Hello to all folks ; the story ends.............................
The Cavalry Reconnaissance Detachment of the 46th Division in the Drive Against Blangy on 6 June (3º and last part).
At the airfield north of Poix we become aware that the bicycle squadron is lagging behind more and more, and can no longer keep up the pace. The men, who for the last 10 miles have hurried cross-country pushing their bicycles, are at the end of their strength. To avoid all delay possible, the bicycle squadron is ordered to follow as rapidly as possible,while the cavalry squadron and staff are to hurry through to Blangy.
The town of Croixrault, on the road to Blangy, is reported occupied by the enemy. Again we detour around it. The widely separated platoons trot by the village at a respectful distance. Suddenly we hear the cry: “Half turn to the left! Enemy tanks !“.
Six enemy tanks roll out from a bit of woods to the left and bear down on the squadron, all guns ablaze. A few riders drop, as do a few horses. There is the signal to gallop! In a wild dash, the disorganized platoons move across the field, leaving the enemy tanks farther and farther in the rear.
After a hard dash, squadrons and staff rejoin in a hollow northeast of Blangy, entirely separated from the rest of the detachment.
They can ride no farther, since the enemy occupies the bit of woods in front of the village.
After quick decision, the squadron commander attacks the woods with a few units. After brief resistance the enemy throws down his arms. Three heavy machine guns and fifty prisoners are taken. The cavalry scout patrols, which had been ordered to occupy and hold the bridges in the village below, succeed in ‘its surprise attack. The French are driven from the bridge. Hostile forces are now both in front of and to the rear of us.
To clinch our success, the remaining parts of the detachment must now be brought up with us, the bicycle troops and the armored rifle troops. This is possible, however, only by fighting, since the enemy is between both parts of the detachment. The bicycle squadron is ordered to attack the village of Croixrault and to return to the detachment through the village. The detachment adjutant, who was ordered to break his way through to the bicycle troops and to lead them to Blangy, finds the squadrons still at the airfield north of Poix. Without hesitation, Croixrault is attacked, But this time immediate success does not materialize. The attacking platoons are permitted to get very close. Then follows severe fire from hostile heavy and light machine guns, dug in on the outskirts of the village. The bicycle troops try repeatedly to overcome the enemy. With heavy weapons they support their advancing comrades without let-up. The platoons remain close to the foremost houses, however. There is no advance. Not until evening did they subdue the enemy with the help of a damaged German tank which rolled into the village and drove the enamy back.
It is dark when the rest of the detachment marches through the burning village of Croixrault to push through to its detachment at Blangy, where the bridgehead can be taken.
The little cavalry coup succeeded. The reconnaissance detachment is in the rear of the enemy. Retreating from the north, the enemy finds the way blocked. Three hundred ten prisoners and numerous artillery and train vehicles are taken.
Source: [Der Vorstoss auf Blangy durch die. Aufklarungssabteiung der 46 Division am 6. Juni. Militarwissenschaftliche Rundschau January 1941. Translated and condensed from the German at the Command and General Staff School, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas ]
It's all folks. Cheers. Raúl M
.