Clearing the Channel Coast
Encyclopedia
Clearing the Channel Coast was the task assigned, in World War II
, to the 1st Canadian Army in August 1944, following the Allied
breakout from Normandy.
The Canadian Army's line of advance took them from Normandy
to the Scheldt
. En route, they were to capture the Channel ports
needed to supply the allied armies and clear the Germans from the Channel litoral and most of the launch sites for the V-1 missiles. Most of the advance met with little more than sporadic resistance as the German 15th Army, wary of being outflanked and isolated by the rapidly advancing British 2nd Army, executed an orderly retreat north-eastwards towards the Scheldt.
Resistance did occur in most of the Channel ports, designated on 4 September as "fortresses
" by Adolf Hitler
. Le Havre
, Boulogne and Calais
were subjected to full-scale assaults, as a result. A further assault was called off at Dunkirk, freeing resources for the clearing of the mouth of the Scheldt
and the opening of the port of Antwerp. Two ports, Dieppe
and Ostend
were taken without opposition.
ended on or before 22 August 1944 and the 1st Canadian Army was freed to move north-eastwards up the coast. The 1st British Corps had started to advance eastwards from the River Dives along the coast on 16 September, as soon as German resistance faltered. Reconnaissance had been ordered on 19 August and the authorisation for a full advance and pursuit by the Canadians was issued on 23 August. It is a measure of the German disintegration that the 1st Polish Armoured Division were in Ypres
on 6 September and Canadian units were at Dunkirk on 7 September, just fifteen days after Falaise, despite their reduced effectiveness after their Normandy battles.
There was significant resistance, however, in the Canadian sector. Adolf Hitler
had ordered that most of the Channel ports be established as "fortresses" and prepared for extended sieges. Since the allies needed the port facilities to supply their advance, they could not be sealed off and left in the rear. The Germans had established artillery positions capable of shelling Dover
and threatening allied shipping. In addition, there were launch sites for V-1 flying bomb
s that were bombarding London. These, too, needed to be removed.
The 1st Canadian Army had been heavily involved in several hard fought operations in Normandy, resulting in depleted commanders and manpower at all levels. This was particularly serious in frontline rifle units. The 1st British Corps (commanded by John Crocker
), attached to the 1st Canadian Army, had its own weaknesses. Three divisions, the 7th Armoured, 49th and 51st Infantry Divisions had not performed satisfactorily in Normandy and the two infantry divisions had been relegated to defensive positions on the bridgehead's eastern flank. The fourth division in the Corps was the British 6th Airborne Division
which had landed in Operation Tonga
on D-Day
and, despite its lack of heavy weapons, remained defending the area. It had taken significant casualties and now its commander, Richard Gale
, had been ordered merely to harry the German retreat and he intended to conserve its remaining strength as a basis for the rebuilding that was imminent. For this operation, 6th Airborne Division included the 1st Belgian Infantry Brigade
and the Royal Netherlands Brigade (Prinses Irene)
, which were to gain "operational experience in quieter sections of the line in the hope that ultimately they would return to their own countries and form nuclei around which larger national forces might be organized".
The 1st British Corps advanced along the allies' coastal flank, with the 2nd Canadian Corps on their right.
German troops within the "fortress cities" were generally second-rate and included some Austrian and other nationalities that were not trusted enough to carry arms.
, across the British 2nd Army's line of advance, to cut off the route towards Paris. This encirclement was only a partial success. Although much of its remaining transport and the bulk of its armour was lost west of the Seine, the Germans successfully held up the Canadians, protecting improvised river crossings. By this means, significant quantities of men and materiel
were saved.
The towns along the River Touques were evacuated by the Germans on or shortly before 24 August and the consequent capture of Lisieux
(about 45 kilometres east of Caen
) opened an important route eastwards. Next day, the next natural barrier, the River Risle
was crossed just north of Brionne
by the 11th Hussars
, with other units close behind. The 6th Airlanding Brigade
of the British 6th Airborne Division took Honfleur
on the Seine estuary, but in general, progress along the coast was slower than inland, rivers being wider and more difficult to cross. Nonetheless, 6th Airborne Division occupied the west bank of the Risle from Pont Audemer downstream to the Seine on the 26 August and thus completed its tasks in France; the Division returned to Britain on 3 September. Clearance of the last German units west of the Seine was completed on 30 August.
