19th Infantry Division

[TrevorR]

Did the 19th Infantry Division serve in France, Belgium, or Holland in the 1940 blitz?

Some online search shows them in different places. Im looking to track them down for May 1940.

Thank you.

[hucks216]

If you go to this link for the division and then click on the Lagekarte in the entry for March there are some showing the division in May. It was part of 6.Armee...

http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/...ionen/19ID.htm

[TrevorR]

is there another place I can go to get more details? im looking for what battles the 73rd IR were involved in during May

[hucks216]

If you go to the Lexikon link for the division and then click on the link for that regiment, there is mention at the bottom of the page of a book on that Infantry Regiment.
Bookfinder shows that the book is still available in a number of places:

https://www.bookfinder.com/search/?s...ice=&maxprice=

[tigre]

IR 73 May 1940.

Hello Trevor ; just in case....................................

Attack on the Lys 1940 (KTB IR 73 end of May 1940)

http://blog.seniorennet.be/tfront194...f.php?ID=38828

A map...........................

http://sdkfz7.free.fr/blois00.htm

Hope it be useful in some way. Cheers. Raúl M .

[PanzerElite]

http://www.19panzerdivision.de/

i have been waiting for this great book for 10 years,
the author is very good, but i don't know why it is still not published.

[Archi]

Hello !

If you want all the details, the book mentioned by hucks216 should be the best way to go.
It should also have a lot of details on the combat in that area.

Now I see also the excellent links provided by tigre and PanzerElite. Very interesting,
thanks for pointing to those !

I can only provide some places, where the division as a whole fought in May (from an article by Scherzer):
- assemby area prior to "Fall Gelb" was around Dülken, 40km W of Duesseldorf
- On May, 10th, the 19. Inf.Div. crossed the Maas at Roermond and then advanced to the Albert Canal
- it crossed the canal near Beringen / Helchteren
- heavy combat against English troops in and near Loewen
- again heavy combat while crossing the river Schelde near Oudenaarde (20km S of Gent)
- advance to the area of Courtrai (or Kortrijk), ~20km E of Ypern
- from ~24.5., figthing to cross the Lys and combat at the SE and E part of the Dunkirk perimeter
- End of May, the 19. Inf.Div. is relieved, and got a few days of rest.

A funny sidenote regarding the entry question :

Did the 19th Infantry Division serve in France, Belgium, or Holland in the 1940 blitz?

It fought in all 3 of those countries !

Best regards,

Archi

[TrevorR]

Thank you so much for the information! I just purchased a EKII doc for a office in the division awarded 26.5.1940 in field

[tigre]

IR 73 - May 1940.

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Fall Gelb - IR 73 by May 1940)

May 10, 1940. IR 73 is divisional reserve and advances behind the front through the Elmter wood and rests in the area Swalmen – Boukoul.

May 11, 1940. Forward elements of the division reach the Albert-canal at Paal in the evening after 50km march. The crossing proceeds very slow because of the destroyed bridges. IR 73 camps in Heel and Beegden after 20km march.

May 12, 1940. The division assembles at the Albert-canal for the scheduled attack. IR 73 marches via Panheel to the Nederweertcanal and crosses it at Sandfoort in the early morning. At Molenbeersel IR 73 crosses the Belgian border. After 50km march IR 73 camps at Hechtel – Wijchmaal – Peer.

May 13, 1940. The division orders a resting day. IR 73 is transferred to the area Heppen (I., III.Btl., 14.Kp.) and to the barracks in Leopoldsburg (II./IR 73). In the evening the regiment receives order to secure the right flank of the division because the 30. ID wasn’t able to keep up today. The regiment is transported by trucks to the area Kwaadmecheln to link up with the 30.ID. 1./IR 73 is attacked by enemy artillery at the Albert-canal this evening. The regiment crosses the canal at Tervant.

May 14, 1940. During the night 13./14. fire fight with belgian troops in the area of the 11./IR 73. During the night the 255.ID gets in position between the 19.ID and the 30.ID. IR 73 sends out several combat-recon patrols to expand the Winterbeek-sector. Around 10:00 a.m. the pressure of the 255.ID shows results because the belgian troops in front of IR 73 withdraw from the Winterbeek-sector. As supply of food does not arrive the division orders to get food from the country.

