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1705 to 1728 of 2386 results
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Zijda Yachting
Zijda Yachting
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Recreatiepark Bloemketerp
Recreatiepark Bloemketerp
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Hanse 348
Hanse 348
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IJsbaan Broek
IJsbaan Broek
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Aqua State - Park de Brekken B14
Aqua State - Park de Brekken B14
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Leppa Aqueduct
Leppa Aqueduct
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de Tijnjehoeve
de Tijnjehoeve
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Nationaal Openbaar Vervoer Museum
Nationaal Openbaar Vervoer Museum
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The battle for the Tjonger bridge in Mildam
The battle for the Tjonger bridge in Mildam
In the afternoon of 12 April, rumours had reached Mildam that Englishmen or perhaps Canadians had been sighted at Peperga. The Canadian vanguards had entered Friesland. For the inhabitants of Mildam it was still a surprise when at first one and shortly afterwards another military vehicle with a few men in khaki-coloured overalls stopped at the bridge.
These vehicles were part of a patrol of "D" Squadron Royal Canadian Dragoons commanded by Lieutenant Homer Thomas. These Canadians established that unlike other bridges, the bridge in Mildam over the Tjonger had not yet been blown up by the occupying forces. The fact that the Tjonger bridge in Mildam had not been destroyed was due to the local resistance movement. The Germans had indeed planned to blow up this bridge as well. But at the risk of their own lives, resistance fighters had removed the detonators from the explosives affixed to the bridge.
The Squadron Commander immediately ordered all units to secure the bridge. And the Dutch Domestic Armed Forces were also requested to provide men. The precautions turned out to be justified. In the night of 12 to 13 April, German troops launched one of their few counter-attacks in the province of Friesland. From Heerenveen, they managed to surprise the Canadians in Mildam. They tried to regain control of the bridge three times. During the fierce fighting, Canadian vehicles were knocked out. But the Dragoons stood firm, and the Germans were driven off again. Mildam was freed.Four Canadian soldiers were injured in the fighting. The number of casualties on the German side is unknown. There was property damage in Mildam, but no civilians were killed. With a little less luck, though, there would have been several Dutch casualties. In the early morning of 13 April, a group of dozens of resistance fighters approached the bridge at dusk from the direction of Nieuweschoot. This was the reinforcement requested by the Canadians on 12 April when the undamaged bridge was discovered. The resistance fighters were partly carrying captured German weapons and were not noticed by the Dragoons in the semi-darkness until late.
Lieutenant Thomas, mentioned earlier, almost gave the order to open fire. It was only at the last moment that it became clear that they were not Germans. The resistance members had managed to make themselves known by singing songs in English.
The preservation of the bridge was important. During the following days, the Canadians would make extensive use of the bridge to advance further in the direction of Leeuwarden and liberate the province of Friesland.
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Beach Resorts Makkum - Beachvilla Royaal
Beach Resorts Makkum - Beachvilla Royaal
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Waterhuis Boppe
Waterhuis Boppe
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Paviljoen De Branding
Paviljoen De Branding
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It Flinkeboskje - Vakantieboerderij it Flinkeboskje
It Flinkeboskje - Vakantieboerderij it Flinkeboskje
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Artwork Het Grote Gezicht
Artwork Het Grote Gezicht
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SPOONK Art Cantina
SPOONK Art Cantina
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Dax Gastrobar
Dax Gastrobar
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Schwarzenbergerbos Forest
Schwarzenbergerbos Forest
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de Heasouder
de Heasouder
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Church and bell tower Goïngarijp
Church and bell tower Goïngarijp
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It Flinkeboskje
It Flinkeboskje
Sustainability info
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Oranjewoud BB bunker
Oranjewoud BB bunker
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Echten Pumping Station
Echten Pumping Station
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Joure (De Jouwer)
Joure (De Jouwer)
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Drama in Marnezijl
Drama in Marnezijl