The advance to the Seine had outstripped the preparations of the Royal Canadian Engineers for bridging equipment and assault boats, but with hard work, newly assembled assault boats carried the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division
across the Seine at Elbeuf
on 27 August. Ferries for wheeled and armoured vehicles were in operation in the afternoon.
on 1 September. Its liberation had particular significance for that Division, as a result of the failure of the Dieppe Raid
in 1942. A ceremonial parade was held on 5 September. Despite demolitions, the port was cleared and in use on 7 September and a delivery of oil and petrol was shipped to Brussels on 9 September.
and bombardment from land, sea and air. It was taken on 12 September after 48 hours' assault, but the port needed lengthy clearance and repair.
's 3rd Canadian Division
with extensive air and artillery support. The assault took six days from 17 to 22 September.
was quickly captured, though an early attack on Cap Gris Nez failed.
The assault on Calais itself opened on 25 September, and the town secured by 30th. A second attack on the Cap Gris Nez batteries opened on 29 September and the positions secured by the afternoon of the same day.
Despite the strong defences, and although the city had been declared a Fortress, in the event its garrison needed little persuasion to surrender. This reluctance to fight to the end was repeated at Cap Gris Nez.
to clear the Germans from the Scheldt estuary and open the port of Antwerp, which had been captured intact. A brigade sized force was left to isolate Dunkirk, which eventually surrendered on May 9, 1945, after the general German surrender.
This was a static operation, for the most part manned and led by the 1st Czechoslovak Armoured Brigade, in which Belgian Resistance
members assisted with information and French Resistance
members were converted to regular units.
The 1st Polish Armoured Division crossed the Belgian border and captured Ypres
on September 6, and reached the Ghent-Bruges canal on September 9.
oil pipeline (Dumbo) was of great benefit, however, becoming the Allies' "... main supplies of fuel during the winter and spring campaigns". In hindsight, it has been questioned whether the capture of the defended ports was worthwhile given the need for much effort to bring them into use and the greater potential benefit of Antwerp. The opening of Antwerp in November 1944 largely solved the allies' supply problems.
The capture of the French side of the Dover Straits removed the threat of the heavy artillery which had bombarded Dover
for some years and endangered shipping in the Straits - the Royal Navy
had particularly emphasised the need to remove this risk. Likewise, the V-1 launch sites were over-run, reducing the threat to London.
The Canadian Army's progress had not met the expectations of the Army Group commanders and its performance has been disputed since. It has been suggested that Crerar's illness in autumn 1944 provided a convenient opportunity to replace him during the critical and difficult Battle of the Scheldt.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, to the 1st Canadian Army in August 1944, following the Allied
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
breakout from Normandy.
The Canadian Army's line of advance took them from Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
to the Scheldt
Scheldt
The Scheldt is a 350 km long river in northern France, western Belgium and the southwestern part of the Netherlands...
. En route, they were to capture the Channel ports
Channel Ports
The Channel Ports are seaports in southern England and the facing continent, which allow for short crossings of the English Channel. There is no formal definition, but there is a general understanding of the term. Some ferry companies divide their routes into "short" and "long" crossings...
needed to supply the allied armies and clear the Germans from the Channel litoral and most of the launch sites for the V-1 missiles. Most of the advance met with little more than sporadic resistance as the German 15th Army, wary of being outflanked and isolated by the rapidly advancing British 2nd Army, executed an orderly retreat north-eastwards towards the Scheldt.
Resistance did occur in most of the Channel ports, designated on 4 September as "fortresses
German WWII strongholds
German strongholds during World War II were the selected towns and cities so designated by Adolf Hitler to resist the Allied offensives where the defenders were ordered to defend them at all costs...
