Hi
I'm looking for detailed information on the 291 Infantry Division in respect of his time in the battles of Canal Oise - Aisne. I am trying to find details about his fights the structure of regiments and possibly battalion commanders.
291 Infantry Division in the battles of Canal Oise - Aisne
Re: 291 Infantry Division in the battles of Canal Oise - Aisne
Hello to all 
; just starting on this...................
Division's Stellenbesetzung as May - Jun 1940.
CO: Generalmajor Herzog (till Jun 1942)
Ia: Hauptmann (General stab Dienst) Müller.
Ib: Riedel
IIa: v. Baath
IR 504: Oberst Hippler.
I./ IR 504: Mittelstadt
II./ IR 504: Haarbrucker
III./ IR 504: Lange
13./ IR 504: Rother.
14./ IR 504: ??
IR 505: Oberstleutnant Lohmeyer (seriously wounded on Jun 05, 1940 Oise-Aisne canal crossing). Oberstleutnant Anders.
I./ IR 505: Oberstleutnant Anders. Hauptmann Schlemmer.
1./ IR 505: Oblt Arlt.
2./ IR 505: ??
3./ IR 505: Oblt Gustke.
4./ IR 505: Oblt Körner.
II./ IR 505: Major Schmidt (KIA on Jun 05, 1940 Oise-Aisne canal crossing).
5./ IR 505: Hauptmann Pestch (Illness). Lt. Lenz.
1. Plt: Lt Hinz (seriously wounded on Jun 05, 1940 Oise-Aisne canal crossing)
6./ IR 505: Hauptmann Adamheit.
7./ IR 505: Oblt Schmidt.
8./ IR 505: Hauptmann Heek (KIA on Jun 05, 1940 Oise-Aisne canal crossing). Lt. Kallasch.
III./ IR 505: Major Reichert.
Adj: Lt v. Braun (KIA on Jun 05, 1940 Oise-Aisne canal crossing).
Orderly: Lt. Poerschke (WIA on Jun 05, 1940 Oise-Aisne canal crossing).
Asst-Artz Dr. Suck.
9./ IR 505: Hauptmann Schoeneich (KIA on Jun 05, 1940 Oise-Aisne canal crossing). Lt. Hundt.
1.Ptl: Lt Winter (KIA on Jun 05, 1940 Oise-Aisne canal crossing).
10./ IR 505: Hauptmann Albien
11:/ IR 505: Oblt Motzek
12./ IR 505: Oblt Keppler (seriously wounded on Jun 05, 1940 Oise-Aisne canal crossing). Lt. Neher.
13./ IR 505: Oblt Heckmann.
14./ IR 505: Feiks.
Pi Zug: Oblt Troeder (KIA on Jun 05, 1940 Oise-Aisne canal crossing).
IR 506: Oberstleutnant Gurran.
I./ IR 506: Vogtlander.
II./ IR 506: Wagner.
III./ IR 506: Krause.
13./ IR 506: Rother.
14./ IR 506: Weyel.
AR 291: Oberst Ruff.
I./ AR 291: Doenning.
II./ AR 291: Schulz-Fadenbrecht.
III./ AR 291: Strenger.
IV./ AR 291: Kresin
Pi Btl 291: Slubezakowski.
Pz Jg 291: v. Lyncker.
Na Abt 291: Fritsch.
Source: Die Geschichte der 291. Infanterie-Division 1940-1945. Werner Conze. Círculo Militar. Buenos Aires. 1955.
Cheers. Raúl M
.
Feliz Año Nuevo - Happy New Year - Feliz Ano Novo - Gluckliches Neues Jahr - Bonne Année - Felice Anno Nuovo - Szczęśliwego nowego roku!!!.
; just starting on this...................Division's Stellenbesetzung as May - Jun 1940.
CO: Generalmajor Herzog (till Jun 1942)
Ia: Hauptmann (General stab Dienst) Müller.
Ib: Riedel
IIa: v. Baath
IR 504: Oberst Hippler.
I./ IR 504: Mittelstadt
II./ IR 504: Haarbrucker
III./ IR 504: Lange
13./ IR 504: Rother.
14./ IR 504: ??
IR 505: Oberstleutnant Lohmeyer (seriously wounded on Jun 05, 1940 Oise-Aisne canal crossing). Oberstleutnant Anders.
