The Battle of Groningen (1945) - The Last Major City Battle during the Liberation of the Netherlands

The Battle of Groningen (Liberation of Groningen) occured in 1945 when the liberation of the Netherlands was almost completed. The Canadian soldiers fought against last-ditch German troops among which Dutch and Belgian Waffen-SS volunteers. In this video you will learn about another forgotten WW2 battle.
History Hustle presents: The Battle of Groningen (1945) - The Last Major City Battle during the Liberation of the Netherlands.
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SOURCES
- www.battlefieldtours.nu/infor... (04-10-2022).
- www.groningen4045.nl/75-verha... (04-10-2022).
- historiek.net/de-bevrijding-v... (04-10-2022).
- www.nationaalarchief.nl/belev... (04-10-2022).
- www.rtvnoord.nl/nieuws/198224... (04-10-2022).
- De bosatlas van de Tweede Wereldoorlog (Eelco Beukers).
IMAGES
Images from commons.wikimedia.org.
VIDEO
Video material from:
openbeelden.nl/media/961346/B...
Bevrijding stad Groningen (ingekleurd door Rudy Marsman in 2016)
"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."
MUSIC
"Crossing the Chasm" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
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"Devastation and Revenge" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
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SOUNDS
Freesound.org.

[@HistoryHustle]

Liberation of the Netherlands: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZiYeHh7gtl2qas Forgotten WWII Battles PLAYLIST: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q5uwp5Wvbsqni9E

[@marcoskehl]

🇧🇷 Obrigado, Stefan! Dankjewel!

[@tigercap100]

This is where my ancestry is from My grandfather came to the USA.

[@HistoryHustle]

👍

[@soldaatak4738]

This my city 🙂

[@MaxSluiman]

Well done! Groninger here. One can still see the marks of Canadian machine gun bullets in the walls of the city hall.

[@MasterWooten]

Dankuwell! I love Groningen and as a Canadian having been there I can't thank you enough for this shout out to the Canadian Army for its liberation of this awesome university town!

[@gibraltersteamboatco888]

The Men of Maple Leaf Bold they were, the combatants we knew How deep our sympathy for them grew South they came and fought their way Memory engraved is that glorious day Lives squandered, precious blood shed Our want for freedom was finally met There was scarely time to fraternize The battle went on, at high a price In the actions brave ones would fall Facing their losses the men stood tall It took three days to clear the town Dislodging the enemy beyond our bounds Stricken by panic some fled to the shore Deserted or were scattered to the four Many fighting wearied, surrendered fast Our war torn hometown was freed at last Smouldering ruins were marking the place Where battering damaged her ancient face Peace returned, the yoke of ware was gone Thanks to the Canadians, a tough task done To commemorate them we dedicate a forest yet Maple leaves fell for us, lest we forget. -J. Piëst On display at the Canadian embassy in the Netherlands. The Dutch have a great admiration for you Canadians.

[@7697boem]

As a certified Dutchie, we thank the 🍁!

[@cbradiochannel.19-whiskyalfa]

Mijn moeder was in 1940 16 jaar en komt uit de stad Groningen. Zij heeft zelfs vastgezeten in het Scholten huis. En heeft aan mij vele gruwelijke verhalen verteld over de bezetting en zelfs gruwelijkheden van na de bevrijding

[@HistoryHustle]

Wat heftig! Wat heeft ze je zoal verteld (als je dat wilt delen).

[@jelleoord16]

I live in Groningen at the moment as a student en just recently found out that you're still able to see signs of the battle that took place. For example, the base of the Martinitoren is still covered in bullet holes. You can see them as well in the walls of the town hall at de Grote Markt.

[@gibraltersteamboatco888]

Very good. BZ. Groningen created a living monument to the Canadian liberators of the Netherlands, a forest of 30,000 maple trees. Dutch citizens purchased trees to plant in a woodland that was the scene of resistance activity during the war. On May 5, 1995, the Liberation Forest was officially unveiled.

[@tttyuhbbb9823]

🍁🍁🍁🌲🍁🍁🍁

[@gibraltersteamboatco888]

@@tttyuhbbb9823👍

[@fallyn2920]

i spoke to someone years back that had a shell explode in her home as a child at Noorderplantsoen and how scary the fighting was. There's still bullet holes to be seen in many surviving buildings such as the mayor's office and Martini tower.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for sharing.

