French paratroopers in action!

In early April 1945, the liberation of the northern Netherlands began to take shape. The Canadian 2nd Army Corps advanced along the Coevorden-Meppel line. In support, Operation Amherst was launched on 7 April 1945. Led by General James Michael Calvert, the operation aimed to create confusion, gather information and secure strategic locations such as junctions and bridges.  

Over seven hundred French paratroopers were dropped in the area between Assen, Emmen and Meppel during the night of 7 April. The pilots had to fly in poor visibility, relying on their instruments and radar guidance. This did not go well for unknown reasons, causing many paratroopers to miss their drop point. Several soldiers became separated from their Stick, the unit in which they operated.

The Sticks that were to land in drop zones 15 and 16 ended up in the border area between Friesland and Drenthe, near Appelscha and Oosterwolde. Among them were Captain Pierre Sicaud and Lieutenant Duno. In the woods around Appelscha, Captain Sicaud soon came across the local resistance group “De Knokploeg Noord-Drenthe”, and they joined up to work together.

On 10 April 1945, Captain Sicaud decided to occupy the Stokersverlaat bridge across the Opsterlandse Compagnonsvaart in Appelscha. The bridge was an important link for the retreating German troops. From an observation post on the roof of the Mulder family’s home, the paratroopers saw a German car approaching the bridge. French soldiers opened fire, after which the car came to a stop. One wounded German soldier managed to escape, and two others were blown up with the car by a hand grenade. Not much later, another group of German soldiers was taken prisoner. Among them were many boys aged 17 and 18. After several other incidents around the bridge, Canadian units entered Appelscha on Friday, 13 April, liberating it.