As the war drove towards its end, Canadian troops would take part in the Rhineland campaign.
This pistol, from that campaign, is one of my favourite artifacts of the Museum. The explanatory panel gives the reason why.
In the Pacific Theatre, Canadians played other roles.
Hiroshima and Nagasaki would bring an end to the war. Among the items here is a tile from a temple in Hiroshima, which was exposed to the radiation of the atomic blast.
For many Canadians, the war in Europe ended with the liberation of the Netherlands. A fountain pen was used during the surrender signing, and it now resides here.
Canada had provided a place of refuge for the Crown Princess of the Netherlands, and the liberation of the country by Canadian troops established a deep and lasting friendship between two countries, one of the positive outcomes of war.
Oh? We had but WWII at school in history (it felt that way), but the Netherlands weren´t even mentioned (or I was sick that day! Joke.).
ReplyDeleteI really wonder why we had to remember exact dates non-stop but never got drawn the whole picture.
Thank you for making up for that.
So much sorrow...
ReplyDeleteGostei de ver aquela caneta que fez história.
ReplyDeleteUm abraço e boa semana.
Andarilhar
Dedais de Francisco e Idalisa
O prazer dos livros
I was 3 years old when the Americans occupied the city and I remember the crashing of the street when the tanks rolled over the street and left huge holes !
ReplyDeleteMake babies not war!😅
ReplyDeletepeace ✌
I keep thinking war will become obsolete...
ReplyDeleteJanis GDP
i guess there are fewer folks who want handshakes ...they just want the perfect selfie now, i would guess? ( :
ReplyDelete...the friendship between Canada and the Netherlands is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteNext year in May we hope to be able to once again receive the last Canadians who helped to liberate our province in Friesland to attend the commemoration of the dead and the liberation festivities.
ReplyDeleteThere is a special bond between Canada and the Netherlands!
ReplyDeleteThat pistol story is great.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know about the Netherlands connection with Canada. I have learned a great deal in these posts. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteFinally over! This has been a good series, William.
ReplyDeleteMany Dutch people live here . They comment about the Canadian effort to free Holland. The Dutch were suffering very much at the end of the war.
ReplyDeleteOkay...I love that story on the pistol.
ReplyDeleteA victorious day indeed William, this has been a super informative series, merci beaucoup ✨
ReplyDelete@Iris: you're welcome.
ReplyDelete@Italiafinlandia: indeed.
@Francisco: thank you.
@Gattina: old streets weren't built for tanks, after all.
@Ella: if only.
@Janis: I doubt it.
@Beth: perhaps.
@Tom: it is!
@Jan: I imagine it might be the last time.
@Marie: that there is.
@Anvilcloud: it is!
@DJan: you're welcome.
@RedPat: more to come.
@Red: they were indeed.
@Sharon: I do as well.
@Grace: thank you!
What a great pistol story.
ReplyDeleteVictory is sweet and lovely documented exhibit of it ~ ^_^
ReplyDeleteHappy Day to You,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Three cheers for Pvt. Kaye. Hip, hip, hooray.Hip, hip, hooray.Hip, hip, hooray.
ReplyDeleteInteresting---it all is. The pistol looks like the one my husband's older brother brought home from the Pacific in 1945
ReplyDeleteMB
Such an interesting post! I hope Private Kaye lived a good long life.
ReplyDeleteLove Canada, love the Netherlands. So, of course I love this post, William.
ReplyDeleteWe went through the war museum in Korea last year. A beautiful structure house some sad displays ☹️
ReplyDeletePrivate Kaye was a brave man:)
ReplyDeleteGood story with that pistol!
ReplyDeleteInteresting to read the pistol story … thank you.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
@Bill: it is.
ReplyDelete@Carol: thanks.
@Joanne: it's quite a story.
@MB: that's not surprising.
@Denise: he certainly earned it.
@Jeanie: thank you.
@Janey: I'd like to see that one.
@Rosie: and audacious.
@Jenn: definitely.
@Jan: you're welcome.