Veritable and Rhine crossing
Don't forget about Operation Veritable (Feb 45) and the Rhine Crossing (Mar 45) by the 3rd Candian Infantry Division with 2nd Armoured Brigade in support.
The 3rd Canadian Infantry Division had been one of the assaulting divisions in the landing in France on D-Day, on June 6, 1944. By now it was veteran fighting formation. Its role in VERITABLE began on February 8 when they began the job of clearing the northern flank. Because the Germans had flooded this area by blowing up the Rhine dykes, the attacking units had to make use of amphibious vehicles, like Buffaloes and DUKWs, gaining them the nickname of the "Water Rats." For the next week, a strange amphibious war took place on this flank, with some isolated villages falling easily while others were defended vigorously.
HTH
Harold
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