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2329 to 2352 of 2477 results
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Museum en Werkplaats Houtstad IJlst
Museum en Werkplaats Houtstad IJlst
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Wijnjeterperschar Nature Reserve
Wijnjeterperschar Nature Reserve
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De Jersey Molkerij
De Jersey Molkerij
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Stichting Praamvaren Leeuwarden
Stichting Praamvaren Leeuwarden
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Tusken de Marren - Chalet Meine luxe 4p
Tusken de Marren - Chalet Meine luxe 4p
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1622lifestyle
1622lifestyle
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Hotel Workum - Royal kamer
Hotel Workum - Royal kamer
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Jachthaven Friese Hoek
Jachthaven Friese Hoek
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Camping Flapper
Camping Flapper
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Aan het Water - Waterlodge
Aan het Water - Waterlodge
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Public toilet Stêdspôle in Workum
Public toilet Stêdspôle in Workum
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Osinga State
Osinga State
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Minicamping 'De Vasthi-hoeve'
Minicamping 'De Vasthi-hoeve'
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Leppa Aqueduct
Leppa Aqueduct
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KB Food & Drinks
KB Food & Drinks
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Accommodatie Claercamp
Accommodatie Claercamp
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Pollepleats
Pollepleats
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Watervillapark Idskenhuizen - De Drie Gebroeders
Watervillapark Idskenhuizen - De Drie Gebroeders
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Wellekom Watersport
Wellekom Watersport
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Grand Café De Brass
Grand Café De Brass
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Camping Oan e Poel
Camping Oan e Poel
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B&B Pension Perruque - Luxe Twin Room
B&B Pension Perruque - Luxe Twin Room
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Washing lines of Sloten
Washing lines of Sloten
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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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