This route will take you through parts of Groningen and various towns where you will discover the stories of the Polish liberators and civilians of this area. Learn about the resistance of civilians in Muntendam and how they took matters into their own hands to be liberated. Continue on to Siddeburen where the German army tried one last attack to defeat the Polish forces. Cycle through beautiful landscapes and read about the sacrifices both civilians and soldiers made during the final stages of the Second World War.

The Netherlands

Liberation of Pekela

Cromwell tanks van het 2e tankeskadron van het 10e verkenningsregiment in veendam kort na de bevrijding. Op de trap ritmeester jan salwa.

Polish Cycling Route Groningen

On Thursday evening 12 April 1945, Winschoten residents witnessed the fleeing of a large number of 'Landwachters' (Dutch paramilitary organisation founded by the German occupation forces). The 'Landwachters' tried to get to safety across the border but were soon turned back in Germany. There was renewed excitement in Winschoten on Friday morning when shells were placed near the pillars of the bridges.The German soldiers, who had set up light artillery at the Winschoter Hoogebrug early in the morning, were forming a front here that held back the Allies for two days. They had also set up artillery on Beertsterweg and made machine-gun nests near Zuiderveen. Winschoten would not fall into Allied hands without a fight. On Friday afternoon the first artillery duel took place: shells flew over Winschoten and there were casualties.On Saturday 14 April, the violence of war continued. The German soldiers had placed artillery in the countryside between Winschoten and Hoogebrug and shots were heard almost continuously all day. Meanwhile, the Dutch national tricolour flag had been seen hoisted in nearby Oude Pekela and Polish troops had reportedly advanced to the Zuiderveen bridge and to the 'Hoogebrug'.Yet the expected storm attack by the Polish 1st Armored Division and Belgian commandos on Winschoten failed to materialise. The advancing Allies thought that Winschoten was still strongly occupied by German troops. On Saturday afternoon, about a dozen Allied planes with Polish crews appeared, attacking the German positions near the Winschoter Hoogebrug with bombs and machine gun fire. Not only was the German artillery silenced, but the German troops soon fled in disorder: many on stolen bicycles, others with horses and wagons.In the evening of 14 April, the last German soldiers pulled out of Winschoten having first set fire to the city's grand houses and the Shell office building along the Nieuwe Haven (New Harbour). That night the residents of Winschoten could not sleep because of the screams of the departing German soldiers and the whistling of the Polish shells. The news quickly spread that the German troops had fled, and many inhabitants marched in the pouring rain in the direction of Zuiderveen and Hoogebrug to welcome the Polish liberators with cheers.Very soon after the departure of the occupying forces, the OrdeDienst (Order Service, military resistance group) of Winschoten came into action. Led by the local commander of the Internal Armed Forces, the resistance ensured that order was maintained and that Nationaal-Socialistische Beweging (Dutch National Socialist Movement) members and other country traitors were rounded up and locked up. In cooperation with the newly appointed "Military Authority," measures were taken to keep public life running smoothly to allow all services to function and to keep the joy of liberation from erupting too violently.

