Location
193 to 224 of 317 results
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Kollum (Kollum)
Kollum (Kollum)
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St. Nicholas Church Blije
St. Nicholas Church Blije
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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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De Babbelaar Café in Burgum
De Babbelaar Café in Burgum
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Huize Moddergat
Huize Moddergat
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B&B Het Woudhuisje
B&B Het Woudhuisje
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Surhuisterveen (Surhústerfean)
Surhuisterveen (Surhústerfean)
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Wierum (Wierum)
Wierum (Wierum)
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Mill de Swarte Prinsch
Mill de Swarte Prinsch
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Aardappelhandel De Jong farm shop
Aardappelhandel De Jong farm shop
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Church of Brantgum
Church of Brantgum
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Wadlopen Friese Wad - mudflat hiking
Wadlopen Friese Wad - mudflat hiking
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Greenjoy Earnewâld
Greenjoy Earnewâld
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Pettebosk Forest Playground
Pettebosk Forest Playground
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Aventoer
Aventoer
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Dijktempel (dike temple) at Marrum
Dijktempel (dike temple) at Marrum
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Franeker (Frjentsjer)
Franeker (Frjentsjer)
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Leeuwarden (Ljouwert)
Leeuwarden (Ljouwert)
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Het Raadsel van de Wadden
Het Raadsel van de Wadden
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Sneek (Snits)
Sneek (Snits)
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De Kruisweg
De Kruisweg
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The Spitkeet
The Spitkeet
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Museum 't Wâldhúske
Museum 't Wâldhúske
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Restaurant de Zwarte Haan
Restaurant de Zwarte Haan
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Motorcamping 't Witveen
Motorcamping 't Witveen
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Reformed Church Gerkesklooster
Reformed Church Gerkesklooster
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Bungalowpark It Wiid
Bungalowpark It Wiid
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Sint-Gangulfuskerk Church in Ee
Sint-Gangulfuskerk Church in Ee
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Ka & Ko
Ka & Ko
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Suvelfabryk
Suvelfabryk
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Natuurlijk Kollumeroord Groepsaccommodatie De Vlinderbalg
Natuurlijk Kollumeroord Groepsaccommodatie De Vlinderbalg
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Rondvaartbedrijf Lauwersmeer (Boat Tours)
Rondvaartbedrijf Lauwersmeer (Boat Tours)
