Polish troops liberate key Dutch towns.

Polish troops liberate key Dutch towns. In a fast-moving sweep from the Belgian border, Polish troops of the 21st Army Group, commanded by British Field Marshal Sir Bernard L. Montgomery, liberated the industrial center of Breda, Holland, and fought their way north to wipe out one of the last two German pockets of resistance on the south bank of the Maas River. Using flame throwers and tanks, the Polish soldiers blasted a 12-foot gap in a massive road block and plunged into Moerdijk, which they liberated November 8, 1944, after a 10-hour battle to overcome elaborate Nazi defenses. Unable to withstand the combined assault of U.S., British, Canadian and Polish forces, the Nazis were forced to take refuge behind the Maas, natural defense line guarding the Reich. One of the German who were killed during a futile attempt to defend Breda lies in a ditch near the Dutch city, liberated October 29, 1944, by Polish troops.