Operation Infatuate, the codename for the invasion of the Dutch Island of Walcheren, was a major Combined Operation amphibious landing against heavily fortified and entrenched German positions.
The island stood at the mouth of the River Scheldt and blocked Allied access to the captured port of Antwerp some 80 kilometres inland.
With the Germans holding the channel ports it is impossible to overstate the importance of Antwerp to the Allies in order to secure supply lines to their advancing armies.