I./ IR 505: Oberstleutnant Anders. Hauptmann Schlemmer.
1./ IR 505: Oblt Arlt.
2./ IR 505: ??
3./ IR 505: Oblt Gustke.
4./ IR 505: Oblt Körner.
II./ IR 505: Major Schmidt (KIA on Jun 05, 1940 Oise-Aisne canal crossing).
5./ IR 505: Hauptmann Pestch (Illness). Lt. Lenz.
1. Plt: Lt Hinz (seriously wounded on Jun 05, 1940 Oise-Aisne canal crossing)
6./ IR 505: Hauptmann Adamheit.
7./ IR 505: Oblt Schmidt.
8./ IR 505: Hauptmann Heek (KIA on Jun 05, 1940 Oise-Aisne canal crossing). Lt. Kallasch.
III./ IR 505: Major Reichert.
Adj: Lt v. Braun (KIA on Jun 05, 1940 Oise-Aisne canal crossing).
Orderly: Lt. Poerschke (WIA on Jun 05, 1940 Oise-Aisne canal crossing).
Asst-Artz Dr. Suck.
9./ IR 505: Hauptmann Schoeneich (KIA on Jun 05, 1940 Oise-Aisne canal crossing). Lt. Hundt.
1.Ptl: Lt Winter (KIA on Jun 05, 1940 Oise-Aisne canal crossing).
10./ IR 505: Hauptmann Albien
11:/ IR 505: Oblt Motzek
12./ IR 505: Oblt Keppler (seriously wounded on Jun 05, 1940 Oise-Aisne canal crossing). Lt. Neher.
13./ IR 505: Oblt Heckmann.
14./ IR 505: Feiks.
Pi Zug: Oblt Troeder (KIA on Jun 05, 1940 Oise-Aisne canal crossing).
IR 506: Oberstleutnant Gurran.
I./ IR 506: Vogtlander.
II./ IR 506: Wagner.
III./ IR 506: Krause.
13./ IR 506: Rother.
14./ IR 506: Weyel.
AR 291: Oberst Ruff.
I./ AR 291: Doenning.
II./ AR 291: Schulz-Fadenbrecht.
III./ AR 291: Strenger.
IV./ AR 291: Kresin
Pi Btl 291: Slubezakowski.
Pz Jg 291: v. Lyncker.
Na Abt 291: Fritsch.
Source: Die Geschichte der 291. Infanterie-Division 1940-1945. Werner Conze. Círculo Militar. Buenos Aires. 1955.
Cheers. Raúl M
.Feliz Año Nuevo - Happy New Year - Feliz Ano Novo - Gluckliches Neues Jahr - Bonne Année - Felice Anno Nuovo - Szczęśliwego nowego roku!!!.
Re: 291 Infantry Division in the battles of Canal Oise - Aisne
Hello to all ; more follows...................
Movement to the front.
On May 19, 1940 the 291. ID was loaded in Arys and was transported by rail between 20 - 22 May 1940 being billeted around Aachen. Here occurred the first losses due to hostile aerial attacks when detraining. On May 25 began the march to the front by Maastricht - Tongern - Charleroi - Maubeuge towards Laon. On May 29, 1940 the 291. ID was subordinated to the 9. AOK (General Adolf Strauss) and a few days later to the XXXXII. AK. The division reached the vicinity of the city of Laon on June 3, 1940.
Fall Rot - Concept of operation.
Army Group B commanded by Generaloberst v. Bock and constituted by the 4. AOK, 6. AOK and 9. AOK was to attack on June 05, 1940 in order to achieve the breakthrough of the "Weygand Line". Thus the 291. ID would attack on the far left and distributed on a broad front of about 6/7 km wide and whose advanced line extended from the mouth of the Oise-Aisne Canal in the Aisne, along the north bank of the canal to Braye-en-Lanois. The troops of the 5. ID covering the front were relieved by the II. / IR 505 and the II. / IR 506 on the night of 3 to 4 June 1940. the 291. ID took its readiness area in the night of 4 to 5 June 1940 with the following deployment:
IR 505 right on the wooded slopes at the top of the channel.
IR 506 left at Bourg
504 IR as reserve.
Source: Die Geschichte der 291. Infanterie-Division 1940-1945. Werner Conze. Círculo Militar. Buenos Aires. 1955.
