(5 May 1995) Eng/Dutch/Nat
Canadian soldiers who helped to liberate Holland from the Nazis half a century ago have returned to remember their fallen comrades.
Their courage is being marked throughout the Netherlands on National Liberation today (Friday) - the anniversary of the end of five years of German occupation.
The Dutch city of Arnhem suffered heavily during the war.
From the second half of 1944 it was the scene of heavy fighting.
The Germans desperately tried to defend the bridge over the Rhine - one of their last escape routes back into Germany.
The people of Arnhem still remember the heavy price paid by their city.
SOUNDBITE: (English translation from Dutch)
The whole area around the Rhine bridge was totally shot to pieces.
SUPERCAPTION: Henk ONDERSTAL, citizen of Arnhem,
In April 1945 allied soldiers finally captured the shattered remains of Arnhem.
SOUNDBITE: (English translation from Dutch)
I will always be thankful to the Western armies, the Americans, the Canadians and the Polish who also participated over here.
SUPERCAPTION: Henk ONDERSTAL
Canadian veterans of the fighting have returned in force to the scene of their former battles in Holland.
They remember their fallen comrades at war cemeteries that dot the countryside and religious services, like this one at Eusibius church in Arnhem.
The veterans were given a warm welcome by the local people.
A Canadian choir from Vancouver, which has been touring Europe, participated in the ceremony.
One of its members is Terry Hodge, who was an engineer in the Allied army during the war.
SOUNDBITE:
So it become quiet a tour, a memory for us to be here. Especially at this time of the year.
SUPERCAPTION: Terry Hodge, Canadian Veteran, engineer 5th Armoured Div.
But his thoughts often return to his lost comrades.
SOUNDBITE:
We lost a few of the boys. I can remember some of their names still. And it's one of these things when you are in a war. Sometimes it happens. And that's it. And if you come out of it lucky, then you're lucky to get back home.
SUPERCAPTION: Terry Hodge
The Dutch also remember the Allied troops who gave their lives to liberate Holland.
Nol Meulensteen remembers two British soldiers from the Anti Tank Regiment who stayed in his village but later died there near the end of the war.
SOUNDBITE: (English translation from Dutch)
There they lay those boys. We are as old as them. They came from very far away. They had nothing to lose here, but they gave their very best. And during all these 50 years we benefited from that. And therefore I think...
SUPERCAPTION: Nol MEULENSTEEN, Dutch citizen
The memory of the heroism of the Canadian and other allied troops will be remembered in Holland long after the 50th anniversary ceremonies are over.
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