Regarding Pvt. Leo Major: The action referred to was a recon operation conducted by the Canadian army in the Netherlands late in the Second World War. Corporal Arsenault (a friend of Leo Major) and Leo himself volunteered to scout out the German defenses of the Dutch city of Zwolle during the night, so that the Canadians could assault it the following day. Things... went not as planned. Around midnight the corporal was killed, and Leo Major was so incensed that he basically went on a one man rampage in Zwolle, assaulting German positions, capturing German soldiers and marching them back to Canadian lines and all together convincing the Germans that the assault had already begun in earnest.
As a result and in the face of such overwhelming force the Germans retreated from the city.
To this day, the Canadians aren't considered the liberators of Zwolle like they are considered of so many places in the Netherlands north of the Rhine. Rather, one very specific Canadian is considered the liberator of Zwolle, and for good reason. That corporal is the only non German casualty of that battle. No civilians were injured in the crossfire nor were there any Canadians other than Leo Major and Willie Arsenault shot at during the engagement. After all, there was no bloody assault on a prepared position necessary, the Germans had already retreated, effectively yielding the city without a fight.
As a result and in the face of such overwhelming force the Germans retreated from the city.
To this day, the Canadians aren't considered the liberators of Zwolle like they are considered of so many places in the Netherlands north of the Rhine. Rather, one very specific Canadian is considered the liberator of Zwolle, and for good reason. That corporal is the only non German casualty of that battle. No civilians were injured in the crossfire nor were there any Canadians other than Leo Major and Willie Arsenault shot at during the engagement. After all, there was no bloody assault on a prepared position necessary, the Germans had already retreated, effectively yielding the city without a fight.