Cheers. Raúl M.
; more follows...................Movement to the front.
On May 19, 1940 the 291. ID was loaded in Arys and was transported by rail between 20 - 22 May 1940 being billeted around Aachen. Here occurred the first losses due to hostile aerial attacks when detraining. On May 25 began the march to the front by Maastricht - Tongern - Charleroi - Maubeuge towards Laon. On May 29, 1940 the 291. ID was subordinated to the 9. AOK (General Adolf Strauss) and a few days later to the XXXXII. AK. The division reached the vicinity of the city of Laon on June 3, 1940.
Fall Rot - Concept of operation.
Army Group B commanded by Generaloberst v. Bock and constituted by the 4. AOK, 6. AOK and 9. AOK was to attack on June 05, 1940 in order to achieve the breakthrough of the "Weygand Line". Thus the 291. ID would attack on the far left and distributed on a broad front of about 6/7 km wide and whose advanced line extended from the mouth of the Oise-Aisne Canal in the Aisne, along the north bank of the canal to Braye-en-Lanois. The troops of the 5. ID covering the front were relieved by the II. / IR 505 and the II. / IR 506 on the night of 3 to 4 June 1940. the 291. ID took its readiness area in the night of 4 to 5 June 1940 with the following deployment:
IR 505 right on the wooded slopes at the top of the channel.
IR 506 left at Bourg
504 IR as reserve.
Source: Die Geschichte der 291. Infanterie-Division 1940-1945. Werner Conze. Círculo Militar. Buenos Aires. 1955.
Cheers. Raúl M
.Re: 291 Infantry Division in the battles of Canal Oise - Aisne
Hello to all ; more follows...................
Fall Rot - June 1940.
It was quiet on the frontline and the sun peeked over the wooded ravines of the Chemin des Dames, theater of heavy fighting during World War I. The ground along the opposing side seemed deserted and only the enemy artillery carried out weak harassment fire. The mission assigned to the division was to cross the canal on the right wing and possibly the Aisne in Bourg, throw the enemy from their positions and break through them; difficult mission involving a frontal attack, rivers and canals crossings, in broken and wooded terrain and with the open left flank. Knowledge of the enemy and the terrain was very shallow, indicated as weak presence of French forces in the area by the Army Corps. Following this last statement, the fire support for the attack on the wooded bulge of Soupir, center of gravity of the 291. ID and IR 505's first objective, would last only five minutes.
On June 5, 1940 at 05:00 hours was unleashed the German brief artillery fire and the French artillery responded with a violent barrage, activity that lasted for several hours causing many casualties and disruption of communications due to the cutting of telephone wires. The weak enemy was really strong and with troops of first quality (the 5th Half Brigade of Alpine Hunters with three battalions and elements of the 44th Inf Div.) and they were cleverly camouflaged on the wooded slopes and they let the German approach in order to ensure the effectiveness of their fire, this also caused many human losses. As was indicated, the main effort of the division was located on the right, where was to attack the IR 505; while to the left, where stood the IR 506, only Bourg appeared as the most appropriate place for crossing the Aisne.
Source: Die Geschichte der 291. Infanterie-Division 1940-1945. Werner Conze. Círculo Militar. Buenos Aires. 1955.
Cheers. Raúl M.
; more follows...................Fall Rot - June 1940.
It was quiet on the frontline and the sun peeked over the wooded ravines of the Chemin des Dames, theater of heavy fighting during World War I. The ground along the opposing side seemed deserted and only the enemy artillery carried out weak harassment fire. The mission assigned to the division was to cross the canal on the right wing and possibly the Aisne in Bourg, throw the enemy from their positions and break through them; difficult mission involving a frontal attack, rivers and canals crossings, in broken and wooded terrain and with the open left flank. Knowledge of the enemy and the terrain was very shallow, indicated as weak presence of French forces in the area by the Army Corps. Following this last statement, the fire support for the attack on the wooded bulge of Soupir, center of gravity of the 291. ID and IR 505's first objective, would last only five minutes.
