Thru Netherland and Belgium - 1940.

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Actions and Mill at Gennep

Peel-Raam Position.

In May 1940, the Peel-Raam position, stretched from Grave along the river Raam, in the Peel Region to the Belgian border to the west of Weert. Mill was a critical feature in that area, it was important because several good roads converged there, and the railway line running east - west from Goch (Germany), crossed the Meuse by the bridge at Gennep, following towards Tilburg. Every 200 to 400 meters were built small bunkers for 2/3 men armed with a machine gun. In the area of ​​Mill on the channel about 9 kilometers in lenght were deployed two battalions of 700 men each (I./ 3 RI and I./ 6 RI), supported by 12 old cannons dating from 1880 of the III./ 20 RA and a small fraction of engineers. Against this small defensive force would collide two German divisions with 30,000 men in all (254 and 256 ID ID).

Sources: De Slag bij Mill in Mei 1940.
http://www.gennepnu.nl/gennepwo2.htm
http://www.coehoorn.nl/om-te-lezen/arti ... ll1940.nl/

Saludos. Raúl M .

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Actions and Mill at Gennep

German Plan.

The German plan for this first employment stated that the XXVI AK (HQ at Cleve), deployed on the left wing of the 18 AOK, was to cross the Meuse first then to break through the Peel-Raam Line laid down in the marsh of Peel and defended by troops of 3. Dutch Army and then would push to Antwerp, opening the way for the 9 Pz continue to Rotterdam. The main effort would be with the 256 ID on the left and was to be carried out by its IR 481. The 254 ID was to advance on the right, mainly against Mook - cuijk area then would attack the Peel-Ram line due north of Mill.

In turn, the mission of III. / IR 481 specified that the battalion was to capture the railroad bridge in Gennep intact by surprise in a lightning attack and prevent its destruction, ensuring a crossing point for the division.

Sources: De Slag bij Mill in Mei 1940.
http://www.gennepnu.nl/gennepwo2.htm
http://www.coehoorn.nl/om-te-lezen/artikelen/278-de-gevechten-in-noordoost-noord-brabant-in-mei-1940#indexhttp://www.mill1940.nl/
Das Grüne Regiment - Der Weg der 256. Infanterie-Division aus der Sicht des Regiments 481. von Barbara Selz.

Cheers. Raúl M .

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Actions and Mill at Gennep.

The bridge over the Meuse in Gennep.

For the normal development of the offensive it was necessary that five bridges over the river Meuse in the sector of the XXVI AK were conquered intact; one of them and the railway and road bridge at Gennep was crucial indeed. To do this in late January 1940 was called to Berlin Leutnant d. R. Witzel of 22 years and was given the task together with the newly formed 4./ Baulehrbataillons z. b. V. 800. In March 1940 the company moved to an intermediate point between Kleve and Goch to continue its intensive training. In mid-April of 1940, the command of the company was taken by a certain Oberleutnant Walther who led the raid on the bridge at Gennep.

Sources: De Slag bij Mill in Mei 1940.
http://www.gennepnu.nl/gennepwo2.htm
http://www.coehoorn.nl/om-te-lezen/artikelen/278-de-gevechten-in-noordoost-noord-brabant-in-mei-1940#indexhttp://www.mill1940.nl/
Das Grüne Regiment - Der Weg der 256. Infanterie-Division aus der Sicht des Regiments 481. von Barbara Selz.

Cheers. Raúl M .

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Hello to all ; a little new story on this topic................

Actions and Mill at Gennep.

The bridge over the Meuse in Gennep.

On May 9, 1940 at 23:00 hours the assault group (six German and three Dutch collaborators) marched to the goal, and already on the border line one of the Dutch collaborator repented and he did not follows ahead so stayed behind and was guarded by a German commando. The remaining seven men continued disguised as five German deserters and two Dutch border guards. On reaching the eastern access to the bridge quickly mastered the four Dutch men on duty there and Oberleutnant Walther, a Dutchman and Feldwebel Stöhr crossed the bridge of 150 meters long. Although the Western Guard was alerted, the attackers managed to dominate the Dutch soldiers and neutralize the blasting device. Inmediately after that, the agreed flare was launched and the armored train marched across the bridge at full speed.

