VERITABLE 1945: the Canadian attack on Wyler & Den Heuvel, 8 Feb 1945

12. The attack on Den Heuvel

The scene of the opening bombardment inspired War Artist Cpt. Alex Colville to create the following painting. "I arose at 0500 hours on 8 February," noted Colville in his official monthly report, "and I watched medium guns firing the barrage that preceded Operation Veritable. I returned to this spot after breakfast, when it was light, and made studies. The rest of the day I spent painting 'Before Zero Hour, a nocturne'." : Search the Collections | Canadian War Museum



When H-hour for the attack approached, the French Canadian infantry of the assault companies started to advance down the forward slope to the start-line, covered by smoke shells that cast a protective white screen and effectively concealed all movement. Then, at 10:30 hrs, yellow smoke signalled that the artillery carried out the first lift and the infantry surged forward. Closely hugging the barrage, the French Canadians burst into the Den Heuvel position the moment the artillery lifted to the next three-hundred yards line.


The Den Heuvel feature as seen from the north from the Wylerbaan. In the background the wooded hills of the Reichswald. It started to rain, as I took this picture.

At 10:38 hrs Lt.Col. Julien Bibeau, who had installed his Tac HQ at the farmbuilding of the Hooge Hof, reported to 5th Bde that his two forward companies, 'B' and 'D', were proceeding without trouble. The forward German defensive positions had been completely overwhelmed. The enemy defenders were thoroughly shaken by the deluge of fire which had gone on for many hours, and stumbled with raised arms from their positions. "It was terrible and inhuman", one captured German officer complained. At 10:55 hrs a forward 5th Bde OP signalled, that it could see, that elements of Le Régiment de Maisonneuve had passed the Den Heuvel strongpoint. Not all enemy defenders however had given up. At Den Heuvel a sharp, close-quarter fight ensued after the leading men entered the strongpoint, described by one author as "a rat's nest" (Mark Zuehlke, Forgotten Victory, p. 197). Major De la Salle Robert's 'D' Coy was struck by small arms fire from behind. It was Pte Joseph Lefebvre, a company signaller, who restored the situation. An action which earned him an immediate MM:



'B' Coy also encountered some trouble. Here it were Lieutenant Jean-Louis Fontaine and Pte Lucien Leger, both wounded, who decided the action:




Pte Hector Lefebvre, a sniper in one of the leading Coys (unfortunately the Coy is not kwown), knocked out an enemy MG that opened fire on the Canadians from a distance of several hundred yards. He received a Military Medal for this feat:


It took until noon before all enemy resistance at Den Heuvel subsided. At 12:45 hrs the forward companies reported PINE consolidated, after they had rounded up the last 15 or so POWs, belonging to the 1051 Regt.

Major Charlebois' 'A' Coy, forming the battalion's second assault wave, had not waited for the all clear signal to be given. At 11:35 hrs, the company passed through 'D' and continued the advance towards the German border, following the communication trench which linked Den Heuvel to the rear position at Hochstrasze. Twenty five minutes later Charlebois signalled that his men had taken objective BAY and taken 9 POW's - eight members of the 184 Artillery Regt, and one belonging to the 1051 Regt. The company swiftly moved on and by 12:25 hrs reported that it had reached objective MAPLE, or Hochstrasze, on the German Border - but was being shelled. At 13:10 hrs 'A' Coy reported that MAPLE had been consolidated, adding a further three POW's to the bag. According to Major Charlebois, it was No.7 platoon, led by Lieutenant Bud Delorme, that set first foot on German soil.


A War Artist's impression of the capture of Den Heuvel

 

The first dazed POW's are brought in by Sergeant Major Victor Gauthier of the Maisonneuves & Picture of Lieutenant Louis Woods of Le Régiment de Maisonneuves taken on 8 Feb 45 (photos courtesy LAC)

