The Küsten Canal, also known as the Coastal Canal, is a canal, about 70 km long, that links the Dortmund–Ems Canal with the Hunte and thus the Weser rivers. It was built from 1922 to 1935 by widening an already existing drainage channel and is used today, especially by the peat industry and for transporting coal from the Ruhrgebiet to Bremen.

History

In April 1945, the 100 m wide canal was a significant obstacle to Allied forces advancing from the Ems estuary into Germany. Forces of the 4th Canadian (Armoured) Division assaulted over the canal on 19 April and secured a bridgehead at Edewechterdamm, after Polish formations of the 1st Armoured Division had taken over the previous Canadian position at Dörpen, 50 km. to the West. The Polish forces established a bridgehead towards Papenburg after two days of fierce fighting. "Küsten Canal" was awarded as a battle honour to both Canadian and Polish units participating in actions near this canal: To the Canadian British Columbia Regiment, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise's), Algonquin Regiment, Lake Superior Scottish Regiment, Lincoln and Welland Regiment, and Royal New Brunswick Regiment, and to the Polish 9th Light Infantry Battalion, 1st Light Anti-Air Artillery Regiment, and 2nd Motorized Artillery Regiment.

Data

Route

Ems near Dörpen – southern Papenburg – northern Friesoythe – Hunte in Oldenburg In many places the canal runs parallel to the B 401.