" by Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
. Le Havre
Le Havre
Le Havre is a city in the Seine-Maritime department of the Haute-Normandie region in France. It is situated in north-western France, on the right bank of the mouth of the river Seine on the English Channel. Le Havre is the most populous commune in the Haute-Normandie region, although the total...
, Boulogne and Calais
Calais
Calais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
were subjected to full-scale assaults, as a result. A further assault was called off at Dunkirk, freeing resources for the clearing of the mouth of the Scheldt
Battle of the Scheldt
The Battle of the Scheldt was a series of military operations of the Canadian 1st Army, led by Lieutenant-General Guy Simonds. The battle took place in northern Belgium and southwestern Netherlands during World War II from 2 October-8 November 1944...
and the opening of the port of Antwerp. Two ports, Dieppe
Dieppe, Seine-Maritime
Dieppe is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in France. In 1999, the population of the whole Dieppe urban area was 81,419.A port on the English Channel, famous for its scallops, and with a regular ferry service from the Gare Maritime to Newhaven in England, Dieppe also has a popular pebbled...
and Ostend
Ostend
Ostend is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. It comprises the boroughs of Mariakerke , Stene and Zandvoorde, and the city of Ostend proper – the largest on the Belgian coast....
were taken without opposition.
Background
The German armies had strongly resisted the allied breakout from Normandy but, when it did occur, they had insufficient reserves of manpower and equipment to resist and no defence lines had been prepared in France. Consequently, they were chased out of much of northern France. Fighting in the Falaise pocketFalaise pocket
The battle of the Falaise Pocket, fought during the Second World War from 12 to 21 August 1944, was the decisive engagement of the Battle of Normandy...
ended on or before 22 August 1944 and the 1st Canadian Army was freed to move north-eastwards up the coast. The 1st British Corps had started to advance eastwards from the River Dives along the coast on 16 September, as soon as German resistance faltered. Reconnaissance had been ordered on 19 August and the authorisation for a full advance and pursuit by the Canadians was issued on 23 August. It is a measure of the German disintegration that the 1st Polish Armoured Division were in Ypres
Ypres
Ypres is a Belgian municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Ypres and the villages of Boezinge, Brielen, Dikkebus, Elverdinge, Hollebeke, Sint-Jan, Vlamertinge, Voormezele, Zillebeke, and Zuidschote...
on 6 September and Canadian units were at Dunkirk on 7 September, just fifteen days after Falaise, despite their reduced effectiveness after their Normandy battles.
There was significant resistance, however, in the Canadian sector. Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
had ordered that most of the Channel ports be established as "fortresses" and prepared for extended sieges. Since the allies needed the port facilities to supply their advance, they could not be sealed off and left in the rear. The Germans had established artillery positions capable of shelling Dover
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
and threatening allied shipping. In addition, there were launch sites for V-1 flying bomb
V-1 flying bomb
The V-1 flying bomb, also known as the Buzz Bomb or Doodlebug, was an early pulse-jet-powered predecessor of the cruise missile....
s that were bombarding London. These, too, needed to be removed.
Allied
The 1st Canadian Army's make-up varied to meet changing demands but in general terms it was composed of the 2nd Canadian Corps and the 1st British Corps. Within these formations, at various times, were Czech, Polish, French, Dutch and Belgian units. After Normandy, the Polish and Czech formations were augmented by countrymen who had been conscripted into the German Army.The 1st Canadian Army had been heavily involved in several hard fought operations in Normandy, resulting in depleted commanders and manpower at all levels. This was particularly serious in frontline rifle units. The 1st British Corps (commanded by John Crocker
John Crocker
General Sir John Tredinnick Crocker GCB, KBE, DSO, MC was a British Army officer and corps commander during the Second World War.- First World War :...