May 15, 1940. 04:30 II., III./IR 73 start again to advance to La Rose (8km east of Löwen) where the regiment stops. At 10:00 the divisional commander Gen.Maj. Knobelsdorff arrives at the regiment and gives the order of the day. “After the II./IR 74 crossed the Dyle and the Dyle canal north of Löwen, the verst.I.R.73 advances right of it to southwest to encircle the enemy in Löwen. 255.Inf.Div. secures the right flank during the attack. IR 73 advances to the area Holsbeek – Attenhofen for disposal of the division and establishes contact to IR 74.” Light enemy artillery fire from Löwen. IR 73 advances to the area Kortrijk – Dutsel. 14:00 IR 73 takes positions with the finally arrived I./IR 74 forward right, III./IR 73 forward left and II./IR 73 in the right rear position. Reg. HQ IR 73 is castle Attenhofen. At 14:00 the division gives out the changed attack orders: “Planed attack in the morning of 16.5.1940. Borders of IR 73 – right to the 255.ID., church Holsbeek – Erbs-Querbs, left to II./IR 74 point 198 (2km southwest Holsbeek) – railroad Brussels – Löwen to northedge Kortenberg”

Source: http://www.geocities.com/chrisawende.../mai_1940.html (off-line now)

. Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

IR 73 - May 1940.

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Fall Gelb - IR 73 by May 1940)

May 16, 1940. During the night 15./16. several fire-fights with machineguns and mortars and artillery attacks around castle Holsbeek in the sector of IR 73. Schütze Murtfeld (6./IR 73) is the first KIA for the regiment in the west. 06:00 an enemy bunker is taken by 2./IR 73 (Hptm.Horst) after preparation fire of 14./IR 73. Special notification of Fw.Jürgens and Blomquist for good performance. Taking out this bunker makes the east side of the Dyle free of enemy in front of IR 73. To find out the enemy positions the division orders Stoßtrupps. Olt.Blüthgen (Chef 1./IR 73) leads the first Stoßtrupp. In the middle of the Dyle the boats are attacked by machinegun fire but can reach the other side. After two platoon leader (Lt.Zwölfelt, Fw. Ball) are wounded they have to withdraw under enemy fire. Olt.Blüthgen is wounded during the withdrawal. The Stoßtrupp of 9./IR 73 (Olt.Müller) fails to cross the river. 19:00 Seeing the chance Olt.Vilmar (IR 73) crosses the river without order in a small dinghy and is able to get the whole 11.Kp./IR 73 to the other side. He builds a bridgehead about 300m deep. At 22:00 the 11./IR 73 is ordered to withdraw by the division. Six prisoners are made by the company.

May 17, 1940. 04:00 the division sets up for the assault on the Dyle-line.
06:30 Artillery preparation fire and direct AT gun fire on identified enemy positions. Two enemy machineguns reply the fire and are taken out by 8,8cm guns. 07:30 Stukas attack enemy positions and bunker. The enemy is quiet now. The first elements of the division cross the Dyle-canal with dinghies. 08:00 the artillery fire moves back and the infantry breaks into the Dyle-line. 08:20 IR 73 reaches the first objective Herent without enemy resistance. All remaining enemies surrender at once. 11:00 IR 73 reaches the second objective Velten-Beisem without enemy resistance. II./IR 73 moves up cleans the wood northeast of the village and secures the right flank. 13:30 Gen.Maj. Knobelsdorff arrives at the IR 73 in Velten-Beisem and orders to advance on the Willebröck-sector north of Brussels to take the bridges at Pont-Brule and Vilvoorde and establish bridgeheads there. To build two fast advance units the Pz.Jg.Abt.19 (without 1.Kp.), I./AR 19, 1./s.Pz.Jg.Abt.560, 2 platoons Pi.Btl.19 and the II./IR 74 (bicycle) under Hptm.Scholz are attached to IR 73. Each battalion equips one company with bicycles which they found during the advance. 15:30 The two advance units of IR 73 start to advance. Vorausabt.A under the command of Oberstlt. Marcks (Kdr. Pz.Jg.Abt.19) reaches Pont-Brule without enemy contact but finds the bridge destroyed and the western side of the Willebröckcanal occupied by enemy troops. Before Vorausabt.B under Hptm.Scholz is assembled the bicycle companies of III./IR 73 and the 14./IR 73 of Olt.Schubert are sent forward. They capture 150 Belgian soldiers and reach the destroyed bridge at Vilvoorde. Oberst Menkel orders to clean the east side of the canal. The rest of IR 73 marches via Erbs-Kwerbs – Steen-Ockerzeel – Melsbroeck to Vilvoorde which is reached in the evening. II./IR 73 secures the village to the canal. During the night Major Köhler makes the plans for the advance on the next day.