[@tonyvanhout2394]

Thanks for posting, my parents come from Heeze and Geldrop, they moved to New Zealand in the late 50's, mum was born at the start of the war, dad was 5, they only tell you small bits about what happened

[@Fukenbumen]

Ladies and Gentlemen: The Dutch Mark Felton is here Bedankt voor deze video, nooit geweten dat de bevrijding van mijn studentenstad zo heftig was.

[@HistoryHustle]

Dank! Mooie stad. Leuk dat je er gestudeerd hebt. Hangt een goede sfeer!

[@alswann2702]

Mark Felton's a raving anti Catholic. Typical Brit.

[@tonnywildweasel8138]

One minute he's in Greece, the next he's in my home province of Groningen :-) Great video again Stefan!! A special thanks to you this time 👍👍 Groet'n oet Grun', Tonny.

[@HistoryHustle]

Glad you appreciated it. Thanks!

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

My family is from Maastricht, the 1st liberated city of the Netherlands. Will you also make a video about that?

[@HistoryHustle]

One day. Also I stilk have to cover the 1940 battle.

[@dannyaeissing5665]

Super toffe video weer! Ik woon zelf in Bellingwolde, een klein dorpje in het oosten van Groningen. Wij zijn hier bevrijd door de Poolse strijdkrachten. In 2020, ter nagedachtenis aan 75 jaar bevrijding hebben we hier in het buurthuis oude films gezien die (stiekem) opgenomen waren door dorpsbewoners en door Poolse strijdkrachten. Zeer indrukwekkend, om te zien. Super video en ga zo door Stefan!!

[@HistoryHustle]

Bedankt voor je reactie.

[@jonnymac8925]

My Grandfather and Great Grandfather took part in the Battle of Delfzijl on April 27th, 1945 until the very end. He was very proud to have helped capture between 1500-1700 Nazis in 3 days. The Cape Breton Highlanders lost a few men during that battle (19 dead and 54 wounded if I remember correctly) which was quite sad seeing as how the war ended just a few days later.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for sharing this.

Another great episode on a not well known battle. Great work Stefan!

[@HistoryHustle]

Thank you Lius!

[@Hillbilly001]

Another excellent video, Stefan. Love the channel. Cheers.

[@HistoryHustle]

Awesome Paul. Thanks!

[@jamesbodnarchuk3322]

My Dad was in the Netherlands as a Sapper in the Canadian armed forces at that time

[@jamesbodnarchuk3322]

He very rarely talked about his time in Western Europe 44-47 He did state even tho the war was going on he loved the Netherlands & it’s people❤

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for sharing 🇨🇦👍

[@finnscheringa5415]

I am watching this from my room in the east part of the city. Yesterday it was 78 years ago that they liberate our city. Now days people come from all over Europe to study here and go to collage. That's one of the most important things to realise that those allies and civilians fought for your opportunity to be free in what you want with your future.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for watching Finn!

[@sweyageerlings7253]

I like how you explain all the strategic motives and tactics in such a clear way. Great video!

[@HistoryHustle]

👍👍👍

[@kawythowy867]

Last city in WW2!? Man I love history! Especially WW2 history. Maybe one day I will be able to visit Europe and go to Omaha beach and follow map all the way to Berlin to see The great sad battlefields. GREAT CHANNEL!

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your reply. Groningen 1945 was the last major city battle in the Netherlands during WW2. The last city battle in WW2 would either be in Asia or in Europe: Breslau.

[@kawythowy867]

@@HistoryHustle oh I see. ThAnks for the info kind sir.

[@HistoryHustle]

Here is my video on the Siege of Breslau: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mn65poZvlM6bapo

[@Cab00se90]

Excellent to see, as a Dutch history enthusiast (and Dutch enthusiast in general) I love to see that you are offering this type of content. Looking forward to binging your vids!

[@HistoryHustle]

🥉👍 Many thanks!

[@luxembourgishempire2826]

Maybe one day you could do the liberation of Southern Europe? I love these videos Stefan!

[@HistoryHustle]

Many thanks. Hope to cover more Balkan WW2 history in the future.

[@davidraper5798]

Thankyou. Another well presented video on a subject little known outside of Holland.

