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Camping Hammerslag
Camping Hammerslag
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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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Camping de Finne - Yurt
Camping de Finne - Yurt
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Pucks Pluktuin l flower-picking garden
Pucks Pluktuin l flower-picking garden
New
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Café-Restaurant ’t Raedhûs
Café-Restaurant ’t Raedhûs
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Luxe Vakantie Friesland - Blaugers
Luxe Vakantie Friesland - Blaugers
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Hotel Workum - Panorama Suite
Hotel Workum - Panorama Suite
Book now
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Stadslogement Westersingel
Stadslogement Westersingel
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Ferry service Stavoren-Enkhuizen
Ferry service Stavoren-Enkhuizen
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Terp fan de Takomst
Terp fan de Takomst
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Klokkenstoel Smallebrugge
Klokkenstoel Smallebrugge
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Family van der Werff
Family van der Werff
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Doniaga Bell Tower
Doniaga Bell Tower
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The Nannewiid
The Nannewiid
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Klein Humalda
Klein Humalda
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Holidayhouse the Butterfly
Holidayhouse the Butterfly
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Welgelegen
Welgelegen
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Kraanlannen Nature Reserve
Kraanlannen Nature Reserve
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RCN de Potten - Bungalow de Valk
RCN de Potten - Bungalow de Valk
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Observation Tower Seven
Observation Tower Seven
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Hotel Stedswal - Kamer 5 - Hylpen
Hotel Stedswal - Kamer 5 - Hylpen
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Vegelinbossen Forests
Vegelinbossen Forests
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LOEV Workum
LOEV Workum
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Jachthaven Lemsterpoort
Jachthaven Lemsterpoort
