Fire behind the Grollerholt as harbinger of freedom

During the night, French paratroopers had been dropped in the area. Groll residents were anxiously awaiting what was to come. It could take hours, or even days. Would the fighting make it to the village after all? Or would the Germans choose to flee? The machine guns only announced that liberation was coming.

People living behind 't Grollerholt, in particular, had to deal with terrifying scenes. Canadian troops advanced from Schoonloo. They were met by some Germans who had holed up near the home of forester Meutstege and Veenhoven's farm, which resulted in a fierce firefight. A Meiringh's farm was soon engulfed in flames, followed by the houses of A. Enting and K. Veenhoven.

It was a terrible sight and the people of Grolloo saw the horrors of war at close range. The residents of the affected farms had fled to neighbours or took shelter in their basements. A veritable shower of bullets descended on the burning houses, but there were no casualties.

The situation was very tense, however, and it remained that way until Thursday 12 April. Three Bren Carriers approached the village at around 19:00. At a snail's pace.

The Canadians stopped at Lunsing bakery to ask if there were any German troops in the area. There weren’t any.

They had, however, hastily stolen as many as 20 bikes from the residents of Grolloo to get away in the direction of Assen as quickly as possible.

The three combat vehicles were only the reconnaissance troops for the Canadian main force. Dozens of tanks raced through the village at great speed quickly followed. Residents counted at least two hundred vehicles. Grolloo was free and residents could finally enjoy real cigarettes, chocolate and white bread.