May 18, 1940. 05:15 AT-guns attack enemy positions and bunkers on the heights south of Borght opposite of Vilvoorde. The 8.(M.G.)/IR 73 fires from houses and makes enemy soldiers to leave their positions. I./AR 19 and the s.I.G. platoon fire on enemy positions in Borght and in the rear area. 05:45 6., 7./IR 73 bring their dinghies into the water. They just find dead or wounded enemies on the other side. Borght is taken at 06:30. 6., 7./IR 73 advance of bicycles on the road to Grimberghen. Enemy forces west of Grimberghen are attacked by the 7./IR 73 of Lt.Westhofen. 200 enemies surrender. In the meantime the II./IR 73 and II./IR 74 crossed the canal and advance to Brusseghem where they rest. At 10:00 the Vorausabteilung Oberstlt. Marcks takes the lead. 13:00 IR 73 continues to advance via Assche towards the Dendre-sector. Vorausabtl. Marcks rejects an enemy counter attack with tanks from the south. In the afternoon IR 73 regroups to advance in broad formation to clean the area down to the Dendre-river. I./IR 73 right, II./IR 73 left and III./IR 73 left behind advance on both sides of Teralphene towards the Dendre. 17:45 7./IR 73 reaches Teralphene at first at reaches the Dendre very fast but fails to cross the river because of enemy resistance. The platoon leader Lt.Hahn is KIA at the river. The attack across the Dendre has to be stopped. The III./I.R.73 takes positions at the Bellebeek to the southeast.

May 19, 1940. During the night 18./19. enemy artillery fire on german positions around Teralphene. In the early morning recon reports that the enemy is not building up stiff resistance and the division commander orders to attack across the Dender. I., II./IR 73 advance to the river and come under heavy enemy artillery fire. German artillery forces the enemy to withdraw from the positions along the canal. He goes back to Denderleeuw. II./IR 73 finds no location to cross the Dender and evades to the sector of the I./IR 73 north of the canal-knee. 5./IR 73 under Olt.Seyrl is the first company that gets across followed by Major Köhler the Btl. commander. Under enemy fire the soldiers embark the dinghies and cross the canal. Major Köhler breaks into Denderleeuw with two groups and the company group of 5./IR 73 and is involved in heavy house to house fighting. Some british tanks appear in the streets but are rejected by the 5.Kp. In the western part of the town Major Köhler is wounded but stays with his unit. The 2./IR 73 under Oberstlt. v. Lersner breaks into Denderleeuw from the north. The raising pressure pushes the enemy out of Denderleeuw. The I./IR 73 pursues the retreating enemy who sets up a defense line after on kilometer. The I./73 overruns the enemy there. The remaining parts of the regiment follow and reach the line Kerkxken – Klein - Herlinckhove at 14:35. At once heavy equipment follows to strengthen the bridgehead. IR 73 stays alone with open flanks on the other side of the Dender. 14./IR 73 secures the flanks. Engineers start to build a bridge. In the late afternoon Vorausabt. Marcks arrives in the bridgehead. 20:30 reinf. IR 73 builds a marching group Menkel (I./AR 19, I./AR 55, 3./Pz.Jg.Abt.19, parts N.A.19, 3./Pi.Btl.19, one battery II./AR 60 (10cm)) and continues to pursue the enemy via Audenhoye to Roosebeeke where the regiment arrives around midnight without enemy contact. After the crossing of the Dendre of this day the III./Inf.Rgt.73 is regrouped as a bicycle Btl. with “organized” bicycles.

