The Germans Thought an Army Was Attacking. It Was One Man.

One eye. One soldier. One city.

In April 1945, the Canadian army needed to liberate the Dutch city of Zwolle. The plan was an artillery bombardment that would have leveled much of the town.

One soldier said: let me try first.

Léo Major had already lost his left eye to a phosphorus grenade earlier in the war. His commanders thought he was insane. But they let him go.

Major and one partner entered Zwolle after dark. His partner was killed almost immediately.

Major kept going — alone.

He spent the entire night running through the streets, kicking in doors, firing his weapon, throwing grenades, and capturing German soldiers. He set fire to a Gestapo headquarters. He made so much noise that the German garrison became convinced the entire Canadian army was inside the city.

By dawn, the Germans had withdrawn. Major walked back to his unit and reported: the city is yours.

Léo Major went on to become the only Canadian soldier awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal in two separate wars — WW2 and Korea.

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