Sources: De Slag bij Mill in Mei 1940.
http://www.gennepnu.nl/gennepwo2.htm
http://www.coehoorn.nl/om-te-lezen/artikelen/278-de-gevechten-in-noordoost-noord-brabant-in-mei-1940#indexhttp://www.mill1940.nl/
Das Grüne Regiment - Der Weg der 256. Infanterie-Division aus der Sicht des Regiments 481. von Barbara Selz.

Cheers. Raúl M .

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Actions and Mill at Gennep.

The armored train.

At 03:00 hours on May 10, 1940 the Pz zug No. 1 (Hauptmann Mundus) came to the station at Udem and there boarded it the HQ of the III. / IR 481, the 12. / IR 481 and the 13 (IG) / IR 481; the armored train was immediately followed by a transport train with the bulk of the III. / IR 481. The joint command was exercised by Maj. Schenk (III. / IR 481). Promptly at 05:30 hours the Pz zug No. 1 left the station and five minutes later, the train with the troops was also in motion. The battalion was in charge of the oldest Platoon leader of the 9. Company, Oberleutnant Schachtner, because Hauptmann Burde had been detached to the regiment (according to other sources Burde had been recently promoted to Major and because his hierarchy he was taken out from the battalion and the leadership of his 9. Company).

Sources: De Slag bij Mill in Mei 1940.
http://www.gennepnu.nl/gennepwo2.htm
http://www.coehoorn.nl/om-te-lezen/artikelen/278-de-gevechten-in-noordoost-noord-brabant-in-mei-1940#index
http://www.mill1940.nl/
Das Grüne Regiment - Der Weg der 256. Infanterie-Division aus der Sicht des Regiments 481. von Barbara Selz.

Cheers. Raúl M .

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Actions and Mill at Gennep.

The defensive position on the river Meuse.

Behind the two trains followed the advance guard of the IR 481 constituted by the cyclist detachment of the 5. / IR 481 (Oberleutnant Gruber) and the command of the regiment. This detachment crossed the river by the bridge and on the west bank, it received machine gun fire from the bunkers located there and suffered the first casualties (dead and wounded). The II. / IR 481 crossed the Meuse and then assembled around Oeffelt. At 06:00 hours under heavy fire also crossed the I. / IR 481. The pontoon bridge built by the Pi Btl 256 was completed in the afternoon.

Sources: De Slag bij Mill in Mei 1940.
http://www.gennepnu.nl/gennepwo2.htm
http://www.coehoorn.nl/om-te-lezen/artikelen/278-de-gevechten-in-noordoost-noord-brabant-in-mei-1940#index
http://www.mill1940.nl/
Das Grüne Regiment - Der Weg der 256. Infanterie-Division aus der Sicht des Regiments 481. von Barbara Selz.

Cheers. Raúl M .

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Actions and Mill at Gennep.

Peel-Raam Position.

Both trains were stopped about 3.5 kilometers west of Mill and at 06:30 hours Oberleutnant Karpinski ordered the landing of the troops about 800 meters behind the bunkers. There, Maj. Schenk took over again the command of his III. / IR 481 which deployed with the 11. Company to the right, the 9. Company at center and the 10. Company on the left.

Sources: De Slag bij Mill in Mei 1940.
http://www.gennepnu.nl/gennepwo2.htm
http://www.coehoorn.nl/om-te-lezen/artikelen/278-de-gevechten-in-noordoost-noord-brabant-in-mei-1940#index
http://www.mill1940.nl/
Das Grüne Regiment - Der Weg der 256. Infanterie-Division aus der Sicht des Regiments 481. von Barbara Selz.

Cheers. Raúl M .

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Actions and Mill at Gennep.

Peel-Raam Position.

The armored train was stopped behind the transport of troops and tried to return in order to get in contact with the bulk of the division in advance, but stumbled back with mines and steel beams (rails buried?) placed on the tracks by Dutch soldiers led by Lieutenant v. Ekelen and Reserve First Lieutenant v. Velden and therefore derailed.

Sources: De Slag bij Mill in Mei 1940.
http://www.gennepnu.nl/gennepwo2.htm
http://www.coehoorn.nl/om-te-lezen/artikelen/278-de-gevechten-in-noordoost-noord-brabant-in-mei-1940#index
http://www.mill1940.nl/
Das Grüne Regiment - Der Weg der 256. Infanterie-Division aus der Sicht des Regiments 481. von Barbara Selz.

