After the liberation of the inundated St. Philipsland on November 5, 1944, the allied troops stand on guard on the coast across from Schouwen-Duiveland. From on top of the water tower on the dike, the enemy can be observed. The Germans want to get rid of that ideal observation point as quickly as possible.
In the night from January 22nd to January 23rd, 1945, about 50 Fallschirmjäger, German paratroopers, cross the Zijpe and carry out an attack. At the farmhouse Hof Rumoirt, at the Langeweg, a gunfight breaks out. Three Polish, two British and one Dutch soldier, Piet Avontuur, all lose their lives. There is also one civilian casualty. The water tower was blown up around midnight that night.