| Original caption: “Populace around tanks of Fort Garry Horse.” American-built Sherman III tanks of the 10th Armored Regiment (known as “Fort Garry Horse”) carry infantry of the Régiment de Maisonneuve (“New House Regiment”) into Rijssen, Netherlands, on April 9, 1945. The citizens of Rijssen had endured a difficult winter. Draconian rules, deportation of Jews and others to concentration camps, a lack of freedom, severe food shortages, and a scarcity of everything needed for day-to-day life (including fuel for home heating) created unimaginable burdens on the people. Many parts of their country became a battleground where homes and lives were destroyed. Allied bombing raids inadvertently added to this death and destruction. By the time the war was over, some 301,000 Dutch civilians and 17,000 soldiers, sailors, and airmen had been killed – a huge sacrifice in a country with a prewar population of less than 9,000,000 people. The Fort Garry Horse and the Régiment de Maisonneuve attacked from the town of Holten, where on April 8, 1945, Fort Garry Horse deployed flame throwers after losing tanks to Panzerfausts. 40 prisoners of war were taken by the 2 regiments, but there were 2 Canadians killed in action and 16 wounded. In Rijssen, the population was thrilled to welcome the Canadians. Fort Garry Horse soldiers distributed chewing gum to Dutch children, and Dutch flags were broken out everywhere. The Régiment de Maisonneuve walked and rode the Fort Garry Horse Shermans and Stuart reconnaissance tanks. The Fort Garry Horse landed in Normandy on June 6, 1944, as a part of the 2nd Canadian Armored Brigade, in support of the 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, and fought in Northwest Europe until the end of the war. The Régiment de Maisonneuve, made up of Québécois, landed in Normandy on July 7, 1944. It was reduced to a reserve battalion in December 1945. Rijssen was a separate municipality until it merged with Holten in 2001. The working title of the municipality was “Rijssen,” and it got the final name “Rijssen-Holten” in 2003. | |
| Image Filename | wwii2284.jpg |
| Image Size | 4.44 MB |
| Image Dimensions | 9366 x 6909 |
| Photographer | Daniel A. Guravich |
| Photographer Title | Royal Canadian Army |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | April 9, 1945 |
| Location | |
| City | Rijssen |
| State or Province | Overijssel |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Archive | Library and Archives of Canada |
| Record Number | 3198887 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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