On June 5, 1940 at 05:00 hours was unleashed the German brief artillery fire and the French artillery responded with a violent barrage, activity that lasted for several hours causing many casualties and disruption of communications due to the cutting of telephone wires. The weak enemy was really strong and with troops of first quality (the 5th Half Brigade of Alpine Hunters with three battalions and elements of the 44th Inf Div.) and they were cleverly camouflaged on the wooded slopes and they let the German approach in order to ensure the effectiveness of their fire, this also caused many human losses. As was indicated, the main effort of the division was located on the right, where was to attack the IR 505; while to the left, where stood the IR 506, only Bourg appeared as the most appropriate place for crossing the Aisne.
Source: Die Geschichte der 291. Infanterie-Division 1940-1945. Werner Conze. Círculo Militar. Buenos Aires. 1955.
Cheers. Raúl M
.Re: 291 Infantry Division in the battles of Canal Oise - Aisne
Hello to all ; more follows...................
Fall Rot - June 1940.
Support of the 96. ID
Here also parts of the 96. ID found the longed first employment in open battle. The AR 196 (less its I. Group) with parts of the NA 196 and the Pi.Btl.196 were attached to the 291. ID within the XXXXII. AK. The strength of the French positions and the difficulties of the terrain required a the employment of massed artillery. Ten artillery groups with a total of 29 batteries (15 l.FH, 12 sFH and 2 of 10 cm Kan.Battr.) were assembled under the commander of the AR 196, Oberst Holzhausen, who assumed as Artl.Kdr. The task of the 291.ID was to attack on the line Braye-Bourg due southwest in order to seize the high ground north of Soupir (Soupir-nose) and to force the Aisne crossing.
The IV. / AR 196 under Hauptmann Witt with three other groups (abteilungen) of the AR 291 formed the Artl.Gruppe West, in order to support the IR 505. The Gruppe Ost under Oberstleutnant Steuber (II. / AR 196) with the II. and III. / AR 196 and the III. / AR 291 was to furnish support to the IR 506, while three heavy groups were to be used as a ranged artillery to fight the French artillery and harassment of the approach routes.
IR 506's assault by Bourg.
The actions undertaken by the shock troops of the IR 506 on the Aisne in Bourg, achieved success initially, but later failed despite of acquiring the character of a reconnaissance by force, demonstrating the strong adversary resistance, so that by order of the division there would not be repeated again.
Source: Die Geschichte der 291. Infanterie-Division 1940-1945. Werner Conze. Círculo Militar. Buenos Aires. 1955.
http://www.96id.de/geschichte/aufstellu ... ergang.php
Cheers. Raúl M.
; more follows...................Fall Rot - June 1940.
Support of the 96. ID
Here also parts of the 96. ID found the longed first employment in open battle. The AR 196 (less its I. Group) with parts of the NA 196 and the Pi.Btl.196 were attached to the 291. ID within the XXXXII. AK. The strength of the French positions and the difficulties of the terrain required a the employment of massed artillery. Ten artillery groups with a total of 29 batteries (15 l.FH, 12 sFH and 2 of 10 cm Kan.Battr.) were assembled under the commander of the AR 196, Oberst Holzhausen, who assumed as Artl.Kdr. The task of the 291.ID was to attack on the line Braye-Bourg due southwest in order to seize the high ground north of Soupir (Soupir-nose) and to force the Aisne crossing.
The IV. / AR 196 under Hauptmann Witt with three other groups (abteilungen) of the AR 291 formed the Artl.Gruppe West, in order to support the IR 505. The Gruppe Ost under Oberstleutnant Steuber (II. / AR 196) with the II. and III. / AR 196 and the III. / AR 291 was to furnish support to the IR 506, while three heavy groups were to be used as a ranged artillery to fight the French artillery and harassment of the approach routes.
IR 506's assault by Bourg.
The actions undertaken by the shock troops of the IR 506 on the Aisne in Bourg, achieved success initially, but later failed despite of acquiring the character of a reconnaissance by force, demonstrating the strong adversary resistance, so that by order of the division there would not be repeated again.
Source: Die Geschichte der 291. Infanterie-Division 1940-1945. Werner Conze. Círculo Militar. Buenos Aires. 1955.
http://www.96id.de/geschichte/aufstellu ... ergang.php
Cheers. Raúl M
.- Attachments
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- Oise-Aisne Canal crossing - June 1940.......................
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Re: 291 Infantry Division in the battles of Canal Oise - Aisne
Hello to all ; more follows...................
Fall Rot - June 1940.
