In the garden and the woods behind the sanatorium, soldiers of the American and German armies fought hard. American paratroopers marched from the dropzone near the hamlet of Sonniuswijk through the woods to the Wilhelmina Canal, with the important mission to capture the bridge. As they emerged from the edge of the woods, they were targeted by the two German 88 mm guns positioned by the canal to defend the bridge.

As the sanatorium was already equipped for the care of patients, the US Army set up a field hospital here. Tents were erected in the gardens and operations were carried out in the hospital. Today, the Emilius School and Zonhove residential care facility are located on this site. The spire of the old sanatorium can still be seen.