Can anyone tell me more about the IR 51 (18. ID) and the French campaign of 1940? Were they engaged in any major actions and if so, what were their casualties in the campaign?
I am also interested in their involvement in the Yugoslavian campaign in 1941. Again were they in major engagement and what were casualties.
regards
Keith
Infanterie-Regiment 51 in France 1940, Yugoslavia 1941
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William Russ
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Re: Infanterie-Regiment 51 in France 1940, Yugoslavia 1941
Hello Keith,
As far as the Yugoslav Campaign is concerned, the 18th Motorized Division nor the 51st Motorized Regiment ever participated in it. The 18th Motorized Division (along with all its regiments) deployed from France in early 1941 to Army Group Center's area then moved to Army Group North's area just prior to the invasion Of Russia.
Perhaps you may be confusing the 18th Motorized Division with the 16th Motorized Division, which did participate in the invasion of Yugoslavia?
best regards, Bill
As far as the Yugoslav Campaign is concerned, the 18th Motorized Division nor the 51st Motorized Regiment ever participated in it. The 18th Motorized Division (along with all its regiments) deployed from France in early 1941 to Army Group Center's area then moved to Army Group North's area just prior to the invasion Of Russia.
Perhaps you may be confusing the 18th Motorized Division with the 16th Motorized Division, which did participate in the invasion of Yugoslavia?
best regards, Bill
Re: Infanterie-Regiment 51 in France 1940, Yugoslavia 1941
Thanks Bill, I am interested in IR51 through following the career of KHD Von Basse who was in IR51 from 1938-42. I know he was in France but have no details of his service there, except that he won the EKII and the infantrymans assault badge. Some sources place IR51 in Yugoslavia but it may be an error.
Re: Infanterie-Regiment 51 in France 1940, Yugoslavia 1941
Hello Keith 
; just two cents.................
Advance to the Sea - May 1940.
After the Polish campaign the 18. ID was moved to West Germany and was subordinated to the IV. AK within the 6. AOK in Heeresgruppe B under General Fedor v. Bock. The division HQ was located at the Schloss (castle) Rurich.
On May 09, 1940 the Pz. Jäg. Abt. 18 was alerted and by May 10 at 3.45 hours moved to the staging area. The task of the detachment, organized as Vorausabteilung Gleiniger, togethr with Bataillon zbV 100 was to advance by Brunsum - Robroek - Wijnandsrade - Elsloo – Daalgrimby crossing by the bridge of Elsloo or around Elsloo and establish a bridgehead northwest of Boorsheim.
Fall Gelb.
On May 10, 1940, the 6. AOK with the 1.ID went to the offensive in the south of Holland. At 05:35 hours the Vorausabteilung Gleiniger crossed the Dutch border, at 07:15 hours crossed thru Heerlen and secured towards the river Meuse. So the road for the 18 ID was cleared. The Juliana Canal and the Meuse were crossed already on the first day near Elsloo. Meanwhile, the AA 18 (Major Sigfrid Gerloff) crossed the Dutch border by Palenberg and then the river Meuse in Stein-Limburg. At dusk of that first day of the campaign the 18. ID had achieved the assigned objective, the plateau around Helwijk.
On May 11, 1940 it was crossed the Albert Canal in the area of the destroyed bridge at Zutendaal. Under the watchful eye of the division commander, assault boat after assault boat crossed to the other bank under fire from machine guns; with the first waves got across elements of the AA 18. By Bilzen the 18. ID continued in the direction of the sector of the Demer in Tienen.
The pursuit followed through east Belgium, the AA 18 crossed the Gette on May 13, reached Racour and broke the Dyle position on May 15, where took place the first fighting against hostile tanks. The advance continued further to Lille and then to the battlefields of World War I at Ypres. The pursuit continued to the Sennette and Dendre. On May 18, 1940 while approaching to the Ath, east of Lille, elements of the IR 30 had to fight with British infantry supported by tanks on the road Ath - Leuze.