[@HistoryHustle]

Many thanks for your reply.

[@kenstrumpf909]

Very interesting. Thanks!

[@HistoryHustle]

Thank you Ken!

[@Dedded00000]

Nice video, bedankt!

[@HistoryHustle]

👍

[@zaynevanday142]

Thanks heaps Stefan that was awesome ❤

[@HistoryHustle]

👍👍👍

[@Hongaars1969]

Love all your work Stefan…

[@HistoryHustle]

Many thanks 👍

[@xvsj5833]

Stefan, great historical update Thank you Sir , ❤ your channel have a wonderful weekend ✌️❤️ : ) Jesse

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks Jesse. Hope you have a good weekend as well.

[@jscatt6123]

Great video Stefan! Good seeing a vid on Canadians in action

[@HistoryHustle]

🇨🇦👍

[@hugosergio5149]

nice vid!

[@HistoryHustle]

👍

[@kressiv]

Very interesting hearing about my home town during ww2. The footage is also really good and it seems like a lot of places really haven't changed that much since then. My late grandfather always had some amazing stories to tell about this period. Keep it up!

[@nickpapagiorgio5056]

Hey professor I am teaching English for a year in Spain and finally settled in and back to watching your channel! Can’t wait to catch up on the many videos I’ve missed and will make sure to give the em all a big thumbs up! This video was fantastic and I must say Groningen is one of my favorite cities in the Netherlands! One of the best grote markt squares in the Netherlands! Mooi! Also I wanted to ask you if you think Groningen geographic location so close to the German border made it such an important and major battle for both sides?? Was this one of the first cities taken by the Germans when they entered the Netherlands back in 1940?

[@andrewfuller9337]

Hi Stefan. I really enjoyed this video. I am a retired British history teacher and two years ago, for personal and philosophical reasons, I moved to Delfzijl. In the video you mention the battle of Delfzijl, so I was wondering if you are intending to do a video about that event as well. I have picked up some information about the Delfzijl Pocket already, mainly in Dutch, which I am learning, and have visited some of the areas where the Canadians were heavily involved, such as Loppersum, Appingedam, Biesum and Nansum, as well as Delfzijl itself. However, I would really like to see a video of yours bringing this all together. Really glad to have found your channel. Success in the future.

[@HistoryHustle]

Hi Andrew, a warm welcome to the channel and thanks for your reply. I hope to cover more on the topic - the Battle of Delftzijl - in the future.

[@bazzakeegan2243]

Great feature Stefan.....You always come up with the goods! 👍🇮🇪🍺

[@HistoryHustle]

Many thanks!

[@robgeerds7659]

As I remember being told about the battle of Groningen it was the Germans that burned down the north side of the Grote Markt covering their retreat. The fuel used was originally intended for the Martini Tower that was used as a communications tower by the Germans during the war. For people visiting Groningen and interested in this history, be sure to look at the back wall of the city hall. There you can see how an experienced Canadian tank gunner used the back wall to intentionally ricochet a shell around the corner of 'het Goudkantoor'

[@janvisser2223]

Ha, dat wist ik niet. Goa es eem' bekiek'n.

[@jurkoning224]

Always a joy to see!

[@HistoryHustle]

👍

[@robertwilliams5082]

Another wonderful & informative video ! Thank you for displaying the correct Canadian flag on the map !!! Well done Sttefan.

[@HistoryHustle]

👍👍👍

[@Postma_hemzelf]

Really nice! I hope you do a video of the Delfzijl pocket! The battle was carried out by the Canadian 5th armoured divion led by major general Bertram Hoffmeister. We still have remains from that period. In Delfzijl there are 2 bunkers from the costal flak battery and behind Termunten there are remains from battery Fiemel. They made an info centrum with pictures and all. Really interesting.

[@jokodihaynes419]

i hope you tell the story of the Battle of Zwolle and Leo major

[@HistoryHustle]

One day for sure!

[@icecoffee1361]

I always enjoy watching history hustle, but when it’s about the Netherlands you’re native country it must be that little more special for you. Interesting episode as always Stefan 🫡

[@HistoryHustle]

Many thanks, Mr. Icecoffee!

[@michelleayres5608]

Thank you, Tik❤️

[@HistoryHustle]

Tik?

