The advancing British in Susteren
In the early hours of 17 January 1945, an English company set out from Dieteren under cover of darkness, crossing snow-covered fields toward Susteren. They crawled across the ground toward the German positions. At a distance of about thirty metres, they suddenly began to run forward, screaming and shouting while firing their weapons. In this way, thirty Germans were taken prisoner. The British continued their advance. With the support of snipers, they captured additional German positions in the corner houses at the Feurthstraat/Louerstraat crossroads. Everything proceeded according to British plans—until daylight broke.
Ambushed by German Tiger tanks
Out of nowhere, the British suddenly encountered German Tiger tanks. Together with German soldiers positioned in the surrounding orchards, the tanks opened fire on the British troops. The British had requested tanks for their own defence, but that support did not arrive. The situation became untenable and the British suffered heavy losses. Even so, the company had orders to hold Susteren and did not give up.
Western bombardment
At last, help arrived. The British were ordered to withdraw to safety within twenty minutes. Then a western barrage of reportedly eighty thousand shells was unleashed. This brought an end to the final attempt by German forces to defend and retake ground in Susteren. At the same time, it rendered many homes that had nearly survived the war uninhabitable after all.
Relieved by British tanks
Late in the afternoon, the long-awaited British tank column arrived from the south. German troops were driven back across the railway line, and the British soldiers were relieved from their perilous positions. In the aftermath, forty British liberators were found to have been killed or wounded, and thirty British soldiers were missing. Just over twenty British soldiers survived the liberation.