On May 19, 1940 the Regiments Recknagel (IR 54) and Bohnstedt (IR 51) reached the east bank of the river Scheldt. On May 20, 1940 continued the battles by Scheldt and Tournai. On May 21, 1940 at 07:30 hours Regiments Recknagel and Bohnstedt (IR 51) crossed the Scheldt fighting against strong resistance. On May 24, 1940 it was crossed the Lys, at which point the German forces were only about 15 kilometers from Dunkirk.
Sources: http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... .htm#Aufkl
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/18._Infan ... hrmacht%29
German Infantryman (1) 1933-40. David Westwood.
Hope be useful in some way. Cheers. Raúl M
.
; just two cents.................Advance to the Sea - May 1940.
After the Polish campaign the 18. ID was moved to West Germany and was subordinated to the IV. AK within the 6. AOK in Heeresgruppe B under General Fedor v. Bock. The division HQ was located at the Schloss (castle) Rurich.
On May 09, 1940 the Pz. Jäg. Abt. 18 was alerted and by May 10 at 3.45 hours moved to the staging area. The task of the detachment, organized as Vorausabteilung Gleiniger, togethr with Bataillon zbV 100 was to advance by Brunsum - Robroek - Wijnandsrade - Elsloo – Daalgrimby crossing by the bridge of Elsloo or around Elsloo and establish a bridgehead northwest of Boorsheim.
Fall Gelb.
On May 10, 1940, the 6. AOK with the 1.ID went to the offensive in the south of Holland. At 05:35 hours the Vorausabteilung Gleiniger crossed the Dutch border, at 07:15 hours crossed thru Heerlen and secured towards the river Meuse. So the road for the 18 ID was cleared. The Juliana Canal and the Meuse were crossed already on the first day near Elsloo. Meanwhile, the AA 18 (Major Sigfrid Gerloff) crossed the Dutch border by Palenberg and then the river Meuse in Stein-Limburg. At dusk of that first day of the campaign the 18. ID had achieved the assigned objective, the plateau around Helwijk.
On May 11, 1940 it was crossed the Albert Canal in the area of the destroyed bridge at Zutendaal. Under the watchful eye of the division commander, assault boat after assault boat crossed to the other bank under fire from machine guns; with the first waves got across elements of the AA 18. By Bilzen the 18. ID continued in the direction of the sector of the Demer in Tienen.
The pursuit followed through east Belgium, the AA 18 crossed the Gette on May 13, reached Racour and broke the Dyle position on May 15, where took place the first fighting against hostile tanks. The advance continued further to Lille and then to the battlefields of World War I at Ypres. The pursuit continued to the Sennette and Dendre. On May 18, 1940 while approaching to the Ath, east of Lille, elements of the IR 30 had to fight with British infantry supported by tanks on the road Ath - Leuze.
On May 19, 1940 the Regiments Recknagel (IR 54) and Bohnstedt (IR 51) reached the east bank of the river Scheldt. On May 20, 1940 continued the battles by Scheldt and Tournai. On May 21, 1940 at 07:30 hours Regiments Recknagel and Bohnstedt (IR 51) crossed the Scheldt fighting against strong resistance. On May 24, 1940 it was crossed the Lys, at which point the German forces were only about 15 kilometers from Dunkirk.
Sources: http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... .htm#Aufkl
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/18._Infan ... hrmacht%29
German Infantryman (1) 1933-40. David Westwood.
Hope be useful in some way. Cheers. Raúl M
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Re: Infanterie-Regiment 51 in France 1940, Yugoslavia 1941
Thanks Raul that's exactly what I was looking for. I also found mention of 18 Division in action at Hannut and Gembloux and therefore assume IR51 fought there too. The website also gives good information about their participation in Poland and Russia which is excellent.
thanks again
Keith
thanks again
Keith