Belgian army in Dunkirk 1940

[Kelvin]

Belgian forces had about 22,000 men evacuated from Dunkirk, anyone know what units evacuated from Dunkirk, any Divisional troop or the whole division ? Thank

[Loïc]

hello
not concerning Dunkirk but the 7th Infantry Division reached Brittany by Flanders and Normandy

it is not very well known also that the Belgian Army had many training centers C.R.I./C.R.A.B. located in France in may-june 1940, and others troops retreated to France with the government, maybe around 100 000 men or more,

but the 7th Division was the only whole division reorganized in France, many Belgian conscripts were only organized in Workers/Labour Battalions


Regards
Loïc L.

[Kelvin]

hello
not concerning Dunkirk but the 7th Infantry Division reached Brittany by Flanders and Normandy

it is not very well known also that the Belgian Army had many training centers C.R.I./C.R.A.B. located in France in may-june 1940, and others troops retreated to France with the government, maybe around 100 000 men or more,

but the 7th Division was the only whole division reorganized in France, many Belgian conscripts were only organized in Workers/Labour Battalions


Regards
Loïc L.

Hi, Loic, thank again for your help. If sea evaucation of 22,000 men plus another 100,000 men in France , that mean at least 120,000 men Belgian soldiers were saved.

[daveh]

http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/47703-b ... perimeter/
mentions that the XXI batalion and XXII battalion, each with two batteries of 12 searchlights. were attached to the Dunkirk perimeter on May 23. These units continued to serve after the Belgian surrender on May 28.

I am not aware of any other organised Belgian unit continuing to resist after May 28 in the Dunkirk area although
http://www.french-news-online.com/wordp ... 0-2015.pdf
does note that 16,816 Belgian soldiers were evacuated from Dunkirk

see
http://18daagseveldtocht.wikispaces.com ... riedivisie
for information on 7 I.D. in France

see the free to download Histomag'44 - No. 61 - August September 2009
http://www.39-45.org/portailv2/download ... e-2009.php
for an interesting article on
Ordre de rejoindre les Crab’s ou les « 16 - 35 ans by by Prosper Vandenbroucke

[Kelvin]

Hi, daveh, thank for your additional information.

[Kelvin]

Hi, everyone, I see one situation map dated May 26 1940, which listed Belgian troop location in encircment area, apart from 7th Division, I also cannot find 1st Division, did this dvision also evaded surrender to German as she also joined Anglo-French troop like 7th Division ? Thank

[daveh]

For details of Belgian Army units see
http://18daagseveldtocht.wikispaces.com/home

Kevin could you please give a link to or source of the situation map you mentioned.

[Kelvin]

Hi, Daveh, just a Ospery book about Operation Dynamo Dunkirk 1940. This book has many data on British army. But their OOB data has some mistakes : e.g. V. and VII./310. RI of French army were disbanded already but still existed in Late May 1940 under command of SFF, Flanders Fortified Sector.

BTW, thank for your website, but I am not familiar with this language and history of 1st Division was lasted until May 22 1940, what happened after that ?

[daveh]

Thanks for the information re the map Kevin.

The site I suggested gives most detail for regimental sized units. For a division it is best to check under large units for the component units and then search under the regimental units listed. The day by day history is covered until 28th May 1940 for most Line Regiments.

I find Goole translate - from Dutch to English - usually gives a clear enough translation to follow what is being described though be wary of place names being translated as this can be very confusing at times.

The book

The Campaign of 1940 produced by the Belgin Ministry of National Defence published in c. 1946 I believe.

has a series of maps showing the position of each Belgian division day by day from 9th May to 27th May 1940 with a very brief written summary of each days actions in English as well as Flemish and French. Only Belgian units are shown, positions only the respective front lines of the Allied and German forces are shown.

From these maps the 1st Division is shown as being:

May 23: On the R.Lys, at the south western end of the Belgian line, roughly between Kortrijk and Meenen

May 24: Still on the R Lys at Meenen and a little further East. Pushed back from the river in the vicinity of Kortrijk.

May 25: Pushed back from the R. Lys all along the divisional front. The map suggests the front line
was broken in this area.

May 26: The division has een displaced and now faces west along part of the R. Yser, somewhat to the south of Diksmuide.

May 27: Map shows the division still on the R.Yser but further south than on May 26.

May 28: No unit positions shown.

[Kelvin]

Hello, daveh, thank for your translation, very helpful.