IR 505's assault against Soupir. June 05.
At first all went right, the 5. and 6. / IR 505 crossed the obstacle and quickly formed a bridgehead, but shortly afterwards the assault stalled and the attack was called off by order of the division. Later yet another attempt was made and a hundred meters gained at great sacrifices in human lives. The attacks failed again and again due to the fire of the French hunters from their invisible nests and hostile artillery fire on the crossing points. In heavy hand to hand fighting were dislodged numerous nests of French resistance.
In these struggles was killed the commander of the II. / IR 505, Maj. Schmidt, therefore the attack was stopped; when the commander of the regiment himself crossed in order to assess the situation and resume the assault, he also fell seriously wounded. In the neighboring unit to the right (50. ID), the attack also had been halted, giving away any attempt of progress in the sector of the IR 505.
In order to improve the situation, the 291. ID tried to carry out an attack, even at sunset, on the right wing of the unit, bringing forward the IR 504 from its location as reserve, together with the IR 121 (50. ID). But the attempt was ruled out because no link was achieved with the aforementioned IR 121 and also by the constant interruptions of the communications. The only success of the day was to maintain the small bridgehead by the kampfgruppe Reichert (III. and II. / IR 505) * despite the fire and the French counterattacks.
* When the attack stalled, Oberstleutnant Lohmeyer sent across his III. Battalion before the II. Battalion's reserve ( its 7. Company).
Source: Die Geschichte der 291. Infanterie-Division 1940-1945. Werner Conze. Círculo Militar. Buenos Aires. 1955.
Cheers. Raúl M.
; more follows...................Fall Rot - June 1940.
IR 505's assault against Soupir. June 05.
At first all went right, the 5. and 6. / IR 505 crossed the obstacle and quickly formed a bridgehead, but shortly afterwards the assault stalled and the attack was called off by order of the division. Later yet another attempt was made and a hundred meters gained at great sacrifices in human lives. The attacks failed again and again due to the fire of the French hunters from their invisible nests and hostile artillery fire on the crossing points. In heavy hand to hand fighting were dislodged numerous nests of French resistance.
In these struggles was killed the commander of the II. / IR 505, Maj. Schmidt, therefore the attack was stopped; when the commander of the regiment himself crossed in order to assess the situation and resume the assault, he also fell seriously wounded. In the neighboring unit to the right (50. ID), the attack also had been halted, giving away any attempt of progress in the sector of the IR 505.
In order to improve the situation, the 291. ID tried to carry out an attack, even at sunset, on the right wing of the unit, bringing forward the IR 504 from its location as reserve, together with the IR 121 (50. ID). But the attempt was ruled out because no link was achieved with the aforementioned IR 121 and also by the constant interruptions of the communications. The only success of the day was to maintain the small bridgehead by the kampfgruppe Reichert (III. and II. / IR 505) * despite the fire and the French counterattacks.
* When the attack stalled, Oberstleutnant Lohmeyer sent across his III. Battalion before the II. Battalion's reserve ( its 7. Company).
Source: Die Geschichte der 291. Infanterie-Division 1940-1945. Werner Conze. Círculo Militar. Buenos Aires. 1955.
Cheers. Raúl M
.Re: 291 Infantry Division in the battles of Canal Oise - Aisne
Hello to all ; more follows...................
Fall Rot - June 1940.
IR 505's assault against Soupir. June 06.
It dawned another hot day. By noon the regiment's HQ crossed the canal and reached the location of the Kampfgruppe Reichert. After noon the 1. / IR 505 under Oberleutnant Arlt carried out a powerful reconnaissance in force along the canal towards Braye; initially it went well but later came under strong fire from the nests of resistance that still remained in the rear and suffered heavy losses. The French artillery fired some barrages in front of the 1º Company and it was unable to fulfill its mission.
At dusk the HQ of the Regiment went again to the eastern bank of the canal. The French artillery unleashed its fire on the narrow bridgehead which held the kampfgruppe, the fire was quite annoying but seemed that the danger of a counterattack was ruled out. On the night of 6 to 7 June 1940, reconnaissance patrols belonging to the 10th and 11th Companies reported that apparently, the enemy had left weak rearguards in their positions in the woods north of Soupir, and retreated with the bulk on the Aisne river.
