Location
257 to 288 of 346 results
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Steenbakkerij Oostrum
Steenbakkerij Oostrum
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Landal Esonstad
Landal Esonstad
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Klein Zwitserland Lakeside Beach
Klein Zwitserland Lakeside Beach
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Former Mountain Monastery Burgum
Former Mountain Monastery Burgum
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Ypeymolen
Ypeymolen
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TOP Dokkumer Nieuwe Zijlen
TOP Dokkumer Nieuwe Zijlen
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Public primary school
Public primary school
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Pitch & Putt Esonstad
Pitch & Putt Esonstad
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The liberation of Friesland
The liberation of Friesland
By 18 April, the whole province of Friesland had been liberated, except for the Wadden Islands. Compared to other provinces, there was little fighting in Friesland. Overall, the few thousand German troops who had been unable to escape from Friesland were defeated by the Canadians relatively quickly.
The commander of the Royal Canadian Dragoons, Lieutenant Colonel Landell, praised the actions of the resistance by stating that "Friesland liberated herself". While that may be a bit of an exaggeration, the actions of the Frisian resistance undoubtedly accelerated the liberation. And reduced the number of casualties on the Allied side.
At least 31 resistance fighters lost their lives in confrontations with German troops and their Dutch accomplices. At least eleven Canadians and one Frenchman were killed on the Allied side. Dozens of civilian victims were also killed in the fighting and shelling. The number of casualties on the German side is not known, but it is believed that the number ran into hundreds. With 320 destroyed and 4000 damaged homes and 80 destroyed bridges, Friesland was materially the least damaged province of the Netherlands.
Many German soldiers fled towards the western part of the country. The retreating German troops gathered mostly in Harlingen, Makkum and Lemmer. From there, they tried to get away by boat across the IJsselmeer or via the Afsluitdijk to North Holland. The Wadden Islands also became a refuge for collaborators and German soldiers. Here, liberation was longer in coming.
On the island of Terschelling, the last German troops were disarmed by a British artillery regiment on 29 May. Two days later, the British crossed from Terschelling to Vlieland, and the liberation of that island was also a fact. Ameland was liberated on 3 June.
Personnel from the infamous Scholtenhuis, the SD headquarters in Groningen, had entrenched themselves on Schiermonnikoog. After their departure on 31 May, there was a celebration on the island, in spite of the six hundred members of the occupying troops who still were there. Only on 11 June did the last German soldiers leave Schiermonnikoog, and then the whole province of Friesland was free.
Most Canadian units that had liberated Friesland continued the battle in Groningen and North Germany after 18 April. Their war ended on 8 May 1945, when the surrender of all German armed forces became effective.
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Holwerd
Holwerd
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In De Wij
In De Wij
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B&B Hippe Schuur
B&B Hippe Schuur
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Sloop rental Burdaard
Sloop rental Burdaard
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Opende Blotevoetenpad Barefoot Trail
Opende Blotevoetenpad Barefoot Trail
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Kollum (Kollum)
Kollum (Kollum)
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Reidswâl
Reidswâl
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Electrosloop Fryslân (Aldtsjerk)
Electrosloop Fryslân (Aldtsjerk)
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Church of Brantgum
Church of Brantgum
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De Kruidhof
De Kruidhof
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St. Martin's Church Hallum
St. Martin's Church Hallum
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Alde Feanen Rentals
Alde Feanen Rentals
Tip
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Greenjoy Earnewâld
Greenjoy Earnewâld
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Grutte Tsjerke Ternaard
Grutte Tsjerke Ternaard
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Bolsward (Boalsert)
Bolsward (Boalsert)
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Holwerterpolder at Noard Fryslân Butendyks Nature Reserve
Holwerterpolder at Noard Fryslân Butendyks Nature Reserve
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Church Sint-Thomaskerk in Waaxens
Church Sint-Thomaskerk in Waaxens
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Camping Zwanenburg
Camping Zwanenburg
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Galeslot
Galeslot
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Dokkum Ballooning
Dokkum Ballooning
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Smoek
Smoek
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Strandpaviljoen Meerzicht Beach Pavilion
Strandpaviljoen Meerzicht Beach Pavilion
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Logement Nij Bonga
Logement Nij Bonga