[@SierraRomeoPapa]

Would love a video just about the battle of Texel! Having been to the monument of the fallen Georgian soldiers it was somber experience.

[@HistoryHustle]

One day. Cant tell when.

[@stever7066]

Very interesting thanks. I had an uncle in the Canadian Army, don't think his division was at Groningen but nonetheless very informative.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks Steve 🇨🇦👍

[@HowlingWo1f]

Very Interesting, I like when you do history on location, It’s amazing to me how Europe has So many of the same old buildings, And how the streets can so similar to how it was back then.

[@worldwar_history_narrator7451]

Great video! Am from Groningen.

[@HistoryHustle]

Awesome city!

[@henrietteancuta-koning7039]

Dankjewel stefan

[@HistoryHustle]

👍

[@jeroenkoeleman4348]

Weer bedankt voor de vertelling niet vergeten om Groninger koek mee te nemen 😛

[@HistoryHustle]

👍

[@CalebNorthNorman]

Interesting 👍

[@HistoryHustle]

👍

[@Partyaap050]

Would have been cool to show some sights of the fighting, as some buildings in the city centre still have plenty of visible and massive bullet holes. 2:24 the clock tower and city hall (big building on the market square) still have damage. City hall also has a memorial plaque. You shot the intro of this video on the fish market (smaller square bottom left) so it was just a 3 minute walk :(

[@guyhurley9417]

Great history lesson, Stefan! I knew from previous videos that Dutch Waffen-SS fought on the Eastern Front, but the fact that they fought Dutch Resistance Forces in Nederland itself was new to me. How were captured/surrendered Dutch SS treated by the Resistance? I would imagine Geneva Convention rules did not apply!

[@serdradion4010]

Geneva convention did applied on Armed Waffen SS units that did not killed the civilians. In video in stated that SD did the terrorizing.

[@guyhurley9417]

@@serdradion4010 I was specifically referring to the Nederlander vs Nederlander fighting. I would think there was greater animosity against traitors than against foreign fighters.

[@serdradion4010]

@@guyhurley9417 Not exactly the traitors, more like the allies of the occupational government that had some degree of self-government, the temporary government. Followers of the failed idology.

[@victorterheege5462]

@@guyhurley9417 one example I know of for women that let's say 'befriended' german soldiers in an all too pleasing way, they would have had their head's shaved bald and run through the streets as mockery, knowing your village will forever see you as that girl. That is not what you refer to with the dutch traitors, being NSB-ers, but thought it's worth mentioning.

[@janvisser2223]

@@guyhurley9417 Eeh, they, the Dutch collaborators were not always treated according the Geneva Convention, which the other side did not do as well. pay-back time!!

[@Jo_Kuiper]

Fun fact: the Germans were to the west and east of the A church you see in the background at the beginning and end of this video, but there are doors on the south side and north side of it as well, so the custodian opened those doors for the Canadians to go through.

[@mohammedsaysrashid3587]

Most wonderful explaining ✨️ of these events for liberation a city by Canadian & Poland 🇵🇱 🇨🇦 troops besides of local resistant groups...thanks Sir Stefan for sharing this historical coverage episode..good luck for you & history Hustle channel

[@HistoryHustle]

Many thanks for your reply!

[@rivet4431]

I love the Netherlands. I thought I knew a lot about ww2 but I'm learning so much more because of your videos. Respect to you. Hope you visit Devon sometime

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your reply 👍

[@bigsarge2085]

Interesting!

[@HistoryHustle]

👍

[@jonathangat4765]

I thank you for making videos which allow all of us to learn the proper pronounciation of Dutch names. I always knew we English speakers were butchering the Dutch language, but I never knew the extent.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your reply.

[@MG-gv2mv]

Leuke content en benieuwd naar de slag of Delfzijl video als Delfzijlster

[@HistoryHustle]

Dank! Wellicht iets voor de toekomst!

[@thilgu]

Still many scars from the war if you know where to look! The Advance from the Rabenhauptstraat to the City center has some remains even to this day. Bullet holes in walls and German grafiti can be found.

[@sirdarklust]

Thanks for this one. I'd like to hear more about the liberation of The Nederlands, as all that is really talked about is Operation Din Dong Market Garden and, maybe, the famine in Rotterdam. Take care.

