Incidents from the battle of france 1940.

German campaigns and battles 1919-1945.

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Incidents from the battle of france 1940.

Post by tigre »

Hello to all chaps; I'm calling for help in order to shed some light on the actions carried out by the 299 ID during its march towards Verdun in the Westfeldzug 1940.

La Berliére - Oches 10 Jun and Avocourt 14 Jun 1940.

This website awoke my interest on that subject............

http://users.skynet.be/albertengel/France/assault.htm

Also this Ebay auction: WWII German Army Photo Album - 3./INF RGT 530

Image

Image

Image

Image

Thanks in advance all info on it would be appreciated. Cheers. Raúl M 8) .
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La Berliére - Oches 10 Jun and Avocourt 14 Jun 1940.

Post by tigre »

Hello to all people; while trying to get some info on the actions carried out around La beliére and Oches (Jun 1940 - France, there the 299 ID was involved) I've stumbled with this period book:

Westfeldzug 1940 der 4./J. R. 530 : ihrem Bataillons Kommandeur Herrn Major Boue' in steter dankbarer Erinnerung : die 4.(M.G.) Komp. Inf. Rgt. 530.
Imprint [Germany? : s.n., 194-?] OCLC number 56112917
available (as far as I know) in the University of Texas at Austin

Someone has ever seen/heard on it??. Thanks in advance. Raúl M 8) .
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Re: Incidents from the battle of france 1940.

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Hello to all folks :D ; another little story.............................

The Cavalry Reconnaissance Detachment of the 46th Division in the Drive Against Blangy on 6 June.

On the second day of the attack on the far side of the Somme and to the west of Amiens, when the 46th Division again encounters stubborn hostile resistance in places along the front and is scarcely able to progress, the reconnaissance detachment is ordered to move forward in the neighboring area, occupied by a tank division, to reach the heights to the north of Poix and to reconnoiter in the area toward the river.

The small city of Poix is about 16 miles away. It is traversed by the Poix river, whose crossings are very important to us in our advance. To the north lies a high row of hills, well suited for defense purposes. what would be more likely, therefore, than that the enemy should make a stand in this area. This, then, is really a task for the cavalry. The objective is to the hostile rear and flank.

The advance starts in the following order: First, the cavalry squadron; in the center the motorized portions; and finally, the bicycle squadron. When they arrived in the division area on the right, nothing was to be seen of the tanks. Lifeless the terrain lies before the detachment, hilly and partly covered with woods. In conformity with their own peculiar needs, the tank division had apparently made its way down the highway without concerning itself with the other portions of the detachment. Caution is therefore in order.

After a march of about 12 and a half miles they take a short rest to the south of Le Fayel. Horses are watered. The point of the column then moves ahead. Scouting patrols, moving on in the lead, report the two towns ahead, Camps and Molliens-Vidame, occupied by the enemy, and prepared to resist our advance. The point of the column turns off the highway; the others follow.

Image
Blangy - 1940.

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 ]

More follows. Cheers. Raúl M 8) .
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Re: Incidents from the battle of france 1940.

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Hello to all folks ; the story follows.............................

The Cavalry Reconnaissance Detachment of the 46th Division in the Drive Against Blangy on 6 June (2º part).

We pass through grain fields between the two villages. Small hostile detachments appearing in our path are driven off or disarmed and sent to the rear. We have no time for prisoners or lengthy questioning. Saint Aubin, reached after another hour’s march, is also occupied by the enemy. Again we pass around the west side of a village. Travel by map is no longer possible. The point leader gets his bearings from hill to hill.

This time a detour does not succeed so well. At the edge of the village, we hear the rattle of machine guns. However, before the enemy can lay effective fire on us, the forward-galloping troopers dash into a hollow along with the bicycle squadron, which is lagging somewhat in the rear over the Pathless ground and disappear in the defilading terrain. The bicyclists are having difficulty in pushing their heavily loaded wheels forward and in keeping up with the cavalry. Besides this, they have the noon-day heat to contend with, and the dust which covers the detachment with a natural camouflage.

To the southwest of Saint Aubin, we come upon parts of the tank division, facing the southwest and engaged in battle. After quick orientation we part again, turning off to the south, this time with the hills to the north of Poix as our objective.

