History of the United States Army that captured North Africa and Sicily and later fought in Italy. On D-Day, 6 June 1944, and in the subsequent liberation of Europe and defeat of Nazi Germany, millions of U.S. Army troops played a central role. In the Pacific, Army soldiers participated alongside the U.S. Marine Corps in the "island hopping" campaign that wrested the Pacific Islands from Japanese control. Following the Axis surrenders in May (Germany) and August (Japan) of 1945, Army troops were deployed to Japan and Germany to occupy the two defeated nations. The U.S. Army Air Force, which was an outgrowth of the earlier Army
Liberation Day (Netherlands) their Canadian War cemeteries that acknowledge the sacrifice made by Canadians who died fighting for freedom. The bond between these two nations can be witnessed in Canada as well. Located in Ottawa (Canada's capital city) thousands of tulips grow each spring that the Dutch send to Canada as a gift. After the liberation of the Netherlands in 1945, Liberation Day was celebrated every five years by the Dutch. In 1990 the day was declared a national holiday when liberation would be remembered and celebrated every year. On May 4 the Dutch hold "Dodenherdenking" Remembrance of the Dead for the people