Canadians in Belgium 1944

Clearing the Breskens Pocket: Operation "Switchback"

The second main operation of the Battle of the Scheldt opened with fierce fighting along the Scheldt's southern shore in what was called the Breskens pocket. Here, the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division encountered tenacious German resistance as they fought to cross the Leopold Canal and clear the Breskens pocket.

An earlier failed attempt by the 4th Canadian Armoured Division at Moerbrugge had demonstrated the challenge they faced. In addition to the formidable German defences on both the Leopold Canal and the Dérivation de la Lys Canal, much of the approach area was flooded. Furthermore, the flooded terrain concealed the enemy from the infantry, thus making aerial reconnaissance of enemy positions an absolute necessity. As a result, there were few areas where a determined assault had much hope of success.

It was decided that the best place for an assault would be immediately east of where the two canals divided. This was a narrow strip of dry ground beyond the Leopold Canal – a long triangle with its base on the Maldegem-Aardenburg road and its apex near the village of Moershoofd some five kilometres east. It was only a few hundred metres wide, even at its base, and its northern boundary coincided with the border between Belgium and the Netherlands.

Soldier in a café in Antwerp, September 1944. (National Archives of Canada 116735)

A two-pronged assault commenced. The 3rd Canadian Infantry Division's 7th Brigade made the initial assault across the Leopold Canal, while the 9th Brigade mounted an amphibious attack from the northern or coastal side of the pocket. The assault began on October 6, supported by extensive artillery and "Wasps" (tanks equipped with flamethrowers). The Wasps launched their barrage of flame across the Leopold Canal, allowing the 7th Brigade troops to scramble up over the steep banks and launch their assault boats across the canal. Two precarious, separate footholds were established, but conditions for the Canadian troops were horrendous as the enemy recovered from the shock of the flamethrowers and counter-attacked. However, the troops clung with grim determination to their extremely vulnerable bridgeheads. By October 9, the gap between the bridgeheads was closed, and by early morning on October 12, a position had been gained across the Aardenburg road.

18th Armoured Car Regiment and Belgian children, Blankenberge, September 1944. National Archives of Canada 130264.

The 3rd Canadian Infantry Division's 9th Brigade conducted an amphibious operation with the aid of "Terrapins" and "Buffaloes" – amphibious vehicles manned by the British 5th Assault Regiment Royal Engineers. The brigade planned to cross the mouth of the Braakman Inlet in amphibious vehicles and to land in the vicinity of Hoofdplaat, a tiny hamlet in the rear or coastal side of the pocket, thus exerting pressure on the enemy from two directions at once. In spite of difficulties in maneuvering vehicles through the canals and the resulting 24-hour delay, the enemy was taken by surprise and a bridgehead was established. Once again the enemy recovered quickly and counter-attacked with ferocity, however, they were slowly forced back. The 10th Brigade of the 4th Canadian Armoured Division crossed the Leopold Canal and advanced at Isabella Polder. Then the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division's 8th Brigade was called to move southward from the coastal side of the pocket. This opened up a land-based supply route into the pocket.

Despite these triumphs, the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division still had to fight to free the towns of Breskens, Fort Frederik Hendrik, Oostburg, Zuidzande and Cadzand. With the Breskens pocket finally cleared, Operation Switchback ended on November 3 when the First Canadian Army victoriously liberated the Belgian towns of Knocke and Zeebrugge.