Cheers. Raúl M .

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Actions and Mill at Gennep.

Peel-Raam Position.

Around 10:00 hours the III. / IR 481 was fighting deeper in the enemy deployment and had captured many of the positions and bunkers, taking in the process about 210 Dutch soldiers, including several officers. However Maj. Schenk was still waiting for the attack of the bulk of the regiment, which till 12:00 hours had not occurred yet. The I./ IR 481 was stopped by heavy fire from the houses and the steeple of Mill and the II. / IR 481 should support the I. Battalion in clearing the area.

Meanwhile, the III. / IR 481 was attacked from the rear by motorized Dutch troops (2. RMH - Huzaren Motorrijden Regiment).

Sources: De Slag bij Mill in Mei 1940.
http://www.gennepnu.nl/gennepwo2.htm
http://www.coehoorn.nl/om-te-lezen/artikelen/278-de-gevechten-in-noordoost-noord-brabant-in-mei-1940#index
http://www.mill1940.nl/
Das Grüne Regiment - Der Weg der 256. Infanterie-Division aus der Sicht des Regiments 481. von Barbara Selz.

Cheers. Raúl M .

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Actions and Gennep and Mill.

Peel-Raam Position.

At 20:00 hours the III. / IR 456 was attached to the IR 481; from the NW the 1. / IR 481 would attack on a narrow front, the 2. and 3. / IR 481 would follow behind, while the III. / IR 456 would attack from south to north. At 20:30 hours the 1. / IR 481 (Hauptmann Eder) began to cross the anti-tank obstacle filled with water. At 21:30 hours with strong support of all heavy weapons were conquered four bunkers. At 23:30 hours it was reached the target of the attack, the fork in the road of Meeren and the 2. / IR 481 secured to the West and East. While the II. / IR 481 attacked north of the railway Gennep - Mill - Uden and by 23:30 hours the battalion was assembled in the forest located astride the route Mill - Langenboom. At 23:15 hours was established liaison with the armored train and then linked with the III. / IR 456. The Peel-Raam line was broken on a front of about 3 kilometers.

Sources: De Slag bij Mill in Mei 1940.
http://www.gennepnu.nl/gennepwo2.htm
http://www.coehoorn.nl/om-te-lezen/artikelen/278-de-gevechten-in-noordoost-noord-brabant-in-mei-1940#index
http://www.mill1940.nl/
Das Grüne Regiment - Der Weg der 256. Infanterie-Division aus der Sicht des Regiments 481. von Barbara Selz.

Cheers. Raúl M .

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Hello to all ; well following with the story now the 256 ID was advancing towards Belgium ...............

Selzaete - May 1940.

Assault on Selzaete.

On May 21, 1940 the motorcyclists squadron of the 2nd Regiment of Guides, reinforced by a Platoon of machine guns, carried out reconnaissance of the enemy towards Koewacht and Hulst; the regiment was marching through Mauritsfort, Philippine, De Haven, Waterland-Oudeman, heading to Selzaete where along with the 2nd Regiment of Cyclists should relieve the 6 DI in the Terneuzen Canal.

That very day the 2nd Guides took the defensive sector as ordered, occupying its positions in Selzaete, reinforced with the 1. Battery of the I. Group of the 18 Horse-drawn Artillery Regiment with three pieces. The bridge had been blown. Around 23:00 hours the German troops had occupied the eastern shore and the pier located there.

Sources: 47. Army Photo Album - 256 Inf Div_archivos. Historical Media, LLC. Sábado, 09 de Febrero de 2008, 08:10:04
http://www.stappenentrappen.be/zelzatetweedegidsenpad.htm
Gesicht unterm helm. 1941.
http://www.deuzie.be/artikels/19-2-03.htm
Cav. Motorisée Belge. Vol 5.
Das Grüne Regiment: Der Weg d. 256. Infanterie-Division aus d. Sicht d. Regiments 481. Barbara Selz.

Cheers. Raúl M .

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Selzaete - May 1940.

Assault on Selzaete.

Indeed on May 22, 1940 at dusk the II. / IR 481 marched again and around 24:00 hours and after two hours of rest in Wachtebeke, this Battalion resumed the march toward the new target, Selzaete. Around 02:00 hours on May 23, 1940 this German unit had reached the outskirts of the town.

