World War 2 In Review

by C. P. Stacey The Scheldt Estuary operations made a vital contribution to Allied victory in the Second World War. They provided logistical facilities essential to the final assault on Germany. By the early autumn of 1944 the Allied Expedi­tionary Force in northwest Europe was in serious administrative difficulties. Following its victory in Normandy and rapid pursuit of the enemy across France and Belgium, its lines of communication were stretched to the breaking point. It was still dependent on supplies landed in the original bridgehead in Normandy, and the long haul from the beaches there almost to the German frontier placed such a strain on transport resources that not enough fuel was reaching the front to keep all the Allied armies moving. The problem could only be solved by acquir­ing large port facilities closer to the front. Antwerp, the greatest port in northwest Europe, capable of bringing in 30,000 tons a day, was captured undamaged by the British 11th Armored Divisio...

Buffalo amphibious vehicles taking troops of the Canadian First Army across the Scheldt in Holland, September 1944. (Library and Archives Canada PA-136754) by C. P. Stacey The Scheldt Estuary operations made a vital contribution to Allied victory in the Second World War. They provided logistical facilities essential to the final assault on Germany. By the early autumn of 1944 the Allied Expeditionary Force in northwest Europe was in serious administrative difficulties. Following its victory in Normandy and rapid pursuit of the enemy across France and Belgium, its lines of communication were stretched to the breaking point. It was still dependent on supplies landed in the original bridgehead in Normandy, and the long haul from the beaches there almost to the German frontier placed such a strain on transport resources that not enough fuel was reaching the front to keep all the Allied armies moving. The problem could only be solved by acquiring large port facilities closer to the fr...