After the liberation of the city of Groningen on April 16, 1945, few expected that it would take more than two more weeks before the entire province was liberated. In what the Canadians called the Delfzijl Pocket, thousands of German soldiers held out in strongly fortified positions around Delfzijl, Nansum, Fiemel, and Termunten.
The battle began on April 21 near Wagenborgen, where the Canadians met fierce and unexpected resistance. Advancing through Appingedam and Holwierde, they slowly pushed toward Delfzijl. The front line cut straight through villages, bridges were destroyed, and hundreds of soldiers were killed.
Only on May 1, 1945, did the Germans in Delfzijl finally surrender. The next day, the last resistance in Farmsum and Weiwerd came to an end. The province of Groningen was liberated — marking the final major battle fought on Dutch soil. During this walk, we follow the route of the Canadian troops in Delfzijl and visit locations where the traces of the fighting in April 1945 can still be seen today.
Address
Kornputplein 1. 9934EA Delfzijl
