Locations
1609 to 1632 of 2914 results
-
Artwork Het Grote Gezicht
Artwork Het Grote Gezicht
-
Herberg de Gekroonde Leeuw
Herberg de Gekroonde Leeuw
-
Woonboot Oudega
Woonboot Oudega
-
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.
-
-
Zwettepoel Recreational Lake
Zwettepoel Recreational Lake
-
Dyksputten
Dyksputten
Dyksputten are historic clay pits along the Frisian Wadden Sea dike. They were created in the 19th century by extracting clay, which was used to raise and strengthen the sea dike.
The Dyksputten can be found at several locations in the area behind the sea dike around the villages of Sexbierum and Oosterbierum, in the municipality of Waadhoeke.
Today, these low-lying, brackish nature areas provide resting and breeding grounds for birds and rare plant species. Some of the Dyksputten are as deep as 3 metres.
-
-
Het Molenhuis
Het Molenhuis
-
In de Brouwerij
In de Brouwerij
-
Welgelegen - Trekkershut
Welgelegen - Trekkershut
Book now
-
Restaurant Piacco
Restaurant Piacco
-
Paesens-Moddergat
Paesens-Moddergat
-
Rondvaartbedrijf Lauwersmeer (Boat Tours)
Rondvaartbedrijf Lauwersmeer (Boat Tours)
-
Nieuw Allardsoog - de Das
Nieuw Allardsoog - de Das
Book now
-
Galerie Offingawier
Galerie Offingawier
-
Stavoren (Starum)
Stavoren (Starum)
-
Langweerder Sloep
Langweerder Sloep
-
De Witakker
De Witakker
-
Rent to Enjoy - Glamtainer Place to be
Rent to Enjoy - Glamtainer Place to be
Book now
-
de Tijnjehoeve
de Tijnjehoeve
-
Huisboot Vakanties
Huisboot Vakanties
-
Plant Nursery De Nije Trije
Plant Nursery De Nije Trije
-
Kerk Hegebeintum
Kerk Hegebeintum
-
Sacrifice for freedom
Sacrifice for freedom
Near the crash site, the "Monument to Allied Airmen" was unveiled by the sister of one of the crew members in 2004 as a tribute to the fallen crew. A boulder with a plaque and a panel with background information on what happened keep the memory alive.
Of seven soldiers killed, five were British, one Canadian and one Australian. They were buried side by side. Identical white natural stone tombstones with an embossed emblem and cross have been placed at each grave. The cross is not only a symbol of the Christian faith, but also a reminder of the sacrifice made by war victims for a life of freedom.
-
-
ZenZi
ZenZi
