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The starting point of Breda's liberation

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The area around the Zandberglaan-Generaal Maczekstraat junction and the Teolin factory nearby is seen by many Breda residents as the starting point of the city's liberation on 29 October 1944. But is that right?

This point is considered the starting point of the liberation of Breda. This is not illogical, because it is indeed from here that two Polish infantry battalions, the 8th and 9th, began. From here, the 8th Infantry Battalion advanced under the Singel to the centre of Princenhagen, while the 9th advanced from this point to the old city centre. The only problem is that they were not the only liberators, and Breda was in fact liberated from different directions and by different routes.

All in all, as many as four different starting points can be identified, especially now that places like Ulvenhout and Prinsenbeek are also part of the municipality. Present-day Breda was liberated by no less than seven different units, five Polish, one English and one Canadian. If we had to summarise a complicated story, it comes down to the fact that two Polish tank battalions advanced from the direction of Dorst to near the railway station, while two infantry battalions surrounded the city to the south, and one entered the city itself. The Canadians, together with the British, advanced even further south across what is now the Graaf Engelbertlaan.

So, historically, this area was definitely important for the liberation of Breda, but it is certainly not unique in this.

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Crossing Generaal Maczekstraat-Eggestraat