We are not forced to stop and fight in front of Thieulloy. About one hostile platoon in the village had been attacked and driven out in a sudden encounter with a bicycle scouting patrol, assisted by an armored scouting car.

Meanwhile a new order has come by radio from division headquarters: “The army will take possession of the passages across the Poix at Blangy and Famechon by surprise attack.” This means a drive across the river beyond Poix.

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 ]

More follows. Cheers. Raúl M 8).
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Re: Incidents from the battle of france 1940.

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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 8).
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Re: Incidents from the battle of france 1940.

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Hello to all :D; another little story................................

Eisenbahn-Pionierregiment 4.

The special mission of Railway Pi. Rgt 4.

Among the numerous command enterprises which were carried out by the German side in the beginning of the Campaign of France (Unternehmen Fall Gelb) a small ones was fulfilled by the Eb Pi Rgt 4 reinforced with troops belonging to the IR 45. In order to make easy the main effort’s movements, the Eb-Pi Rgt 4 (reinforced) was entrusted with the following task: to take the night before the beginning of the attack as far as possible behind the Belgian lines all the critical crossing, juntions and railway stations in order to avoid its destruction by the enemy.

To carry out this task the engineers could count with two auxiliary panzer-zugs (armoured trains). These trains were the usual Diesel Tramcars of the National Railroad that were painted in field-grey with numerous white bars crosses. They had in front and rear an open carriage with a 60 cm high side board behind which at a 35 cm of distance a pararell board had been set; the gap was filled with sand. On each carriage a tripod with a ligh machine gun was placed. Ahead of the front open carriage still another empty car was linked up which should act as a kind of “minenräumer” (mine sweeper).

At the end of April 1940 and as a combat crew for these “panzer-zugs” the IR 45 was to release two groups, each with the following strength: 1 officer, 2 NCOs, 10 enlisted men and 2 light machine gun teams. The first group was sent by the 2./ IR 45 under Leutnant Ecker and the second by the 5./ IR 45 under Leutnant Hertzberg.

One of the panzer-zug should roll from Prüm over the border station of Steinebrück northward to Malmedy, the other should proceed over Steinebrück due southwest against the main railway Luxembourg - Liege (Lüttich). The days before its employment were used for carrying out intensive training and for excercises in surprising the bridge’s security detachments.

Source: http://de.geocities.com/eisenbahntruppen
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... Rgt4-R.htm

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
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The vennbahn<br />http://www.achim-bartoschek.de/bahn_rp.htm
The vennbahn
http://www.achim-bartoschek.de/bahn_rp.htm
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Re: Incidents from the battle of france 1940.

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Hello chaps :D; more follows...........................

Here goes a report dealing with the actions of the group of 5./ IR 45 which was subordinated to the 2./ Eb-Pi Rgt 4 (under Oblt Hofmann-Schmidt) in the panzer-zug driving due north:

The bulk of the group was in the front carriage while in the rear ones were one NCO and three men.In the night from 09 to 10 May 1940, at 00:00 hours sharp the train started; the small tramcar was full of pioneers, who were divided in different teams (with different strength) in order to storm, under our fire protection, a dozen of bridges up to the main viaduct of St. Vith and beyond if possible to Malmedy, remove the prepared explosive charges and secure the objectives afterwards.

The panzer-zug drove over the open border (without obstacles) and proceeded at low speed. 50 meters before each bridge the train stopped, the pioneers stormed ahead and gave the signal for it drives on. The station of Lommersweiler was occupied before it could be alarmed by on-duty officials of other stations. At all the bridges were already men of the Regiment z.b.v. 800 Brandenburg.

The armoured train could not roll completely hidden however, so when it was approaching the viaduct of St. Vith, it flew into the air when the germans were 600 meters short of its objective. Then the train took heavy fire coming from the bridge’s security detachment. The group of 5./ IR 45 under Leutnant Herzberg proceeded against the bridge, surprised the guard comprising over 30 men taken them as a prisoners without own or hostile losses. The POWs were held in the waiting-room of the free of enemy station of St. Vith.

