Calais fell to the 1st Canadian army after a combined air and artillery attack on October 1st 1944. Over 7,000 prisoners were taken as the German garrison left their blazing strong points; among them was their commander, Colonel Ferdinand Schörner.

Colonel Ferdinand Schörner


Before the final assault was made that brought enemy resistance to an end, a 24-hour truce enabled some 20,000 French civilians to leave. In the town itself the entrance to the former headquarters of the once triumphant Wehrmacht is seen here guarded by a single Canadian rifleman.