[@HistoryHustle]

👍

[@matthewwhitton5720]

Very enlightening, Stefan. My word, the Netherlands certainly immensely, becoming a starved and bombed battleground between SO many armies. The civilians must’ve suffered dreadfully. Very sad.

[@HistoryHustle]

Agree.

[@hetgenie]

I had no idea, thanks for this video! I have a deep interest in WWII -- this part of liberating our country is a blank spot for me

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for watching.

[@freaky.studio]

My father, fighting as a partizan, told me the Canadians were surprised about the fierce and tough attitude of the Germans. After two days the Canadians were done with time consuming and high risc attacks of houses and started to use flamethrowers. After “a while” the occupiers had seen their troops being killed in such a horrible way and decided to stop their fighting. Ofcourse, other factors like ammunition were also important but those who experienced the usage of flamethrowers did not need much time to surrender.

[@juliefriedrichs1979]

Always a place I wanted to get to when I was there but next time. One of my favourite countries I've been to. I'm bias though. My husband is Dutch (from Limburg).

[@HistoryHustle]

👍

[@spicykokosnoot7115]

live really close to delfzijl found some pretty awesome stuff from the battle same for texel where my gf is from

[@HistoryHustle]

Cool! Hope to cover that in the future one day.

[@NeonGen2000]

No way the History Hustler was in Groningen?! Hope you liked you stay!

[@HistoryHustle]

Short but nice 👍

[@wooder2643]

I would love to hear about the battle of Delfzijl

[@HistoryHustle]

One day for sure!

[@RobbertN]

Groningen is the beste city in the Netherlands, because we got eierballen!

[@HistoryHustle]

Great city indeed!

[@Hooibeest2D]

Haha my father in law makes them, they call him Appie eierbal 😂

[@nathanvandenbosch1169]

Can you make a video about the liberation of Veenendaal?

[@HistoryHustle]

Was there a battle at that time? You know that?

[@nathanvandenbosch1169]

@@HistoryHustle there was indeed fighting between the ss and allies/domestic forces! I think Veenendaal was the last to be liberated, except for Schiermonnikoog!

[@tsfbulldog]

Kom uit Delfzijl er is nog zoveel meer te vertellen over batterij fiemel.. baterij nansum en Delfzijl zelf... veel Duiters staken via de eems over naar Emden.. zou je jou complete video voor kunnen maken en als je nog nooit in fiemel bent geweest (punt van reide) zeker een aanrader

[@HistoryHustle]

Zeker iets voor in de toekomst.

[@alswann2702]

I'd love to see you cover the events depicted in the movie The Black Book. I'm curious as to how much the movie got right.

[@HistoryHustle]

Interesting. But I don't do movie reviews. Sorry.

[@xenasmits3503]

goede docu vraag zou je ooit zo iets kunnen maken over de betuwe en mijn stad(je) huissen?? (huussen is de uitspraak)

[@HistoryHustle]

Wat heeft daar gespeeld in het verleden? Collega van mij komt daar vandaan.

[@Jeffrey_JAD]

Interesting video but slightly short. Perhaps more details on the performance of the the various components of the German forces would have been interesting - were the European SS units still keen on fighting for Germany?

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks. Actually I wasn't really able to find that much about this battle sadly..

[@davidclaassen6977]

My grandmother lived at Parkweg 111 close to the bridge. Het father wrote in his diary that the Canadians chose to bring a kind of heavy gun to blast a way over the bridges. Her 3 year old brother even ran into the street during a lull in the fighting only to be hurried in side again by watching Canadian soldiers down the street. During the night wheny grandmother came out of the cellar her bedroomwindownwas smashed and a piece of shell lay on her bed. Unfortunately right before her door a Canadian soldier with the name Red got killed and we have pictures of his body under a blanket. Another soldier named Gilbert came inside the home and we have a picture of my gran and her brother on the lap of this soldier. Lest we forget

[@fredfranssen9387]

My grandfather, a chief petty officer (adjudant) in the Dutch regular army, was commander of the Dutch internal forces (Binnenlandse Strijdkrachten) at the time of the liberation of Groningen. According to him, their contribution was limited due to the strength of the German defenders. Their attack started at the Herenweg, the main road between the south part of the city (Helpman) and the city centre. Halfway they had to retreat through the garden behind the house of a well know local shopkeeper (Siere de Koning) who had collaborated with the Germans during the war and felt guildy. Serving the BS-boys with brandy and cigars, he helped them to look for shelter when the Germans started their counter attack. Anyway, my grand dad was decorated and felt very proud on his knighthood for the rest of his live. He had seen war enough at the beginning in May 1940 as a deputy commander of the machinegun group of the 12th regiment infantry, at the time stationed in Bergen North Holland. They helped to shoot down several transport planes at the coastal line.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for sharing this.

