Royal Canadian Dragoons celebrated by Dutch city it liberated 80 years ago

On April 15, 1945, the Royal Canadian Dragoons (RCD) liberated the city of Leeuwarden, Netherlands. As they entered the city, rain and the sound of isolated gunfire echoed through empty streets. Though there was not a big battle, Noakes points out that no one knew at the time that this was the tail end of the war. Everyone was still on high alert. Though there were still German troops present, the sight of Canadian armoured vehicles was a sign to them that Leeuwarden was liberated. When the Ger