The liberation of Winschoten

German troops had set up the village of Wagenborgen as a defence to protect Delfzijl from the advancing Polish and Canadian forces for as long as possible. The defence of Wagenborgen consisted of a mixture of German paratroopers, Wehrmacht, SS, Luftwaffe personnel and fresh Kriegsmarine battalions from Emden, Germany. The defence of the 'Delfzijl Pocket' was clearly in favour of the German troops, with most of the terrain being flat polder land. MG 42 machine guns were set up in farms and trenches in and around Wagenborgen, and were considered the most lethal weapon (1200 shots per minute!).The occupiers prohibited civilians from leaving Wagenborgen to keep the German positions secret from the Canadian troops. However, because the German troops were very tense and constantly thought they were being shelled by 'partisans and terrorists', accidents sometimes happened. On the night of Tuesday 17 April 1945, a German patrol was disturbed. Several shots followed and an MG 42 was deployed. In fact, a cow or dog had likely been mistaken for the enemy. The tense attitude made it imperative for civilians to exercise extreme caution so as not to arouse suspicion.The 'Monument 1940-1945' in Wagenborgen was erected in memory of 27 Canadian servicemen and thirteen fellow civilians killed by acts of war.Portrait of a liberatorJan Dobras was born on 18 December 1905 in the Polish village of Reduczyce, asimple village where many peasants lived and poverty was high. He grew up with two sisters and a brother and after leaving school he went to work on his father's small farm. After the death of his wife, he moved to France where he became a painter. He had little contact with his family: he was not a regular writer but the family in Poland knew that life was good for Dobras in France. After Germany invaded Poland and France became involved in the war, Jan joined the Polish army. He was assigned to the Strzelcow Podhalankisch Infantry Battalion, stationed near Brittany.In April 1940 Dobras was embarked with his unit and sailed for Norway. Between 10 and 15 April 1940, they fought at Narvik to keep the route towards England, the Lofoten and Murmansk open. It was an unequal battle, and 79 Polish soldiers died in a vain attempt to defend the town of Narvik.The Polish troops returned to France on 4 May 1940, but had to leave the country after a battle. Almost all Polish soldiers were stationed in Scotland, where for many years they prepared to be deployed. After the Allied invasion of Normandy on D-Day, Polish troops marched through France via Normandy. In August 1944, they fought hard near Falaise where about two thousand Polish soldiers died on Mount Ormel.Dobras' unit arrived in Breda, Netherlands, via Belgium and Zeeuws-Vlaanderen, Netherlands. In early April 1945, the unit was ordered to Coevorden for the further advance towards Germany. Together with Alfred Czesny, from the same native region, Dobras enjoyed the surroundings that somewhat resembled home.On 15 April 1945, the Polish soldiers came under heavy fire while doing reconnaissance in Wagenborgen. While recuperating in 't Waar, Dobras and Częsny were hit by shrapnel. Dobras died immediately behind the vehicle on which he was doing maintenance, and Częsny died of his wounds two days later.

The battle in Wagenborgen

On 13 April 1945, thirteen Polish tanks under the command of Rittmeister Jan Salwa drove into Veendam without a struggle. Due to fuel shortages of some of their vehicles, they stayed there for two days until fuel was brought. On 15 April Salwa's tanks left Veendam, and Canadian troops followed them. Despite his brief presence there, Salwa was never forgotten in Veendam.Like other Polish liberators unable or unwilling to return home, Salwa's life also took a different turn. His unit carried out occupation duties in Germany until 1947. On 13 June 1947, he married Helena Kotorska in Tinnen, Emsland, where his squadron was stationed,. When his squadron was disbanded, he returned to a camp in England where former soldiers were prepared for civilian life.In 1952, the Salwa couple emigrated to Australia and the former Rittmeister began working for a typewriter manufacturer.In 1970, at the invitation of the Municipal Council, Salwa returned once more to Veendam to attend the festivities surrounding the celebration of 25 years of liberation. On that occasion, the square near the Sorghvliethal was named after him and he himself unveiled the street sign. In 1985 he was appointed an Honorary Citizen of Veendam.