On May 23, 1940 At 09:20 hours the first German patrols showed up and the artillery shells began to fall in Selzaete causing destruction and casualties. At 10:45 hours the Belgian artillery engaged in turn, unleashing a burst every 10 minutes.

Sources: 47. Army Photo Album - 256 Inf Div_archivos. Historical Media, LLC. Sábado, 09 de Febrero de 2008, 08:10:04
http://www.stappenentrappen.be/zelzatetweedegidsenpad.htm
Gesicht unterm helm. 1941.
http://www.deuzie.be/artikels/19-2-03.htm
Cav. Motorisée Belge. Vol 5.
Das Grüne Regiment: Der Weg d. 256. Infanterie-Division aus d. Sicht d. Regiments 481. Barbara Selz.

Cheers. Raúl M .

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Selzaete - May 1940.

Assault on Selzaete.

At noon the artillery duel reached its climax in a sound that until now had never heard. Here we understood the meaning of barrage and destruction fire.

At 14:00 hours attack against Selzaete along the canal Terneuzen, on the right the IR 481 and to the left the IR 476. Now roared our howitzers and a shower of iron flying over our heads towards the enemy. At the same time in the positions, the nerves of the infantry soldiers increase while awaiting the signal for the assault.

Sources: 47. Army Photo Album - 256 Inf Div_archivos. Historical Media, LLC. Sábado, 09 de Febrero de 2008, 08:10:04
http://www.stappenentrappen.be/zelzatetweedegidsenpad.htm
Gesicht unterm helm. 1941.
http://www.deuzie.be/artikels/19-2-03.htm
Cav. Motorisée Belge. Vol 5.
Das Grüne Regiment: Der Weg d. 256. Infanterie-Division aus d. Sicht d. Regiments 481. Barbara Selz.

Cheers. Raúl M .

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Hello to all ; something more follows...............

Selzaete - May 1940.

Assault on Selzaete.

Having seen the signal, the German infantry jumped off and moved forward a few hundred meters. There were the first positions of the enemy, a machine gun opened fire but it shot high over the heads of the attackers. The advance continued through rifle pits, trenches, fences and hedges up to the channel. The German shells were falling on Belgian positions at Selzaete and beyond. Now the Belgian artillery began to respond with steel, however the projectiles had fallen short, spreading death among their own lines.

The German infantry advanced from cover to cover, machine guns did their job perfectly and hand grenades began to fall in the nests of hostile resistance. From the flank opened up a Belgian machine gun as the adjacent company was far behind. Two or three men came forward and neutralized that machine gun with concentrated fire.

Sources: 47. Army Photo Album - 256 Inf Div_archivos. Historical Media, LLC. Sábado, 09 de Febrero de 2008, 08:10:04
http://www.stappenentrappen.be/zelzatet ... senpad.htm
Gesicht unterm helm. 1941.
http://www.deuzie.be/artikels/19-2-03.htm
Cav. Motorisée Belge. Vol 5.
Das Grüne Regiment: Der Weg d. 256. Infanterie-Division aus d. Sicht d. Regiments 481. Barbara Selz.

Cheers. Raúl M .

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Hello to all ; something more follows...............

Selzaete - May 1940.

Assault on Selzaete.

The attack continued in force, the river bank could be seen beyond, more and more prisoners began arriving. In the channel we could see no bridge. On the left a railway embankment and once reached it we could spot on the other side to the left a burning factory and to the right the bridge in the water, then began the houses of Selzaete which were burning (I think here attacked the II. / IR 481 of Oberstleutnant Pribyl).

From Selzaete houses began now a deadly fire from machine guns and mortars, and the Germans retreated from the channel dragging their wounded comrades. In a trench near the embankment were gathered the recent Belgian prisoners, including two wounded. Beyond lies a dead soldier with his face buried in the mud.

Sources: 47. Army Photo Album - 256 Inf Div_archivos. Historical Media, LLC. Sábado, 09 de Febrero de 2008, 08:10:04
http://www.stappenentrappen.be/zelzatet ... senpad.htm
Gesicht unterm helm. 1941.
http://www.deuzie.be/artikels/19-2-03.htm
Cav. Motorisée Belge. Vol 5.
Das Grüne Regiment: Der Weg d. 256. Infanterie-Division aus d. Sicht d. Regiments 481. Barbara Selz.

Cheers. Raúl M .