| Description |
1 online resource |
| Contents |
The AMGOT Model -- A Battlefield Classroom - Civil Affairs in Northern France -- Death from Above in Belgium -- To Feed or Free the Netherlands -- From Civil Affairs to Military Government |
| Summary |
"Mitigating the destruction and chaos wrought upon the civilian populations of northwest Europe during the latter years of the Second World War became the focus of Civil Affairs, a little-known branch of the First Canadian Army. Comprised of a motley collection of civilians-turned-soldiers--too old for combat yet too valuable to remain off the front lines--the members of Civil Affairs served as liaisons between Canadian combat forces and the civilians they encountered on the ground. Civilians at the Sharp End follows the story of the Civil Affairs branch through France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany in 1944-45. David Borys highlights how Civil Affairs helped civilians caught in the jaws of war by delivering food and medicine, providing shelter for refugees and displaced persons, establishing law and order, dealing with resistance groups, and aiding in the reconstruction of infrastructure in damaged urban areas. Once in Germany the branch was further challenged as it transformed into a military government and became a force of occupation, rehabilitating a war-torn Germany, purging the state of its Nazi leadership, while at times having to protect German civilians from the recently liberated prisoners of the Nazi state. Borys demonstrates that while the Canadian Army was indeed concerned for the welfare of civilians, military operations took priority over civilian needs. Civil Affairs was forced to negotiate this complex terrain, assisting civilian populations while ensuring that they never impeded the work of the Canadian military and the ultimate defeat of Nazi Germany."-- Provided by publisher |
| Analysis |
Canada |
|
History |
|
History of the Americas |
|
Military |
|
Military history |
|
Post-Confederation (1867-) |
|
World War II |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references and index |
| Notes |
Compliant with Level AA of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. Content is displayed as HTML full text which can easily be resized or read with assistive technology, with mark-up that allows screen readers and keyboard-only users to navigate easily |
|
Description based on online resource; title from digital title page (viewed on March 03, 2021) |
| Subject |
Canada. Canadian Army. Army, First. Civil Affairs.
|
|
World War, 1939-1945 -- Regimental histories -- Canada
|
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World War, 1939-1945 -- Civilian relief -- Europe, Western
|
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HISTORY / Canada / Post-Confederation (1867-)
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Civilian war relief
|
|
Regimental histories
|
|
Canada
|
|
Western Europe
|
| Form |
Electronic book
|
| ISBN |
0228006503 |
|
9780228006510 |
|
0228006511 |
|
9780228006503 |
|
