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German artillery on the Delfzijl, Termunterzijl and Dollard Sud dykes made it difficult for the Allied troops to liberate the far north-east of Groningen. The civilian population suffered heavily from the battle, however one of them, an infatuated Eggo Hillinga, did not let it deter his love.
On Monday 16 April 1945, two groups of carriers and a platoon of the Polish 1st Company of the Hunters of Podhalen moved towards Nieuwolda. The extreme north-eastern triangle of the Netherlands, around Delfzijl, was still occupied and the advance stalled at Lutje-Maar, where the canal was heavily defended by German troops.
The fierce battle in north-east Groningen was largely due to the German Atlantic Wall, which the Ems and Dollard coast was part of . Remnants of this defensive wall can still be found in Nansum, Delfzijl and Termunten (Fiemel). From their batteries, German soldiers defended the last piece of occupied Netherlands with all their might. During the battle, 88 civilians, 102 Canadian and 185 German soldiers ultimately lost their lives. The surrounding villages were heavily damaged and the population had to flee. Hundreds of people sought refuge in the direction of Winschoten and Finsterwolde, which had already been liberated.
Only during the night of 1 to 2 May did the German troops give up their resistance and silently disappeared to the other side of the Ems to continue the battle. A plaque on the Protestant Church in Nieuwolda pays tribute to the Polish liberators.
Eggo Hillinga
The last weeks of war in north-eastern Groningen were dramatic, but as they say, love conquers all. At the time, Eggo Hillinga, a boy from Nieuwe Statenzijl was dating a girl who lived in Hongerige Wolf near Finsterwolde. Her name was Geertje, the youngest daughter of Roelf Borgert de Vries and Geertje Nanninga.
At one point, Eggo cycled through the Reiderwolderpolder from occupied to liberated territory, straight through the firing line. A dangerous undertaking, but fortunately there was no shooting. However. on the way back Eggo was caught. German forces put him in a motorbike and sidecar and drove him to Nieuwe Statenzijl. They considered Eggo a spy, although many of the soldiers stationed in the polder knew him well. Only after long deliberation, with the accused in agony, did the German troops decide to let him go and no execution followed.