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French paratroopers landed in several places in Drenthe the days before the liberation of Grolloo on 12 April, including in the area between Camp Westerbork and Grolloo, from Halkenbroeken to Vredenheim. During the same period, one of the last Jedburgh paratroops, volunteers who had already completed full military training and special training as uniformed military officers, also landed there. Their task was to direct the armed resistance, rather than carry out combat operations on their own. The last Jedburgh teams were deployed in the Netherlands. The teams had code names such as Dicing. Team Dicing, with Dutch captains Arie Bestebreurtje and Carel Ruijsch van Dugteren.
The surrounding area was constantly being monitored from the watchtowers around Westerbork camp. It was no wonder there was extensive hunting for both the French paratroopers and those of the Jedburgh team. Nevertheless, many managed to find good shelter with the help of Teun Leever's resistance group. Kind-hearted residents in the area also offered help and shelter when needed.
Captain Bestebreurtje, for example, broke an ankle on landing and was cared for by a local farmer. Ruijsch van Dugteren was able to link up with resistance groups in Assen and Rolde almost immediately after the landing. The resistance managed to track down the Jedburgh team's telegraph operator, Sergeant Somers, and put him in contact with Ruijsch van Dugteren. They arranged for weapons to be dropped in the evening of 10 April, provided instruction, organised battle groups and had valuable reports relayed to London.
While setbacks prevented the team from completely fulfilling the assignment, Ruijch van Dugteren and Somers did make a useful contribution to the liberation of Drenthe in the process.
The French paratroopers in the area had maps that showed which farms they could or could not approach for help and cooperation. For example, the resistance had provided them with information on where NSB supporters lived.
Apart from their role in the resistance, the ter Steege's in Grolloo were also known to have had people in hiding at their farmhouses, which was in the middle of the dropping zone. The occupying forces conducted searches there at times, but there was a very watchful sheepdog at home, called Sperda, who started barking when there was danger, which gave the people in hiding time to seek cover. There was also not much in the way of betrayal from Grolloo, as that would have placed themselves outside the tight-knit Groller community. The son Bote ter Steege was part of a resistance group led by Teun Leever. This resistance group actively helped land French paratroopers and was also involved in arms drops in the build-up to the liberation.
It was very dangerous to help the paratroopers. In nearby Schoonloo, café owner Frederik Klaassens and his son Jantinus were arrested for allegedly offering help. Both of them were executed that same evening at Schoonoord and are buried in the Grolloo cemetery.