The Netherlands
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On October 21, the attack on 's-Hertogenbosch begins. It is the start of a major Allied operation aimed at driving German troops out of Central Brabant. In the days that follow, the operation is expanded and on the 26th the breakthrough is a fact when the 7th Armoured Division, the famous Desert Rats, reaches Udenhout.
The objective for the following day is Loon op Zand. This village is located at an important crossroads and is fiercely defended. Despite heavy shelling, the Desert Rats are unable to capture the village. The task is handed over to the 51st Highland Division, which succeeds in driving the last German troops out of Loon op Zand on October 28. The Highlanders continue their attack throughout the night and reach the outskirts of Kaatsheuvel by morning. Fearing heavy resistance there as well, the village is heavily shelled, resulting in many civilian casualties. When Kaatsheuvel is liberated on October 29, the population is both sad and happy. Two days later, the Highlanders reach their final goal, the Bergsche Maas. After that, the pocket around Heusden still had to be liberated in a separate operation, which finally takes place on November 4 and 5, 1944.