The tragedy of the Polish liberators

The battle to liberate the north of the Netherlands progressed. Assen was liberated 12 to 13 April 1945 and in the city of Groningen German troops ceased fighting on 16 April. Nevertheless, it was not over yet. The occupying forces held out for a long time in Delfzijl. The town was easy to defend because of the flat land with good visibility and little cover, and the many ditches, canals, lakes and flooded areas were also useful. The German defence of the surrounded area, the 'Delfzijl Pocket', was aimed at catching fleeing, German soldiers. These had been driven forward by the Canadian troops' advance and wanted to be ferried across to the other side of the River Ems to Germany.At the time, the Polish and Canadian forces did not succeed in advancing towards Delfzijl, and they got no further than Noordbroek. From there, they moved in three directions. One group went to Siddeburen, which was liberated without a struggle on 15 April.In Siddeburen, a Canadian unit of about 25 soldiers withdrew for recuperation leave in Zuidlaren. A handful of Polish soldiers were left to secure the village against German punctures. The Polish troops were billeted in café De Witte Linden and had their attention focused on the northern edge of the village. The local resistance was asked to help guard the village at night. A defence plan was drawn up in the café, which was converted into a command post.This proved to indeed be necessary, as on the night before the Führer's birthday (20 April), a German combat group snuck into Siddeburen from Tjuchem, Meedhuizen and Wagenborgen. They were well armed with anti-tank grenades and flares, among other things. In the middle of the night, fighting broke out throughout the village. Ground attacks were supported by artillery shells fired from the Wagenborgen and Delfzijl area. That night, Corporal Kazimierz Zalcer and soldiers Janusz Wisniewski and Karol Pryszcz were killed. Only at dawn did the German forces retreat.Two members of the resistance were also ultimately killed: Jan Oostindiër and Willem Balkema. Their names are on the monument on Viskenijstraat in Siddeburen.

A last attack in Siddeburen

On Monday 16 April 1945, two groups of carriers and a platoon of the Polish 1st Company of the Hunters of Podhalen moved towards Nieuwolda. The extreme north-eastern triangle of the Netherlands, around Delfzijl, was still occupied and the advance stalled at Lutje-Maar, where the canal was heavily defended by German troops. The fierce battle in north-east Groningen was largely due to the German Atlantic Wall, which the Ems and Dollard coast was part of . Remnants of this defensive wall can still be found in Nansum, Delfzijl and Termunten (Fiemel). From their batteries, German soldiers defended the last piece of occupied Netherlands with all their might. During the battle, 88 civilians, 102 Canadian and 185 German soldiers ultimately lost their lives. The surrounding villages were heavily damaged and the population had to flee. Hundreds of people sought refuge in the direction of Winschoten and Finsterwolde, which had already been liberated. Only during the night of 1 to 2 May did the German troops give up their resistance and silently disappeared to the other side of the Ems to continue the battle.  A plaque on the Protestant Church in Nieuwolda pays tribute to the Polish liberators.Eggo Hillinga The last weeks of war in north-eastern Groningen were dramatic, but as they say, love conquers all. At the time, Eggo Hillinga, a boy from Nieuwe Statenzijl was dating a girl who lived in Hongerige Wolf near Finsterwolde. Her name was Geertje, the youngest daughter of Roelf Borgert de Vries and Geertje Nanninga. At one point, Eggo cycled through the Reiderwolderpolder from occupied to liberated territory, straight through the firing line. A dangerous undertaking, but fortunately there was no shooting. However. on the way back Eggo was caught. German forces put him in a motorbike and sidecar and drove him to Nieuwe Statenzijl. They considered Eggo a spy, although many of the soldiers stationed in the polder knew him well. Only after long deliberation, with the accused in agony, did the German troops decide to let him go and no execution followed.

The battle in north-east Groningen

The Polish scouts reached Nieuwe Pekela in the late afternoon and did not have to fight due to the local resistance's arrangements with the Nationaal Socialistische Beweging (the Dutch National Socialist Movement) and the Landwacht (Dutch paramilitary organization founded by the German occupation forces) in the village. The resistance had vouched for the safety of the NSB and Landwacht provided they laid down their arms in time.After the last German occupiers left Nieuwe Pekela, the resistance waited for the Polish forces at the blown-up Onstwedder bridge. As the advance needed northwards to continue in the direction of Veendam, an emergency bridge was made from prams, planks and packs of straw. It was named 'Bridge no Fire'. After all, smoking was not allowed near it because of the danger of fire. The lighter jeeps and carriers could use the bridge immediately, the heavier tanks had to wait until the engineers reinforced the bridge. On Saturday morning 14 April, Polish troops entered Oude Pekela from Nieuwe Pekela and, together with Belgian soldiers, drove out the German troops. Now all of Pekela was truly liberated and the Dutch flag could be hoisted. A day later the Polish forces left Pekela in a long column and marched on to Winschoten and other more northern places. The Canadian forces took over from the Polish troops in Pekela.

