​​The attack began on the evening of March 24, when the 7th Battalion of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (7 A&SH), a Scottish regiment within the British 15th Division, launched an assault on the village from the south. Their previous success in nearby villages, such as Speldrop, gave way to unexpectedly fierce resistance in Bienen. German Panzergrenadiers and Fallschirmjäger, backed by self-propelled guns, defended the village with deadly efficiency. 

​The first assault by B Company quickly turned into a disaster. A platoon led by Lieutenant Maxwell vanished after attempting to storm a German-held farmhouse occupied by approximately 50 soldiers. Major Morton, the company commander, was gravely wounded, along with all of his platoon leaders. With mounting casualties and no progress, B Company was forced to retreat. 

​Under cover of darkness, D Company attempted a renewed assault. As they advanced, they were met by intense machine-gun fire. Despite fierce hand-to-hand combat with bayonets, they managed to take a small farmhouse at the southwest edge of Bienen. However, further movement into the village was impossible. A final push by A Company, supported by tanks, was also repelled. By morning, the Argylls had suffered devastating losses—seven officers and 96 men—without securing control of the village. 

​With the Argylls severely depleted, the responsibility for capturing Bienen fell to the Canadian North Nova Scotia Highlanders (North Novas), part of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division. Their assault was part of Operation ASTER and began around 9:00 AM on March 25, preceded by an artillery barrage and smoke screens. However, even before they could begin their attack, the North Novas came under heavy fire. 

​The first wave quickly stalled due to fierce German resistance and poor coordination among the attacking platoons. Only in the afternoon, after regrouping and bringing in additional tanks, artillery, and flamethrowers, were C and D Companies able to fight their way into the village. The fighting was brutal, with the Canadians advancing from house to house under constant fire. 

​By early evening, A and B Companies entered to clear the rest of Bienen, facing entrenched German troops and counterattacks supported by armor. Around 6:15 PM, the Germans launched a last-ditch counteroffensive, knocking out two Canadian Shermans. This assault was repelled thanks to the swift response of 17-pounder anti-tank guns from the 3rd Canadian Anti-Tank Regiment.  

​By midnight, Bienen was largely in Allied hands. But the cost was staggering: the North Novas lost 42 men killed and 79 wounded. The village was secured, but at a heavy price. 

​The battle for Bienen stands as one of the most intense engagements faced by Canadian forces after D-Day. It marked a critical moment in the Allied push toward Germany—but one paid for with blood and courage.