May 20, 1940. First objective for IR 73 on this day is Nukerke. Gen.v.Kortzfleisch visits the regiment to see if it is going well. After some traffic jam with Vorausabt. Hptm.Bruns (III./IR 73, 3. + parts 4./IR 73) and A.A.19, Pz.Jg.Abt.19 on a road junction. 11./IR 73 reaches Nukerke first and reports it free of enemy. Oberst Merkel feels that his troops are too slow and orders Olt.Vilmar (Chef 11.Kp.) to change to his car. The regiment commander, Vilmar, the driver and a second car with Olt.Schröder (Rgt.Pi.Zg.Fhr. - Ldr Eng. Pl) advance towards the Schelde river all alone and in front of the regiment. Melden is reported to be free of enemy. In Meersche they reach the Schelde and encounter enemy fire from the other side by british rear guards. As the 11./IR 73 arrives Olt.Vilmar takes one group and forces the british soldiers on the other side back by aimed fire. Suddenly single shots from the left kill Gefr.Vahlberg. As the first dinghie arrives Fw. Petereit crosses the Schelde without problems. Soon the next soldiers follow. As the 11./IR 73 wants to get away from the river and expand the bridgehead the enemy wakes up and fires back. The attack is stopped. From the left a enemy sniper fires on every movement. Still the main force of the III./IR 73 is stuck in the traffic jam at Nukerke and so the enemy has time to assemble for a counter attack on the weak bridgehead of the 11./IR 73. Under heavy artillery fire the rest of the III./IR 73 arrives and crosses the Schelde to reinforce the bridgehead. Even some heavy weapons arrive. With single actions the bridgehead is expanded to 300m during the night. A enemy counterattack around midnight is rejected. The 11./IR 73 did a great job to establish a bridgehead across the Schelde this day but the regiment failed to use this chance to break through because of the traffic jam at Nukerke. The 11./IR 73 lost 8 KIA, 11 WIA.

Source: http://www.geocities.com/chrisawende.../mai_1940.html (off-line now)

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

IR 73 - May 1940.

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Fall Gelb - IR 73 by May 1940)

May 21, 1940. The III./IR 73 stays in the bridgehead built yesterday and will be overtaken by the left flank of the 30.ID. The II./IR 73 attacks from the south part of Meersche and the I./IR 73 from Grijkoort and Berchen towards the Schelde positions. Beginning 16:00 hours.
At 13:00 hours IR 73 prepares for the planed attack. The 7., 6./IR 73 will cross the Schelde in two big assault boats of the Pi.Lehr Btl. under Lt. Sommer. The soldiers are not happy about that because they have to carry the boat across a 400 m wide meadow down to the river. Sometimes heavy enemy artillery fire. The planed preparation fire at 15:45 hours does not come. At 16:00 hours IR 73 starts the attack across the Schelde. At once heavy french artillery fires on Meersche. Heavy small arms fire on the boats carried across a meadow down to the river. Two boats catch fire. Under heavy losses the attack of the II./IR 73 is halted after some meters. Fw. Peters is killed by a machinegun blast and UO Schlegel minutes afterwards.
In the left sector of the regiment the I./IR 73 cannot reach the water with the boats because of heavy fire from the other side. Small elements of the 2./IR 73 can establish a small bridgehead which cannot be reinforced. Around 20:00 hours Hptm. Bruns recognizes that the attack of the left neighbour (30.ID) makes good progress he sends his III./IR 73 across the river and takes the garden in Kwaadestraat taking 200 prisoners. They establish contact with the 30.ID at Elsegem and expand the bridgehead to 1,5km. A good starting position for the next day. To prepare the attack the division orders several reconnaissance missions.

