Civilians at the sharp end : First Canadian Army Civil Affairs in northwest Europe / David A. Borys.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Borys, David A., 1981- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Canada. Canadian Army. Army, First. Civil Affairs.

Canada.

World War, 1939-1945--Regimental histories--Canada.

World War, 1939-1945.

World War, 1939-1945--Civilian relief--Europe, Western.

Civilian war relief.

Regimental histories.

Western Europe.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (269 pages)

Place of Publication:

Montreal : McGill-Queen's University Press, [2021]

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.

Contents:

The AMGOT Model

A Battlefield Classroom - Civil Affairs in Northern France

Death from Above in Belgium

To Free or Feed the Netherlands

From Civil Affairs to Military Government.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9780228006510

0228006511

9780228006503

0228006503

OCLC:

1198918238