The liberation of Belgium from German occupation was completed on February 4th, 1945, when the entire country was reportedly free of German troops. The operation began when Allied forces entered on September 2nd, 1944. The liberation came after four years of German-occupied rule. The Belgian government was returned to power on September 8th, 1944, after Allied forces captured Brussels, its capital, four days earlier.

The invasion began with the 2nd Canadian Division entering Belgium on 2 September. On the evening of September 2nd, Brian Horrocks briefed officers of the Guards Armoured Division in Douai that their objective for the following day would be Brussels, 110km further East. The announcement was greeted with “delighted astonishment”. The Division suffered casualties on their drive into Belgium but with the Germans still in disarray after their defeat at Falaise, the Household Cavalry on the British left and the Grenadier Guards on the right led the way with the Welsh and Irish Guards following close behind.

Citizens of the Belgian capital had not expected to be liberated that soon and huge crowds greeted and slowed the liberators.

The Welsh Guards landed and joined the fight on September 4th with minimal resistance. The British Second Army captured Antwerp, the port city on the river Schedlt in northern Belgium, close to the Netherlands, on September 4th as well. In the following days and weeks, the Battle of the Scheldt claimed many lives, as the port of Antwerp could not be operated effectively without control of the Scheldt estuary. Antwerp was the first port to be captured by the Allies in near perfect condition, making it very valuable, especially with its deep water facilities. On September 6th, the 4th Canadian Armoured Division crossed the border with Belgium and took areas around Ypres and Passchendale.

“Blenheim”, a newly released 1:50 scale British Cromwell Mk. IV tank produced by Corgi, is now in stock and ready to liberate the diecast military battle ground.