The 'Bridge no Fire'

By 13 April 1945, the last German occupiers had left Muntendam. However, they had still tried to stop the Polish force's advance north through the Netherlands by blowing up the bridge near the brickworks. As a result, five ships arriving could not proceed, and the German troops sank the ships with hand grenades. Some of the ships were loaded with food supplies, a godsend for the Muntendammers, and once the soldiers had disappeared they plundered the ships that had not been completely sunk. Flour, sugar and meat were desirable items for the Muntendammers, however the bulk of the goods were stored by order of the Internal Armed Forces and later distributed as best they could.News that Veendam had been liberated also reached Muntendam. However, the Muntendammers, who anxiously awaited the arrival of the Allies, had to be patient. On 14 April, the Ordedienst (Order Service) therefore decided to take matters into their own hands and acted openly. The first person they captured was the Mayor Heikens, who was from the Nationaal-Socialistische Beweging (NSB), the Dutch National Socialist Movement. He surrendered saying: 'I bet on the wrong horse.' Throughout the day, most of the NSBs from Muntendam were arrested, along with the so-called 'Lüneburgers'. Although there were no Allied soldiers present in Muntendam on 14 April 1945, this day is considered general Liberation Day.LüneburgersOn 5 September 1944 - known as Dolle Dinsdag - it was rumoured that the Allies were about to liberate the Netherlands. Afraid of vengeful compatriots, members of the NSB and other collaborators fled en masse to the eastern Netherlands and the northern German countryside. There, they ended up in farming villages or stayed in refugee camps on the Lüneburg Heath.The housing in the refugee camps was awful, and when NSB leader Mussert visited in late 1944, he promised his comrades that they could soon return to (Northern) Holland. From March 1945, the first were sent back to Groningen. On the transport lists, they were called 'antisocials' and 'Lüneburgers'.

Waiting for liberation 

An element of the Belgian SAS was ordered to move towards the sea via Beerta and Finsterwolde. Near Beerta, they caught up with a German rearguard, which had taken up positions near an isolated farmhouse. Supported by jeeps loaded with machine guns, the Belgians forces attacked the farm and the German troops fled in chaos. That afternoon, a Belgian commander made his way to a crossroads to indicate a new direction for the advance, when suddenly grenades and mortar bombs struck the junction. Fearing that the shelling was a harbinger of a German counterattack, another commander ordered the vehicles to disperse and organise a defence. The residents of Beerta waited tensely for what was to come. They knew that nearby Winschoten had been liberated, but that the petrol depot there had been set on fire by the occupying forces, it had been clearly visible by the glow in the sky. Beerta unfortunately suffered the same fate: the Oosterschool where a lot of ammunition was stored and some other buildings were blown up. On Sunday afternoon, twelve German soldiers moved through the village on bicycles towards Germany. Shortly afterwards, the first Belgian jeeps arrived in Beerta. School headmaster Van Iddekinge sought contact with the Belgian liberators and drew their attention to the Germans who had passed just before. The Belgians advanced cautiously, and after only 300 metres a firefight ensued in which several German soldiers were killed and seven taken prisoner. The prisoners were put in a dry ditch under guard with their hands up. Three escapees were quickly captured. In the early evening, Polish tanks also arrived in Beerta. The Polish commander seemed displeased that the Belgian forces were still in the village, and it was decided to advance further north together immediately along a new route. That night there was great uncertainty among the Polish and Belgian forces, who defended positions near the crossroads at Finsterwolde. Enemy artillery was still active, and two Belgian soldiers were killed. The occupation of Finsterwolde proved difficult, and eventually it was decided to retreat to Oostereinde, whilst only a few outposts in Finsterwolde would remain. In Finsterwolde, a small monument recalls the sacrifices made by the Belgian SAS.