While the German occupiers ransacked the depleted Kerkrade, their artillery fired on the slowly advancing procession of refugees near Imstenrade as soon as the temporary truce was over. Shells struck the defenceless and unprotected people from the left and the right. Thirteen people were killed and dozens were injured.

In retrospect, it has to be said that the evacuation was completely pointless. Without any significant resistance, the Americans entered the still-occupied part of Kerkrade on 5 October. Nearly three weeks later, the evacuated Kerkrade residents were allowed to return to their homes. They found utter chaos there, and many houses were uninhabitable.