Source: Die Geschichte der 291. Infanterie-Division 1940-1945. Werner Conze. Círculo Militar. Buenos Aires. 1955.
Cheers. Raúl M.
; more follows...................Fall Rot - June 1940.
IR 505's assault against Soupir. June 06.
It dawned another hot day. By noon the regiment's HQ crossed the canal and reached the location of the Kampfgruppe Reichert. After noon the 1. / IR 505 under Oberleutnant Arlt carried out a powerful reconnaissance in force along the canal towards Braye; initially it went well but later came under strong fire from the nests of resistance that still remained in the rear and suffered heavy losses. The French artillery fired some barrages in front of the 1º Company and it was unable to fulfill its mission.
At dusk the HQ of the Regiment went again to the eastern bank of the canal. The French artillery unleashed its fire on the narrow bridgehead which held the kampfgruppe, the fire was quite annoying but seemed that the danger of a counterattack was ruled out. On the night of 6 to 7 June 1940, reconnaissance patrols belonging to the 10th and 11th Companies reported that apparently, the enemy had left weak rearguards in their positions in the woods north of Soupir, and retreated with the bulk on the Aisne river.
Source: Die Geschichte der 291. Infanterie-Division 1940-1945. Werner Conze. Círculo Militar. Buenos Aires. 1955.
Cheers. Raúl M
.Re: 291 Infantry Division in the battles of Canal Oise - Aisne
Hello to all ; last part...................
Fall Rot - June 1940.
IR 505's assault against Soupir. June 07.
On June 7 at last, the fruit of previous battles, could be collected. The Army Corps, which had made a turn in its advance, with axis in Bourg, from the channel line to the East-West line of the Aisne, shifted the center of gravity to the right (292. ID and 50. ID) and took the IR 504 (less the I. / IR 504) as Corps Reserve.
By analogy, the 291. ID also took its main effort on the right with the IR 505. The heights of Soupir were cleared, the town of Soupir was crossed and at noon on June 7th regiment reached the Aisne River. Many prisoners were captured. During this day the division still had not managed to establish bridgeheads across the river. Indeed the French from their positions in the dominant high ground south of the river, froze any attempt to cross the waterline on June 8 until noon, when an air strike which lasted three hour with 270 dive bombers, exerted a decisive action.
With the support of this airstrike as well as the artillery the division was able to cross the Aisne and still in the afternoon the channel of the same name. After four days of fighting with large deployment of resources by both sides, the battle led to German success. It was a tough baptism of fire for the 291. ID, but it managed to leave airy of it.
Source: Die Geschichte der 291. Infanterie-Division 1940-1945. Werner Conze. Círculo Militar. Buenos Aires. 1955.
Cheers. Raúl M.
; last part...................Fall Rot - June 1940.
IR 505's assault against Soupir. June 07.
On June 7 at last, the fruit of previous battles, could be collected. The Army Corps, which had made a turn in its advance, with axis in Bourg, from the channel line to the East-West line of the Aisne, shifted the center of gravity to the right (292. ID and 50. ID) and took the IR 504 (less the I. / IR 504) as Corps Reserve.
By analogy, the 291. ID also took its main effort on the right with the IR 505. The heights of Soupir were cleared, the town of Soupir was crossed and at noon on June 7th regiment reached the Aisne River. Many prisoners were captured. During this day the division still had not managed to establish bridgeheads across the river. Indeed the French from their positions in the dominant high ground south of the river, froze any attempt to cross the waterline on June 8 until noon, when an air strike which lasted three hour with 270 dive bombers, exerted a decisive action.
With the support of this airstrike as well as the artillery the division was able to cross the Aisne and still in the afternoon the channel of the same name. After four days of fighting with large deployment of resources by both sides, the battle led to German success. It was a tough baptism of fire for the 291. ID, but it managed to leave airy of it.
Source: Die Geschichte der 291. Infanterie-Division 1940-1945. Werner Conze. Círculo Militar. Buenos Aires. 1955.
Cheers. Raúl M
.Re: 291 Infantry Division in the battles of Canal Oise - Aisne
Tiger!
Thank you very much for your text. Good work !!!
Thank you very much for your text. Good work !!!
Re: 291 Infantry Division in the battles of Canal Oise - Aisne
You're welcome; glad it was useful in some way. Cheers. Raúl M .
.