The destruction after the heavy German shelling is enormous. This photo was taken at the beginning of the Wijkstraat.

Appingedam 1945

Tuesday morning there is a little breather, as the shooting decreases. Many decide to run away and throngs of people leave on foot. They only take essential luggage with them. The Canadian army commands the evacuation order at 4 p.m. At nightfall, all 7,000 residents are outside the municipal boundaries.Many refugees end up in Loppersum, Wirdum, Ten Boer, Oosterwijtwerd and Groningen after a long walk. About 25 people are left behind in the city. Among other things, they care for the dead and injured, extinguish the fires and try to prevent the Canadians from looting the abandoned houses – often in vain. Wednesday evening 2 May, a day after the liberation of Delfzijl, the decision was made to allow the population of Appingedam to return.In the morning of May 2, the last German shells fall. Of the approximately 2000 homes, buildings and houses, only thirty remained undamaged.

Evacuatie van Appingedam