), attached to the 1st Canadian Army, had its own weaknesses. Three divisions, the 7th Armoured, 49th and 51st Infantry Divisions had not performed satisfactorily in Normandy and the two infantry divisions had been relegated to defensive positions on the bridgehead's eastern flank. The fourth division in the Corps was the British 6th Airborne Division
British 6th Airborne Division
The 6th Airborne Division was an airborne division in the British Army during the Second World War. It took part in Operation Tonga, the airborne landings on the left flank of the invasion beaches in the Normandy Landings. It played a small part in the Battle of the Bulge and was involved in...
which had landed in Operation Tonga
Operation Tonga
Operation Tonga was the codename given to the airborne operation undertaken by the British 6th Airborne Division between 5 June and 7 June 1944 as a part of Operation Overlord and the Normandy Landings during the Second World War....
on D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
and, despite its lack of heavy weapons, remained defending the area. It had taken significant casualties and now its commander, Richard Gale
Richard Nelson Gale
General Sir Richard Nelson "Windy" Gale GCB, KBE, DSO, MC was a soldier in the British Army who served in both world wars. In World War I he was awarded the Military Cross in 1918 whilst serving as a junior officer in the Machine Gun Corps...
, had been ordered merely to harry the German retreat and he intended to conserve its remaining strength as a basis for the rebuilding that was imminent. For this operation, 6th Airborne Division included the 1st Belgian Infantry Brigade
1st Belgian Infantry Brigade
The Belgian 1st Infantry Brigade, also known as the "Brigade Piron", after its commander, Jean-Baptiste Piron, was a Belgian and Luxembourger army unit which fought in World War II...
and the Royal Netherlands Brigade (Prinses Irene)
Royal Netherlands Motorized Infantry Brigade
During the Second World War the Royal Netherlands Motorized Infantry Brigade was a military unit initially formed from approximately 1500 Dutch troops, including a small group guarding German POWs, who arrived in the United Kingdom in May 1940 following the collapse of the Netherlands...
, which were to gain "operational experience in quieter sections of the line in the hope that ultimately they would return to their own countries and form nuclei around which larger national forces might be organized".
The 1st British Corps advanced along the allies' coastal flank, with the 2nd Canadian Corps on their right.
German
Most German divisions had been destroyed or shattered in the Falaise pocket. Those divisions deployed east of the allied bridgehead were, however, largely intact.German troops within the "fortress cities" were generally second-rate and included some Austrian and other nationalities that were not trusted enough to carry arms.
Advance to the Seine
The 1st Canadian Army's advance to the River Seine was dubbed "Operation Paddle". It had been hoped by the Allied commanders that a defeat comparable with the Falaise Pocket could be inflicted on the Germans by trapping them against the Seine and the sea. To this end, the US Third Army advanced northwards to ElbeufElbeuf
-Population:-Places of interest:* The mairie, also housing the museum.* Two seventeenth century churches.* Some sixteenth century houses.* A fifteenth century stone cross.* The theatre , renovated in the late twentieth century.-Notable people:...
, across the British 2nd Army's line of advance, to cut off the route towards Paris. This encirclement was only a partial success. Although much of its remaining transport and the bulk of its armour was lost west of the Seine, the Germans successfully held up the Canadians, protecting improvised river crossings. By this means, significant quantities of men and materiel
Materiel
Materiel is a term used in English to refer to the equipment and supplies in military and commercial supply chain management....
were saved.
The towns along the River Touques were evacuated by the Germans on or shortly before 24 August and the consequent capture of Lisieux
Lisieux
Lisieux is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.Lisieux is the capital of the Pays d'Auge area, which is characterised by valleys and hedged farmland...
(about 45 kilometres east of Caen
Caen
Caen is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the Calvados department and the capital of the Basse-Normandie region. It is located inland from the English Channel....