[@ilijapilipovic]

Always like! Hilsen fra Norge!

[@HistoryHustle]

👍

[@Mr.Capricorn11]

My Grandfather fought in The Battle of Groningen. There he met and married my Grandmother, who "did her part" by volunteering for Red Cross.

[@camilla_k97]

All familiar houses and streets. I live in Groningen for almost 5 years, being born very far from Europe. Bedankt 🇳🇱 Groeten uit Grunn!

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your reply!

[@danielbolt8730]

My home town

[@HistoryHustle]

👍

[@nerozero8266]

👍

[@HistoryHustle]

👍

[@PedroRodrigues-je6xp]

I live here lol, greetings from a Portuguese!

[@HistoryHustle]

👍

[@DeDoentje]

Groningen is still scarred this day because of the fighting during the liberation. To bad they went with “de vaart der volkeren” and building all kinds of new buildings instead of rebuilding the houses. The Grote Markt would look so much better than it is today. The Scholtenshuis can be replaced by the buildings before that thing went up.

[@HistoryHustle]

I agree, the Grote Markt isn't the prettiest square.

[@enfielddnepr]

Toch bijzonder hoe de binnenstad grotendeels weer in oude stijl is herbouwd. Raar om in de stad te lopen en te beseffen wat hier allemaal gebeurd is..

[@HistoryHustle]

Mij viel op dat de Grote Markt voor een deel 'modern' herbouwd is.

[@enfielddnepr]

@@HistoryHustle Voor een deel, yup..

[@Hooibeest2D]

My grandmother lived on the main square during the war. Het old house was shot to bits by a Canadian tank. During the 50 yr liberation festival, she got to met one of the veterans who drove the tank and shot her house. The man always wondered if there where people in the house and what happend to them. My grandmother ensured him she never took blame upon the liberators. They both told their story on national television but that's not digital available. Luckily my grandmother and lots of other families evacuated the city center after the Germans placed mines and traps, bombs and blockades. Even the nsb/ collaborator major begged the Germans to save the city center. All they did is take the mines and snipers out of the ancient church tower. Before the war, my grandmothers family had a store and a big 16th century house. The city center only had old buildings and now.. or what my oma used to say luckily we still got the pictures! And that's true, I saw here old house twice in the images shown in this. Thanks Stephan for the story!!

[@aidankitson7877]

I know about the Estonians( watched a brilliant movie about it) I'm more curious about West European SS such as French, Dutch etc fighting their countrymen

[@HistoryHustle]

Dutch did in Belgium. French SS volunteers retreated from Berlin, ran into French Free forces and were executed shortly after.

[@johanvandermeulen9696]

Dutch SS did not fight their countrymen. They fought against bolchevism.

[@HistoryHustle]

Some did, others looked for adventure and others were Nazis. Besides, Landstorm Nederland (which was Dutch Waffen-SS) fought against the Western Allies in both Belgium and NL.

[@strap-onmonkey5096]

I dont know if you are aware but the soldier on this videos cover image is not Dutch or Belgian, he is in fact Swedish. Division Wiking volunteer SS-sturmmann Hans Lindén. . :) He served in SS-Flak-Abteilung 5 and was wounded on the Mius-front. He died of his wounds on December 30 in 1941 only 19 years old.

[@HistoryHustle]

Interesting. Thanks for sharing.

[@strap-onmonkey5096]

@@HistoryHustle Thanks for the interesting content! Keep it coming!

