Chronology of the liberation of Dutch cities and towns during World War II
This is a chronological overview of the dates at which the liberation by the Allies in World War II took place of a number of Dutch cities and towns.
On "Mad Tuesday" (5 September 1944) Allies forces reached the southern border of the Netherlands. After the Allies crossed the Rhine in March 1945, Canadian forces entered the Netherlands from the east. The final liberation of remaining cities and towns came with capitulation of remaining German forces on May 5.
1944
- 14 September: Maastricht, Gulpen, Meerssen
- 16 September: Simpelveld liberated by the 803rd tank destroyer battalion
- 17 September: Sint-Oedenrode, Veghel, Son en Breugel
- 18 September: Eindhoven
- 19 September: Veldhoven
- 20 September: Nijmegen, Geldrop, Someren, Terneuzen
- 21 September: Schijndel
- 22 September: Weert
- 24 September: Deurne
- 26 September: Mook
- 27 September: Helmond, Oss
The battle of Overloon started on 30 September
- 5 October: Kerkrade
- 6 October: Ossendrecht
- 18 October: Venray
- 27 October: Den Bosch, Tilburg, Bergen op Zoom (Operation Pheasant)
- 29 October: Breda
- 30 October: Tholen, Goes
- 1 November: Vlissingen, Westkapelle
- 2 November: Wissenkerke, Zoutelande
- 6 November: Middelburg
- 8 November: Veere, Koudekerke
- 3 December: Blerick
1945
- 1 March: Roermond, Venlo
- 1 April: Doetinchem, Borculo, Eibergen, Enschede
- 3 April: Hengelo
- 5 April: Almelo
- 12 April: Westerbork, Brummen, Deventer
- 13 April: Assen, Diepenveen, Olst
- 14 April: Arnhem (Liberation of Arnhem), Zwolle
- 15 April: Zutphen, Leeuwarden, Zoutkamp
- 16 April: Groningen (Battle of Groningen)
- 17 April: Otterlo (Battle of Otterlo)
- 17 April: Apeldoorn
- 5 May: Capitulation of the remaining German forces
- 7 May: Utrecht
- 9 May: De Klomp
- 20 May: Texel (Georgian uprising on Texel)
- 11 June: Schiermonnikoog
Literature
- J. Dankers & J. Verheul, Bezet gebied dag in dag uit (Utrecht 1985).