Invading Germany

We begin today with Orville Fisher's painting Scheldt Crossing, depicting the dismal weather that dominated the campaign for the Canadians in clearing the estuary of Germans.

With flooded landscapes, the Canadians took to calling themselves the Water Rats.

One of the machines they made use of was a fearsome weapon- the Wasp flamethrower.

One of them is here.

After driving the Germans out of the Scheldt, some of the Canadians would concentrate their efforts on liberating the Netherlands, while others would be part of the push into Germany itself. The war was coming to an end.

This is one of my favourite artifacts in the entire museum, and it's the story behind it that makes it so. Private Kaye was a very lucky man.

More stories of extraordinary courage among Canadian soldiers during this period.

Germany was running out of manpower, its forces depleted, and being pushed from all sides by the Allies.

Panels look at medical care during the war.

Alongside the doctors and nurses were organizations like the Red Cross and Salvation Army, doing their work on the front and at home.

Canadians had been held in POW camps, and panels look at their experience.

They took part in the events called the Great Escape too, part of a mass breakout from Stalag Luft III.

A look ahead- the war in all theatres coming to an end.