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Operation Veritable was part of an Allied pincer-movement aiming to clear the area between the Roer and Rhine rivers of German forces. British and Canadian units attacked from the north, while the Americans closed the trap from the south. By destroying dams in the Roer, the Germans tried to hamper the operation

Operation Veritable

Operation Veritable started on 8 February 1945. The operation was intended to be one of two pincers aimed at encircling the entrenched German forces. In this scenario British and Canadian forces would constitute the northern pincer of the attack, while U.S. forces would come up from the south to close the trap (Operation Grenade). The German army managed to prevent encirclement by destroying dams in the river Roer (not to be confused with the Ruhr river on the other side of the Rhine) which led to massive flooding; at some points the river was almost two kilometers wide. This flood forced the U.S. soldiers to postpone their assault. The Canadian and British forces had to go it alone.

Sherman tanks of 10th Canadian Armoured Regiment (Fort Garry Horse) with infantry of the Royal Regiment of Canada massing in preparation for the assault on Goch, 17 February 1945.

From the outset of the offensive, bad weather complicated Allied operations. General Horrocks, commanding the British forces, later said of the battle: “What was so maddening was that the whole thing could have been so easy if only the frost had continued”. A thaw turned the previously frozen ground into a quagmire, a situation that was aggravated by continuous rain and the fact that the German army had breached the banks of the Rhine. The Allies advanced slowly and were unable to fully exploit their superiority in numbers and equipment.

On 23 February the water had retreated sufficiently to allow the U.S. forces to finally cross the Roer and fulfill their mission. In the words of the Allied Supreme Commander general Dwight D. Eisenhower: Operation Veritable “was some of the fiercest fighting of the whole war […] a bitter slugging match” between Allied and German forces. Illustrious names such as Reichswald, Kleve, Goch, Gennep, Kalkar Heights, Keppeln, Hochwald, The Hochwald Gap, Veen and Xanten would forever be engraved in the minds of the men who fought there.

Battlefield Tours offers battlefield tours for both private and mixed groups in Groesbeek and Germany (Reichswald). Battlefield Tours can provide specific programs for larger groups, schools and scouting groups. In Groesbeek we offer tours to different areas around Groesbeek. The Battlefield Tours in Groesbeek and surroundings require motorized transport because of distance and tour length. Battlefield Tours can provide transport for groups up to 8 persons. But if you feel more comfortable in your own car, you can follow us using your car also. Groups larger than 8 persons will have to provide for (additional) transport themselves. The tour in Groesbeek and surroundings takes a full day.

Tour highlights*

• Canadian War Cemetery Groesbeek
• National Liberation Museum 1944-1945 Groesbeek
• Amphibious operation during Veritable
• The battle for Kleve
• The battle of Moyland Wood
• German counterattacks on the line Kalkar-Goch
• The battle for Keppeln (Operation Blockbuster)
• The breakthrough in the position of Schlieffen 
• The hell of Hochwald Gap
• The Battle for Goch
• The battle for Xanten
• The battle for Veen

*Depends on which tour you choose

Duration
The tours in Groesbeek and surroundings takes a full day or several days. Combination with other tours into a multiple day tour is possible.

Possible tour days
Our private tours can be booked all year round and all week to availability.

Price, bookings and payment
Different prices for a private tour may apply depending on group size. Prices, terms and conditions can be found here. You can easily book the tour via the booking form on this page, or by contacting us directly. By submitting a booking you agree to our terms and conditions. After receipt of you booking request we will verify availability on the tour date(s) requested. If needed we will contact you to discuss details or other options. Presuming a requested tour date is possible we will sent you a confirmation email containing an invoice stating the total amount due and the deposit amount (if applicable) needed to complete your booking. Full payment is due 10 days prior to the start date of the tour.

Transport and pick up location
This is a bus tour. We can start the Battlefield Tour from the central train station in Nijmegen. If you arrive by plane, you will probably fly to Schiphol, Amsterdam’s airport. The easiest way to get to Nijmegen is by train. There is a train from Schiphol to Eindhoven, which leaves every hour. You can plan your train trip using the journey planner of the Dutch railways. You should select Schiphol as your departure station and Nijmegen as your destination. Overnight accommodation is possible in Nijmegen. Book overnight accommodation via this website.

Europe Remembers – Operation Veritable