On 10 April 1945, the Polish 10th Regiment Dragoons led by Lieutenant-Colonel Zgorzelski moved from Coevorden towards Emmen, encountering the Oranje Canal along the way. At Noordbarge, southwest of Emmen, the German troops had set up a defence near the Emmerbrug (Emmerbridge) that was reinforced with bunkers, and they blew up the bridge with a big explosion.

Sixteen Polish tanks and some 80 men engaged the German occupiers, who had entrenched themselves in bunkers, foxholes and positions in and near the farms, dairy and houses of Noordbarge. The Polish forces had to cross the Orange Canal under cover of tank fire. Once a bridgehead had been established on the other side of the canal, it was up to the engineers to build a bridge. Depite being liberated, the village of Noordbarge also mourned deeply: seventeen farms and barns were either destroyed or set on fire during the battle for its liberation.

The 1st Armoured Regiment led by Lieutenant-Colonel Stefanowicz was the first to reach Emmen on 10 April, and by around 17:00 the whole of Emmen was in the hands of the Polish liberators. Other places like Nieuw-Weerdinge and Emmer-Compascuum were liberated shortly afterwards without much struggle.

In Noordbarge, freedom was celebrated so exuberantly that the Marechaussee and Ordedienst (Dutch Royal Military Constabulary and the Order Service) had to send the party-goers home in the evening. The next day, the celebration continued. Polish soldiers passed by in decorated wagons, the Wilhelmus (Dutch national anthem) was sung and the Dutch flag was solemnly raised. Despite the mourning, the joy of liberation was great.