 |
|
 |
|
|
Category Television - Global Date 4/14/2005 |
|
Global Television documentary Canada and the Liberation of the Netherlands looks at Canada's pivotal role in fight for freedom under Nazi occupation
|
|
(TORONTO - Thursday, April 14, 2005) The new documentary Canada and the Liberation of the Netherlands examines the plight of the Dutch people under Nazi occupation and the pivotal role that Canada played in fighting for their liberation. The two-hour special will air Saturday, April 30 on the Global Television Network.
When Nazi Germany invaded the Netherlands in May 1940, five years of terror began for the Dutch people. The Dutch were the only occupied people to protest the Nazi persecution of the Jews, and hid an unprecedented number of them at great personal risk. More Dutch citizens have been recognized as Righteous Gentiles than any other Western European people.
In a time of unimaginable despair (more than 30,000 people starved to death in the winter of 1944-45), Canada came to the rescue. No other nation played a bigger role in liberating the Netherlands and ending the Nazi reign of terror. Canadian servicemen gave the Dutch freedom and food, and in return they received the eternal gratitude of a nation, forging a friendship that would last generations.
Canada and the Liberation of the Netherlands is produced by Global Television's Lance Goddard (Victory from Above, D-Day: Canada's 24 Hours Of Destiny) and was shot in Canada and the Netherlands over the past year. The documentary features archival footage, stills and modern-day footage of the battle sites, and includes interviews with a member of the Dutch underground, two hidden children (including one who went to the same school as Anne Frank), a son of Righteous Gentiles (Yad Vashem) whose parents hid a Jewish family throughout the occupation, and a nurse who survived the bombing of Rotterdam in 1940. Canadian veterans interviewed include Colonel Sydney Frost (PPCLI), Jan de Vries (Canada's recipient of the Legion of Honour from France at the D-Day ceremonies in June 2004), Colonel Lockhart Fulton (Royal Winnipeg Rifles), Colonel Doug Barrie (Highland Light Infantry) and several DSO recipients.
A companion book published by Dundurn as well as a DVD and VHS of the documentary will be released in time for the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands on May 5. Approximately 2,000 copies of the DVD will be given out by the Dutch Embassy to Canadian veterans at ceremonies across Canada. Other events planned include a veterans' pilgrimage to the Netherlands with Veterans Affairs and a parade in Apeldoorn.
Canada and the Liberation of the Netherlands airs Saturday, April 30 on the Global Television Network as follows:
Ontario/Quebec/Manitoba/Saskatchewan/British Columbia - 8pm
Maritimes/Alberta - 9pm
NOTE: Programming information and photography for Global, CH and PRIME is available at www.globaltvmedia.com
User ID: globaltvmedia / Password: pressinfo
For more, visit canada.com at http://www.canada.com/entertainment/tvshows/index.html
For more information, please contact:
Christine Amendola, Media Relations Manager, or
|
|
| Back to previous page |
|
|
|