In the meantime the offensive had started and at 05.35 hours could be heard clearly the roar of the Luftwaffe’s squadrons heading west and southwest. In spite of the inhabitants of St. Vith stated that there were not Belgian soldiers in or around the place, Leutnant Herzberg mopped up the town and confirmed this and could report that to the commander of the spearhead of one Pz Div (5 Pz) which arrived there at 07:00 hours.

Source: http://de.geocities.com/eisenbahntruppen
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... Rgt4-R.htm
Die Reichsbahn im Zwiete Weltkrieg. Januzs Piekalkiewicz

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
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Re: Incidents from the battle of france 1940.

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Hello to all :D; the end of this story.....................

The other panzer-zug with group Ecker could proceed up to Oudler getting stuck there due to the large bridge located there (60 meters long) had been blown up into the sky and needed heavy engineer equipment to make it passable.

The two groups carried out security tasks for another eight days and early on may 1940 were set in march with a truck in order to rejoin their regiment which at that time already was beyond the river Meuse.

Source: http://de.geocities.com/eisenbahntruppen
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... Rgt4-R.htm
Die Reichsbahn im Zwiete Weltkrieg. Januzs Piekalkiewicz
Entscheidende Stunden. Erich Borchert.

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
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A Panzer-zug on the move............
A Panzer-zug on the move............
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One of the railway bridge blown up in order to block the German advance.
One of the railway bridge blown up in order to block the German advance.
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Re: Incidents from the battle of france 1940.

Post by tigre »

Hello to all :D; here goes another incident, this time with regards to the IR 377 at Meigem and Vinkt.....

Vinkt 1940

On 10 May 1940 on Adolf Hilter’s orders, the German army invaded Belgium; this was the beginning of the Second World War for that country. The Belgian Army offered some resistence but had to withdraw day after day. The IR 377 was taken by train from the area near Dortmund to Kranenburg. There the regiment detrained and went over the border with Netherlands getting across the Meuse at Nijmegen and Mook.

On May 14 1940, the unit had reached Tilbourg and by May 16 1940 was at Rosendaal; there was getting ready for the assault on Amberes. The assault went under way on May 18 1940 and next day the enemy positions were cracked with the fire support furnished by the artillery and the 225 ID entered into the city, it remained there up to May 22 1940.

Fourteen days later, on Friday 24 May, the front line had reached the surroundings of the Schipdonkkanaal (Lys - Gent Canal?). Meanwhile, the IR 377 had marched towards Gastrode and then through Gent to Nevele from where would launch the assault in order to cross the Canal (Lys - Gent ??).

On Saturday 25 May 1940, the villages of Vinkt and Meigem came under german fire. German soldiers seized Meigem, but Vinkt remained in the hands of the Ardense hunters of the Belgian army. As a result of the grenade cannonadings of that day, in Meigem sixteen citizens lost their lives. In spite of several attempts were not possible the German infantrymen could not take Vinkt.

This very day Germans soldiers attempted the crossing over the Schipdonkkanaal at Deinze. Citizens from that city were taken along as living shield. There, between 16:30 and 17:00 hours, during the fire between the Belgian and German army exploded a shell among this group of 150 hostages. As a consequence 38 people lost their lives.

Sources: http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... /IR377.htm

http://www.vinkt.be/pages/mei.html

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
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German troops passing through Meigem - May 1940.
German troops passing through Meigem - May 1940.
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Inhabitants killed by an artillery shell - Deinze May 1940.
Inhabitants killed by an artillery shell - Deinze May 1940.
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Re: Incidents from the battle of france 1940.

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Hello to all :D; the story follows................

From Sunday 26 May 1940 onwards, the facts worsened. It was running among the German soldiers the rumour that citizens had shot on them. Therefore reprisal actions were taken. In Meigem the inhabitants were headed to the church and kept there as hostages. However Vinkt was still in the hands of the Ardennes’ hunters.

Monday 27 May 1940 was a dramatic day for Vinkt and Meigem. In the church of Meigem dozens of people had been caught by German soldiers since Sunday 26 May 1940. However, in the afternoon a heavy deflagration took place there, where in sum 27 people lost their lives. There were several tales concerning this explosion, but most likely it was the consequence of friendly fire. The church was in the line of fire, and could be hit by a Belgian artillery shell.