'C' Coy of Le Régiment de Maisonneuve was held in battalion reserve. In early afternoon it was called forward to relieve 'A' Coy of the Calgary Highlanders at Wyler. Major Lacroix, in command of 'C' Coy, stated: "At 13:45 hrs the company moved on to its objective without difficulty. On reaching the eastern part of Wyler the company met 28 Jerries coming by themselves [down] the road, captured by the Calgaries and a British unit on our right". While 'A' Coy of the Calgaries moved back toward Vossendaal, the French Canadian company took over objective ELM. Major Lacroix requested for a Jeep to collect three wounded Calgaries who had been left behind at the position as soon as the road had been cleared by the sappers. A section of 18 sappers, which accompanied 'C' Coy, immediately set out to work on the road leading from Wyler to Kranenburg. The available documents do not reveal if objective POPLAR, to the east of Wyler also was occupied by the French Canadians. But Major Lacroix sent out patrols to contact the 10 HLI (15 Scottish Div) at the Richtersgut Farm at the edge of Kranenburg (See for the battle for Kranenburg: VERITABLE: 15th Scottish & 43rd Wessex Divisions in the Reichswald battle (Feb 1945)).

By 17:00 hrs the Maisonneuves had taken 64 POW's, later that afternoon and in the early evening another 35 POW's were added to that number. A first body-count in the battalion sector revealed 60 killed enemy soldiers, these were the casualties visible on the battlefield, not including those in trenches and hide outs. It was evident that the opposing enemy force at Den Heuvel, estimated at a (reinforced) company of infantry about 100 - 150 men strong, had been completely wiped out. The War Diary lyrically describes the operation of that day as "an overwhelming success" ... "everything worked perfectly" ... and praises the high morale of the men and the "superiority in firepower, equipment and men". The 3rd Cdn Inf Div Intell summary concluded that by the end of the first day of Op Veritable, the 1051 Regt of the 84 Inf Division, which had opposed the 5th Bde's attack, no longer was reckoned to be an effective fighting force.


The lifeless body of a German soldier of the 84 Inf Division killed in a trench.

Losses for the French Canadians had been very light: 2 KIA and 25 wounded; a further proof of the effectiveness of the artillery bombardment and the dash and speed with which the infantry had followed the barrage.

The two fallen soldiers were:
001 FOURNIER A E/110071 - 09/02/1945 LE REGIMENT DE MAISONNEUVE, R.C.I.C. XI. F. 13.
002 LACOSTE GA D/143728 - 08/02/1945 LE REGIMENT DE MAISONNEUVE, R.C.I.C. V. A. 16


Cpl. Alexis Fournier died of wounds on 9 Feb 45 and was initially buried at Mariënbosch at Nijmegen.

Pte Albert Lacoste, only a teenager, was a batman for one of the 'A' Coy's lieutenants, Lieutenant Boisclair. Lacoste was instantly killed by shellfire while escorting four POW's back from the line of fire. According to the Regimental History of the Maisonneuves, a Belgian volunteer, named Alexandre Vermeire, who accompanied Lacoste, was also killed in the same incident. His final resting place is unknown (Edit: Initially burried at Groesbeek his body was transferred in 1949 to Uccle/Brussels in Belgium, with courtesy to Frans8800, see: Need help: Belgian Volunteer killed in Op Veritable).


Frans8800 most kindly sent me the above picture of the headstone of Alexandre Vermeire at Uccle/Brussels.


Right to left: Major Léandre Lacroix, the CO 'C' Coy, with his 2nd i/c Captain Gerry photographed on Feb 8th, 1945 (courtesy https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Colle...col&IdNumber=3518487&new=-8585627927675347317)

 

The present-day Den Heuvel Farm is a postwar structure. The original farm was completely destroyed during the war.


The houses of Wyler are visible in the distance. To the right, partly visible through the trees, is the big green shed near the Lagewald Farm which also is visible on the pictures in post # 10.


The gently sloping terrain over which 'A' Coy advanced towards objective BAY, which was a farmhouse, now gone, located near the small tree parcel in the center (round trees). To approach BAY, the Coy most likely used the existing German communication trench, connecting Den Heuvel to the rearward positions. Not far from BAY was the next objective, a farmhouse along the Lagewald road, labelled MAPLE. In the far distance the church spire of Kranenburg protrudes above the trees. Kranenburg was within the 15th Scottish Division's zone of attack, .

 

More images of the French Canadians taken near the FUP:

 

More background on the Maisies;



http://scholars.wlu.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1429&context=cmh

 

Hello,

Stolpi asked if I could possibly add something to this thread, as I explored the area with the metal detector.
Near the FUP, I found a pit with 2 british mestins (only 1 survived) shaving cream, a Canada button, some buckles, and lots of accu`s. Also the remains of a bug and broken beer bottles.