[@lordsjaak]

uit dagboek van mijn overgrootmoeder van mijn oma's kant was ze gevlucht naar de dorp schuilbunker terwijl haar boerderij werd geraakt door Canadezen. toen mijn oma gehoord over de familie boerderij ze ging meteen van Amsterdam naar Bierum. want mijn oma moest verzet groepen in Amsterdam omdat die groepen waren verraden erdoor. maar gelukkig hebben ze allemaal overleefd de oorlog en na de strijd bij Bierum gingen maar overgrootmoeder en de rest maar aardappel rooien want tja er was werk te doen bij de boerderij. ik vond wel indrukwekkend want de dagboek beschreven in 28 maart t/m 7 mei. ze heeft dit geschreven om trauma verwerken. eigenlijk ook goed dat zij deed want aantal jaren later heb ik uit verhalen van mijn ooms en tantes mijn overgrootmoeder met alzheimer getroffen en het zelfde lot kwam bij mijn oma. dus ik moest van het verhalen te horen. de boerderij is wel her opgebouwd en ook in gebruik als functie maar het blijft echt uniek verhaal. als je dat wilt lezen? ik wil best naar je toe mailen als je interesse hebt Stefan?

[@jacobmassey183]

I used to own an unfired 7.92 x 57 mauser bullet pulled from a canal right outside where I used to live in groningen. I like to imagine an SS soldier dropped the box in the canal during the final battle in 1945. I'm not sure how common these finds are but if anyone has a deeper knowledge of the battle I'd love to know more about why / how it might have ended up there.

[@phlm9038]

I don't know anything about this battle. But are you sure the soldier this unfired Mauser bullet belonged to is not burried under the muddy ground of the canal ?🧐

[@noobtubephails]

I really find these last ditch defenses fascinating. I don't see why you would sacrifice your life when the whole thing was pretty much over.

[@jokodihaynes419]

The battle of Groningen was like a dutch stalingrad

[@johanvandermeulen9696]

come on, Stalingrad was much heavier.

[@HistoryHustle]

I think this comparison goes a little bit too far. Stalingrad was too enormous for this battle.

[@Stormattack89]

Is ie ook in het Nederlands?

[@HistoryHustle]

Binnenkort.

[@tsar389]

Isn't the battle of Texel the one that saw the Georgian Wehrmacht Legion and Dutch resistance fight against the Germans

[@HistoryHustle]

True but not a city battle.

[@julianshepherd2038]

Well done Canada

[@HistoryHustle]

🇨🇦👍

[@stansfieldmcelroy]

When i was visiting a friend in Bremen I drove and smoked some pot in Groningen. Nice stuff for sure, almost as good as here in Canada

[@HistoryHustle]

👍

[@Occident.]

Only losers smoke that sh*t.

[@thomasdoubting]

"Zo, you want'Z to eat❔️ What a coincidence; the *Waffen SS* haß der food❕️"

[@HistoryHustle]

lol

[@PatGilliland]

The civilians always get the worst of urban fighting.

[@HistoryHustle]

Depends. In a basement you can hold out for a while. As a soldier you have to go into the line of fire.

[@KillaJNL]

uut grunn heh :p

[@HistoryHustle]

👍

[@viko1180]

Next episode: The battle of the Delfzijl Pocket 😉

[@HistoryHustle]

Too bad I couldn't make it in this trip. One day in the future for sure.

[@tittevissers3437]

Je kan het gedrag van Nederland tijdens wo2 moeilijk als een heldendaad beschrijven.

[@HistoryHustle]

Beschrijf 'het gedrag' van Nederland in zijn geheel.

[@basketbalnumer1153]

De groente uit grunn

[@HistoryHustle]

👍

[@Nietzman]

A pity you just stand on the vismarkt, there are still quite some traces that you could have shown.

[@HistoryHustle]

Please explain.

[@Schwello.]

GRONINGENNNNN

[@HistoryHustle]

👍

[@clanseller55]

my grandma started smoking just after the battle of groningen she was around 14 or 15 at the time and got sigarettes from canadian soldiers celebrating

[@tttyuhbbb9823]

😂😂😂🤣😅😅😅

[@aidankitson7877]

Did Dutch SS fight Free Dutch forces? Did any western SS unit fight their countrymen?

[@HistoryHustle]

Estonians did. As for the Dutch it happened in Belgium.

[@johanvandermeulen9696]

What other could they do? Saying: beloved members of the Interior Forces, we surrender to you and your English commanders?

[@HistoryHustle]

That's what they could've done yes. It is true Prince Bernhard wanted to execute 200 who surrendered but Prinses Irene Brigade commander forbade this.