me a real opportunity to recognize how many Canadians made the ultimate sacrifice in this area. Also worth noting was that one of the cemeteries (the largest) was started by the dutch resistance near the border of Germany. If a plane went down, they would sneak across the border and either rescue the men and help them escape back to allied forces or bury their remains on a farm that was owned by someone in the resistance who had been killed by the Germans. That way they weren't laid to rest on enemy soil.
In the first World War my great-grandfather served in the Canadian expeditionary Force under the command of the British. In the Second World War his son my grandfather served in the Canadian expeditionary Force under command of the British. 20 years after the end of World War II Queen Elizabeth gave Canada our independence based on the performance of Canadian Armed Forces in the two World Wars.
Nice job, boys.
This move by the western allies to send in the Canadians was a political move with great importance. Not only were the Canadians experienced soldiers, but they were not British or American. Had they been one of the big three, a fight would likely to have happened. I think that the Soviets were dumbfounded by meeting the Canadians and it took them a few days to figure out what to do about it. Many of the Canadian soldiers were of Ukrainian descent, so could speak with the Russians. For my family this was an important action. My mother's family had a farm near Lubeck and could have been occupied by the Soviets instead of the British. My mother, then 13 years old, was shot in the leg by the British. She was afraid that her uncles leather boots that he had bought in France would be stolen by the soldiers, so she put them in a sack and was going to hide them in the barn. She was told not to leave the house, but did anyways. She was later treated by a British doctor and recovered. This would have been about May 2. My father was fighting the Soviets and Czech partisans in Prague about the same time, before surrendering to the Americans in Pilsen. In the 1950's they immigrated to Canada. Near my home in Alberta, Canada there is a mountain and war memorial dedicated to the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion. Wismar is noted as one of the actions on the memorial. airborneassociation.com/e/media/oldnews/12D70/
My grandfather was an officer of secondary guns on the HMS Birmingham town class cruiser during Operation Pedestal to save Malta and during the chase of the Scharnhorst in WW2 and before WW2 he was fighting Chinese pirates in the waters off China.
Anyhow
Really appreciate your efforts
My dad was in Belgium when the Canadians rolled in with tanks with live German troops tied to them, he seen them they drive the tanks through barbed wire and brick walls with them attached
Great video. I had no idea about this.
You should check a video about Leo Major, Canada's equivalent to Rambo and Solid Snake from the Metal Gear Series. A true one-man army.
Unfortunately...if you research it enough...you will see that a great deal of his exploits...were greatly exaggerated.
According to the Dutch in Zwolle: He reached the city and walked through deserted streets. He knocked on doors, but nobody dared to open the doors. "After a while I was so tired that I couldn't think straight anymore. But I had enough information, and I encountered enemies nowhere." He walked around in circles, left the town and came to a farmer whom he reassured by pointing at the word CANADA in the inside of his hat. Quickly he came in contact with the underground resistance. He was able to return to his unit with the message that the enemy left Zwolle. ... But in the decades that followed Leo Major became a 'Rambo' who according to many conquered street after street wildly shooting around on 'certainly a thousand' Germans who persistently resisted. It was a story that he - so his friends mildly laugh - in the end started to believe a little bit himself"
Congrats on 20K subs !!
you should look into sir alexander mackenzie, a scot, who was the first european to traverse the north american continent. the mackenzie river is named after him. lewis and clark did it 12 years later trying to replicate his feat in the united states.
MacKenzie engraved his name on a rock off the coast of north central BC. He saw more of Canada than most Canadians.
Alexander MacKenzie’s journals are published and it’s interesting to follow his route in Ontario and compare notes as you follow the same often rocky portages.
What you do well - which most reaction TH-camrs don't - is not constantly interrupt the video content with superfluous comments or questions, saving most of your commentary until the video is finished.
I really enjoy your reactions. Have you ever seen this slam poetry video? It was from Vancouver's Olympic opening ceremony in 2010. “We Are More,"
“Define Canada
You might say the home of the Rocket
Or The Great One
Who inspired little No. 9s and little No. 99s
But we’re more than just hockey and fishing lines
Off of the rocky coast of the Maritimes
And some say what defines us
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
Is something as simple as ‘please’ and ‘thank you’
And as for ‘your welcome,’ well, we say that, too
But we are more than genteel or civilized
We are an idea in the process of being realized
We are young, we are cultures strung together then woven into a tapestry
And the design is what makes us more than the sum totals of our history
We are an experiment going right for a change
With influences that range from A to Zed
And yes, we say ‘Zed’ instead of ‘Zee’
We are the brightness of Chinatown and the laughter of Little Italy
We dream so big that there are those
Who would call our ambition an industry
We reforest what we clear
Because we believe in generations beyond our own
Knowing now that so many of us
Have grown past what we used to be
We can stand here today
Filled with all the hope people have
When they say things like ‘someday’
Because we are more
Than a laundry list of things to do and places to see
More than hills to ski
Or countryside ponds to skate
We are the abandoned hesitation of all those who can’t wait
We are first-rate greasy spoon diners and healthy living cafes
A country that is all the ways you choose to live
A nation that can give you variety
Because we are choices
We are millions upon millions of voices
Shouting, keep exploring
We are more
We are the surprise the world has in store for you, it’s true
Canada is the ‘what’ in ‘what’s new’
So don’t let your luggage define your travels
Each life unravels differently
And experiences are what make up
The colours of our tapestry
We are the true North
Strong and free
And what’s more
Is that we didn’t just say it
We made it be”
If you didn't know most war industry in Germany went underground because of the bombing. My grandfather was parachuted behind German lines to find out where the Germans were manufacturing ball bearings. No bearing no wheels would turn which means, engines, wheels and anything that moved needs bearings.
Ive seen the tulips in Ottawa, but what i would love to be a fly on the wall during the first shipment of tulips
Can't go wrong with Mark Felton's videos.
Very good segment Mr. Mert Can!. And it's a pleasure for me to subscribe to your chanel. Québec Canada.
My grandfather lived all though the ww2, he didnt speak a word of it ever. A man threatened his family and grandfather told him " ive killed many men and i would kill again" that was his only mention. Canadian, Scottish decent
My native grandfather finished world war 2 as a regimental sergeant major, and wound up living in a mining town in northern Ontario where he raised seven kids with his British war bride
He lived in a little community of other veterans ; and my dad grew up with lots of cousins always coming and going and staying with the family because anytime one of his siblings was worried that the government was going to take there kids and send them to a residential school they would just send them to live with my grandpa
And it was never explained why in the family , but somehow nobody from the church or the government ever succesfully managed to take a kid out of that house
@@ShmuckCanuck up near Sudbury by any chance? My grandfather also worked the mines in. Northern Ontario after the war.
@@levirobinson6828 yessir; lively right outside Sudbury
He went from shooting Italians to being surrounded by and trading deer for horse to Italians
@@levirobinson6828 it wasn’t coppercliff by chance was it ?
@@ShmuckCanuck capreol , hammer.