Near the mmg zone I found lots and lots and lots of empty vickers ammo cans. All in poor shape unfortunately. Only 1 of them still had pieces of the belt in it. Also found a couple of carrier tracks.

 

Nice maps from the pepperpot barage. Do you also have maps from the south-west part of Groesbeek forest?

 

Le Régiment de Maisonneuve, the aftermath of a highly successful operation:


A very satisfied Lt.Col. Bibeau, CO of Le Régiment de Maisonneuve, watches the first German POWs taken in the attack on Den Heuvel pass by. Colonel Bibeau had established his Tac CP near the Hooge Hof




This is how success looks like (photos courtesy LAC Canada).

 

Does anybody have some more information about a point called "Little Tobruk". As far I know it should be the area between the Querdamm and Wylermeer, but this should put it directly next to the flodet area.

I know the EOD has been there several times after the war to clear the area from mines, I also found quite some debris from mortar grenades and bullet points ....

 

The strongpoint was located at the end of the Querdamm near the Thornsche Molen and was taken out by the Canadian Scottish: VERITABLE 1945: 3rd Canadian Division in Op Veritable

 

Thanks for the quick reply already knew some of it but this link really gave me a ton of info to work with!

 

08 February 1945 10:42 The Calgary Highlanders crossed the start-line. Today 76 years ago on Sunday 11 March 1945 the Calgary Highlanders woke up quiet and peacefull in Xanten. Veritable and Blockbuster was over and they returned back to Berg en Dal, the start-line 31 days ago.

 

Hi Great Guys,
This is really good stuff - thanks again for sharing. I have a question for the collective.

Several sources (e.g. Zuehlke, Forgotten Victory) talk about a Mattress fire mission onto Den Heuvel, but its not on that trace Stolpi posted (above), though the depth position is. I'm a bit bothered because Mattress fire might explain the high German casualties reported at Den Heuvel. But if it wasn't fired, it wouldn't. I've got this from 53 Div HQRA, which is the planned list of targets and times.

Given Den Heuvel (serial 8) was due to be hit at 10.30, just as the barrage lifted and the Maisies were known barrage-huggers, I reckon the chance of fratricide was judged too high and the mission cancelled. And from that, I think the high German casualties were from the Mattress salvo on the depth position.

What do you reckon? Have I forgotten something?

 

I'm currently in Cambrai ... studying another battle

 

Hi wapen, I was wondering whether the land mattress regiment (?) would have recorded if a shoot was canceled? Then again... maybe noit. (And is it worth tracking down what that unit was? Ugh.)

 

Traitor. Those other battles are just slags. Stick with Veritable.

 

I am trying to get info on the Wyler position that was hit by the NS(NB)R on 8 Jan. Bruce Morton tells us more of that raid : “D Company, under Major Corbett, led flame throwing WASPs, and a carrier platoon under Sgt Horace Boulay, and charged across the mined snow covered terrain with the soldiers wearing white coveralls. The Germans were caught by surprise but reacted swiftly with heavy fire. One WASP was destroyed by a mine, another was hit by a German shell and one of the carriers lost its track, but D Company kept advancing. Sgt Boulay leapt from his carrier and charged straight into a German dugout. Three shocked Germans immediately surrendered and were thrown into a carrier that sped quickly back to the NSR lines. The mission was accomplished and was all over in 20 minutes, but the cost was high. Nine NSR soldiers had been killed and eight were wounded.” ......I may be in the Wyler area this winter and work like to walk the ground where this raid took place. The men killed on the 20 minute raid were Corporal Milton Vibert of Miscou Lighthouse, NB; and Privates Pat Roach of Reserve Mines, NS, Tom Sutherland of Dover, NB, Bill Ward of Montreal, Quebec, Hiram Lord of Lord’s Cove, NB, Alan MacDonald of Halifax, NS, Craig Goulden of Gunning Cove, NS, Jimmy Inman of Taymouth, NB, and Anselm Knox of Port of Spain, British West Indies (Trinidad). ....does anyone have any maps of the German defensive positions?

 

I'm hoping to head out in October to walk some of the Veritable battles but the scheme keeps sliding to the right. The only maps I've got are the Veritable defence overlays. Stolpi probably has more.

 

I think it's already all in here ... as far as maps go, I mean

 

Bump ... 8 Feb 1945 the Rhineland battle started