The cannonadings between the German soldiers and the Ardennes hunters lasted all day long in Vinkt. Around 15:00 hours, the fight had been settled and the IR 377 finally occupied the village.

Sources: http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... /IR377.htm

http://www.vinkt.be/pages/mei.html

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
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German artillery getting across the Schipdonk Canal – May 1940
German artillery getting across the Schipdonk Canal – May 1940
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German troops heading to Vinkt - May 1940.
German troops heading to Vinkt - May 1940.
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Re: Incidents from the battle of france 1940.

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Hello to all :D; the story follows in this way................

The German soldiers had been then persuaded that some citizens had shot on them. Therefore a raid followed in the village. The inhabitants were taken out from their houses and men, women and children were separated. The women and children were brought together on the meadow of the farmer Jules D'Oosterlinck.

The men firstly were conveyed in the direction of Meigem, but then were brought back to the village. Then the seniors were shot down against the wall of the convent. Along the pastorij's wall a group of five was called forward and then shot. Immediately afterwards eleven others followed. Just as in verderop, to the beenhouwerij ' Of Laere' a similar execution followed. In sum on the rural quarter 38 people were assassinated in this way, four survived the drama.

On Monday 27 May the German soldiers had seized all the main places in Vinkt, such as cross roads or farms. At those places groups of people were shot. Thus around the black Huizeke, twelve people were executed and afterwards were buried in a mass grave. At the farm of "Van der Vennet" another three men were executed: Omer Van Meenen, Jules Van Meenen and Emiel De Ketelaere while Achiel Van Renterghem, Alfons De Cloet and Raymond Van der Plaetsen should dig a mass grave and then shot.

Sources: http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... /IR377.htm

http://www.vinkt.be/pages/mei.html

Cheers. Raúl M 8).
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Hostages shot against the pastorij's wall – May 1940.
Hostages shot against the pastorij's wall – May 1940.
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Zwart Huizeke 12 men were shot there.
Zwart Huizeke 12 men were shot there.
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Re: Incidents from the battle of france 1940.

Post by Klaus_Arzt »

Thanks for sharing this with us tigre. :D :up: I reckon it was an enormous and hard work to do. Wonderful text and pics. As far as I’m concerned you know a lot about the western campaign 1940, so I was wondering maybe you have any photos of the german advance through Ardennes in 1940? 'couse i've been looking for them recently but didn't find anything, non whatsoever.
Thanks in advance
Cheers, Klaus_Arzt :D
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Re: Incidents from the battle of france 1940.

Post by tigre »

Thanks Klaus :D; I'll take a look around and then I'll let you know if something shows up :wink:. Cheers. Raúl M 8).
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Re: Incidents from the battle of france 1940.

Post by Klaus_Arzt »

thanks tigre, i'm looking forward to it. :D
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Re: Incidents from the battle of france 1940.

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Hello to all :D; the end................

With the capitulation of the Belgian army on Tuesday 28 May officially ended the 18-Days Campaign. But this did not mean the end of the drama in Vinkt. Several citizens had been caught before, and they were still taken as hostages on the meadow of René D' Oosterlinck.

That day nine people once more were brought in front of the firing squad. Five of them, Louis of the Vennet, but Goyvaerts and Oscar, Herman and Roger Pieters were obliged to dig their own grave and then were immediately executed.

During those days in Vinkt and Meigem 140 citizens lost their lives. Among them 86 people were executed, 27 citizens died in the church of Meigem. After the second world war’s end, there was a process against the former German officers Kühner and Lohmann. They were condemned up to 20 years coercion labour but 5 years later, they were extradited to Germany.

Sources: http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... /IR377.htm

http://www.vinkt.be/pages/mei.html

It's all folks. Cheers. Raúl M 8) .
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The hostages were obliged to dig their own grave.
The hostages were obliged to dig their own grave.
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German troops marching past through Vinkt - May 29 1940.
German troops marching past through Vinkt - May 29 1940.
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The Soldiers of the IR 377 paying tribute to their fallen comrades.
The Soldiers of the IR 377 paying tribute to their fallen comrades.
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