Help! German units ID required

Discussions on WW2 in Western Europe & the Atlantic.
Post Reply
Bill_A
Member
Posts: 3
Joined: 06 Sep 2019, 13:46
Location: Lancashire

Help! German units ID required

#1

Post by Bill_A » 11 Sep 2019, 22:14

Hi all,

I'm hoping the expertise on this forum will be able to help me.

I'm trying to identify the German Infantry and Armoured units that attacked the British lines in and around the Belgian Town of Neerijse on the River Dyle (Djile?) from around May 12th 1940.

My Grandfather was with the 6th Gordon's in Neerijse, just East of Brussels as part of Plan D......the rest is history as you all know.

Thankfully he was taken off the beach at Dunkirk and made it back.

I've spent a lot of time researching his exact movements but I feel the story isn't complete without the details of the enemy he faced during those days.

Any tips/help would be much appreciated.

Best wishes to all,

Bill

User avatar
hucks216
Member
Posts: 1939
Joined: 20 Jan 2007, 23:49
Location: England

Re: Help! German units ID required

#2

Post by hucks216 » 12 Sep 2019, 12:47

Here is the German situation map for the 13th May 1940 showing the area to the east of Brussels with the relevant German infantry and panzer units being in blue.
Screenshot 2019-09-12 11.41.50.png
Screenshot 2019-09-12 11.41.50.png (669.81 KiB) Viewed 6743 times


Bill_A
Member
Posts: 3
Joined: 06 Sep 2019, 13:46
Location: Lancashire

Re: Help! German units ID required

#3

Post by Bill_A » 13 Sep 2019, 07:20

Many, many thanks for this. Forgive my ignorance, what size are the Infantry units? Are they given as Divisions?
Is it possible to get a higher res version of the map?
Again thanks so much for your help 👍

User avatar
hucks216
Member
Posts: 1939
Joined: 20 Jan 2007, 23:49
Location: England

Re: Help! German units ID required

#4

Post by hucks216 » 13 Sep 2019, 10:33

The Arabic numerals are divisions while the Roman numerals are the Armeekorps. There may be better resolution versions but I don't have one I'm afraid.
Here is a section of the German situation map for 14th May 1940.
14.jpg

GregSingh
Member
Posts: 3877
Joined: 21 Jun 2012, 02:11
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Re: Help! German units ID required

#5

Post by GregSingh » 13 Sep 2019, 12:05

We don't know how accurately German positions were drawn on those maps.
But as Neerijse is just W of Tirlemont / Tienen, map from 14th shows no German units there - it's in the gap between 14.ID (E of Leuven) and 31.ID (S of Hamme) :?

Perhaps maps from 15th or 16th would show if this gap was covered or not ?

Bill_A
Member
Posts: 3
Joined: 06 Sep 2019, 13:46
Location: Lancashire

Re: Help! German units ID required

#6

Post by Bill_A » 13 Sep 2019, 20:07

Hi Folks,
Thanks for the fantastic info. I have looked at the daily diary entries again and it looks like there was evidence of German recce platoons on the 14th, just east of the river at Neerijse. The air activity also increased but no attacks. Some form of engagement occurred on the 15th with a German unit crossing the river and a heavy mortar bombardment. The 16th proved to be the start of the heavy attacks and preceded the withdrawal back West.

Post Reply

Return to “WW2 in Western Europe & the Atlantic”