) opened an important route eastwards. Next day, the next natural barrier, the River Risle
Risle
The Risle is a long river in Normandy, left tributary of the Seine.The river begins in Orne west of L'Aigle, crosses the western part of the department of Eure flowing from south to north and out into the estuary of the Seine on the left bank near Berville-sur-Mer...
was crossed just north of Brionne
Brionne
Brionne is a commune in the Eure department in Haute-Normandie in northern France.-Population:-Sights:The keep, built in the 11th century was one of the rare Norman squareshaped defensive keeps, reminding of British architecture. It was destroyed in the 18th century.The church Saint-Martin has a...
by the 11th Hussars
11th Hussars
The 11th Hussars was a cavalry regiment of the British Army.-History:The regiment was founded in 1715 as Colonel Philip Honeywood's Regiment of Dragoons and was known by the name of its Colonel until 1751 when it became the 11th Regiment of Dragoons...
, with other units close behind. The 6th Airlanding Brigade
6th Airlanding Brigade (United Kingdom)
The 6th Airlanding Brigade was a glider infantry brigade forming part of the British airborne forces during the Second World War. Composed of three infantry battalions and supporting units, it was assigned to the 6th Airborne Division....
of the British 6th Airborne Division took Honfleur
Honfleur
Honfleur is a commune in the Calvados department in northwestern France. It is located on the southern bank of the estuary of the Seine across from le Havre and very close to the exit of the Pont de Normandie...
on the Seine estuary, but in general, progress along the coast was slower than inland, rivers being wider and more difficult to cross. Nonetheless, 6th Airborne Division occupied the west bank of the Risle from Pont Audemer downstream to the Seine on the 26 August and thus completed its tasks in France; the Division returned to Britain on 3 September. Clearance of the last German units west of the Seine was completed on 30 August.
Crossing the Seine
1st British Corps put patrols across the Seine on 31 August.The advance to the Seine had outstripped the preparations of the Royal Canadian Engineers for bridging equipment and assault boats, but with hard work, newly assembled assault boats carried the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division
3rd Canadian Infantry Division
The Canadian 3rd Infantry Division was an infantry division of the Canadian Army from 1940 to c.1945.- History :The formation of the division was authorized on 17 May 1940...
across the Seine at Elbeuf
Elbeuf
-Population:-Places of interest:* The mairie, also housing the museum.* Two seventeenth century churches.* Some sixteenth century houses.* A fifteenth century stone cross.* The theatre , renovated in the late twentieth century.-Notable people:...
on 27 August. Ferries for wheeled and armoured vehicles were in operation in the afternoon.
Dieppe
Dieppe had been abandoned by the Germans before Hitler's order to defend it as a "fortress" had been received. It was liberated by the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division2nd Canadian Infantry Division
The 2nd Canadian Infantry Division was an infantry division of the First Canadian Army, mobilized on 1 September 1939 at the outset of the Second World War. It was initially composed of volunteers within brigades established along regional lines, though a halt in recruitment in the early months of...
on 1 September. Its liberation had particular significance for that Division, as a result of the failure of the Dieppe Raid
Dieppe Raid
The Dieppe Raid, also known as the Battle of Dieppe, Operation Rutter or later on Operation Jubilee, during the Second World War, was an Allied attack on the German-occupied port of Dieppe on the northern coast of France on 19 August 1942. The assault began at 5:00 AM and by 10:50 AM the Allied...
in 1942. A ceremonial parade was held on 5 September. Despite demolitions, the port was cleared and in use on 7 September and a delivery of oil and petrol was shipped to Brussels on 9 September.
Le Havre
Le Havre was subjected to a full-scale assault by 1st British Corps, supported by specialised armourHobart's Funnies
Hobart's Funnies were a number of unusually modified tanks operated during World War II by the United Kingdom's 79th Armoured Division or by specialists from the Royal Engineers. They were designed in light of problems that more standard tanks experienced during the Dieppe Raid, so that the new...
and bombardment from land, sea and air. It was taken on 12 September after 48 hours' assault, but the port needed lengthy clearance and repair.
Boulogne
Boulogne was reached on 5 September but, by this time, the garrison was bound by Hitler's "fortress" order and would stand and fight. The city was protected by surrounding high ground and another full assault was made, this time by Daniel SpryDaniel Spry
Major-General Daniel Charles Spry, CBE, DSO, CD, was the Canadian commander of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division during Operation Veritable in World War II. He was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on February 4, 1913 and died in 1989.-War service:...
