After the successful assault crossing of the Afwateringskanaal from ‘s-Hertogenbosch to Drongelen on Saturday 4 November 1944, the division commander, General Rennie, orders his troops to hurry up. So the advance towards the Bergsche Maas continues during the night. Almost all German troops retreat across the Heusden bridge. When it is finally blown up at 05.30 hours on Sunday 5 November, only a tiny German rearguard remains south of the river. Now their only way out is the ferry at Herpt.

That rearguard is formed by the last one hundred men of the SS battalion Gillhöfer. This unit took part in the famous Battle of Arnhem in September and was sent to North Brabant in late October to reinforce the weak defences behind the canal. As a rearguard, the SS men have to hold out for as long as possible before retreating. During Sunday afternoon, it soon becomes clear that going back across the water will not be easy. Strong winds and waves have already caused three boats to capsize. In addition, Scottish guns make a crossing difficult and the decision is made to wait until darkness falls. That afternoon the German force lines up around the crossroads in the heart of the village.

But the Scots are impatient. Infantry, supported by a number of Sherman tanks, opens fire on the ferry around mid-afternoon. Flamethrowers are deployed to chase the last Germans out of the centre of Herpt, and around five in the afternoon German resistance is finally broken. The SS flee north to the Maas and sail across in small boats. Most manage to arrive safely on the northern bank, but twenty-two men are hit by accurate Scottish fire and drown in the cold waters of the Bergsche Maas.