's 3rd Canadian Division
3rd Canadian Division
The 3rd Canadian Division was a formation of the Canadian Corps during the First World War.The 3rd Canadian Division was formed in France in December 1915 under the command of Major-General M.S. Mercer. Its members served in both France and Flanders until Armistice Day...
with extensive air and artillery support. The assault took six days from 17 to 22 September.
Rocket sites
On 1 September, the last V-1 was launched against London as the Canadians were moving through the launch areas.Calais and Cap Gris Nez
Calais was sealed off in early September, and WissantWissant
Wissant is a seaside commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:...
was quickly captured, though an early attack on Cap Gris Nez failed.
The assault on Calais itself opened on 25 September, and the town secured by 30th. A second attack on the Cap Gris Nez batteries opened on 29 September and the positions secured by the afternoon of the same day.
Despite the strong defences, and although the city had been declared a Fortress, in the event its garrison needed little persuasion to surrender. This reluctance to fight to the end was repeated at Cap Gris Nez.
Dunkirk
Although Dunkirk had been reached by 7 September, it soon became clear that the garrison would require a major effort to expel them and occupy a port that was largely destroyed. It was then judged to be a better use of men and materielMateriel
Materiel is a term used in English to refer to the equipment and supplies in military and commercial supply chain management....
to clear the Germans from the Scheldt estuary and open the port of Antwerp, which had been captured intact. A brigade sized force was left to isolate Dunkirk, which eventually surrendered on May 9, 1945, after the general German surrender.
This was a static operation, for the most part manned and led by the 1st Czechoslovak Armoured Brigade, in which Belgian Resistance
Belgian resistance
Belgian resistance during World War II to the occupation of Belgium by Nazi Germany took different forms. "The Belgian Resistance" was the common name for the Netwerk van de weerstand - Réseau de Résistance or Resistance Network , a group of partisans fighting the Nazis...
members assisted with information and French Resistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
members were converted to regular units.
Belgium
Ostend had been omitted from Hitler’s list of "fortresses" and so was evacuated, despite its strong defences. The port had been demolished.The 1st Polish Armoured Division crossed the Belgian border and captured Ypres
Ypres
Ypres is a Belgian municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Ypres and the villages of Boezinge, Brielen, Dikkebus, Elverdinge, Hollebeke, Sint-Jan, Vlamertinge, Voormezele, Zillebeke, and Zuidschote...
on September 6, and reached the Ghent-Bruges canal on September 9.
The Scheldt
A major operation was required to clear the Germans from both banks of the Scheldt.Aftermath
Although Dieppe came rapidly into use, it could supply only a quarter of the needs of the 21st Army Group. The capture of Le Havre, Boulogne, Calais and Ostend only eased the allies' supply problems after extensive clearance of debris and mines. Ostend remained restricted to personnel. Boulogne's role as a terminal for a PlutoOperation Pluto
Operation Pluto was a World War II operation by British scientists, oil companies and armed forces to construct undersea oil pipelines under the English Channel between England and France. The scheme was developed by Arthur Hartley, chief engineer with the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company...
oil pipeline (Dumbo) was of great benefit, however, becoming the Allies' "... main supplies of fuel during the winter and spring campaigns". In hindsight, it has been questioned whether the capture of the defended ports was worthwhile given the need for much effort to bring them into use and the greater potential benefit of Antwerp. The opening of Antwerp in November 1944 largely solved the allies' supply problems.
The capture of the French side of the Dover Straits removed the threat of the heavy artillery which had bombarded Dover
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
for some years and endangered shipping in the Straits - the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
had particularly emphasised the need to remove this risk. Likewise, the V-1 launch sites were over-run, reducing the threat to London.
The Canadian Army's progress had not met the expectations of the Army Group commanders and its performance has been disputed since. It has been suggested that Crerar's illness in autumn 1944 provided a convenient opportunity to replace him during the critical and difficult Battle of the Scheldt.