May 22, 1940. During the night the 2./IR 73 is able to get more soldiers across the Schelde to reinforce the bridgehead. Strong enemy counterattacks are rejected. Elements of the 1./IR 73 cross the Schelde also and link up to the left of the 2. Kp. Enemy defensive fire prevents the german soldiers to advance further. One platoon of the 5./IR 73 crosses the river in the sector of III./IR 73 to attack enemy positions in front of the Btl. from the flank. The 7./IR 73 crosses the river during the enemy concentrates on other forces of IR 73. The 7. Kp. (Lt. Westhofen) breaks light enemy resistance and reaches the road around midday. The 5./IR 73 follows the advance up to the road also where platoon Brunotte is already waiting. Elements of the 8./IR 73 and some AT guns follow to reinforce the bridgehead. Except the 6./IR 73 all elements of the II./IR 73 crossed the Schelde river by this time. As the III./IR 73 links up with the 5. Kp. and secures the flank between road and river the bridgehead is secured.
Now the enemy artillery fire moves from Meersche to the area of the bridghead where the soldiers are in the road-ditch. Schtz. Kruse KIA in this fire. At 16:30 hours French armoured cars attack along the road and withdraw after three have been destroyed by AT fire. The enemy artillery fire gets heavier and heavier and gets into the sector of the I./IR 73 at Grijkoort. The division does not know of the successes in the sector of IR 73 and orders to attack at 17:30 hours.
At 17:45hours IR 73 attacks according to the divisional orders. As the attack begins to slow down Major Köhler arrives in the first line and pushes the attack forward. The 6./IR 73 is thrown into battle and at 19:30 hours the first target the heights of Merkegemhoek are reached. Here the II./IR 73 takes position and supports the attack of IR 74 to the left which is attacking from Kwaadestraat towards Gyselbrechteghem. The I./IR 73 is still behind leaving the flank of the II.Btl. open to the right. Strong enemy resistance slows down the advance of the I./IR 73. Heavy fire from the flank where the I./IR 59 is involved in heavy fighting causes big troubles. Oberstlt. Frhr.v.Lersner leads his I./IR 73 from the first line. Lt. Schwenke (Chef 2./IR 73) is WIA. Under the command of Fw.Jürgens who assembles the disrupted elements of the 2./IR 73 the enemy is pushed out of its field-positions and the cemetary. Fw.Jürgens receives the RK for this day. To the left Oberstlt. Frhr.v.Lersner takes Kerkhove with the rest of the 1./IR 73 and his Btl. Stab against strong enemy resistance. The Btl. Adj. Olt. Kerll is seriously wounded.
Around 19:30 hours the I./IR 73 reached the road Elsegem – Kerkhove. The enemy withdraws and soon the pressure on the 7./IR 73 which is defending along the road all the time stops. In the evening IR 74 takes Gyselbrechteghem. The IR 73 receives order to take positions on both sides of Caster linking up to IR 74. At 24:00 hours the line stands with no contact to the left. IR 73 62 KIA, 238 WIA (some dead in the next days) 3 missing soldiers. The enemy units were <Royal Oaks>, <Royal Hemshire rifles> and <Royal Queens>.

May 23, 1940. During the night the contact to the enemy forces is lost so the division regroups to pursue the withdrawing enemy. At 13:00 hours the division has regrouped and starts advancing. The IR 73 advances on both sides of Vichte towards the river Lys. Without enemy resistance the 7./IR 73 reaches Harlebeke. The town is quiet. As the 7. Kp. reaches the destroyed bridge enemy fire from the other side of the river Lys starts. The 7./IR 73 occupies the houses on the east side and sees well prepared enemy positions on the other side. As the Kp. Commander thinks about attacking the division calls back IR 73 to Vichte where the regiment should assemble for the attack across the Lys on the next day to the left of IR 74. The division orders that IR 73 has to cross the Lys at Beveren (north of Harlebeke) as right wing of the division with open flank to the right. The right neighbour the 30.ID wants to pass the river-bow north of Beveren. The 30.ID promises to hold the enemy forces in this area down with heavy artillery fire. But they didn´t keep the promise.

Source: http://www.geocities.com/chrisawende.../mai_1940.html (off-line now)

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

IR 73 - May 1940.

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Fall Gelb - IR 73 by May 1940)

May 24, 1940. The 19.ID sets up for the attack across the Lys. IR 73 with its II.Btl. right at Beveren and I.Btl. left of it. At 17:00 hours IR 73 starts the attack across the Lys at Beveren. Soon the 3./IR 73 is across the river under heavy enemy fire and takes the first enemy positions. At once more companies follow through this gap and the village of Bavichove is taken by german units. After short heavy fight they advance towards Hulste. The I./IR 73 has to stop after the crossing of a small creek for now. Oberstlt.Lersner is wounded and transported back to the companies. Enemy fire from the flank causes problems and the regimental commander sends the reserve company (9./IR 73) to the area east of Bavichove which takes the pressure from the I.Btl.

To the right the II./IR 73 has severe problems. Just four “floating sacks” are ready to cross the river. So Major Köhler has to send the companies one by one. 7., 6., 5./IR 73 are scheduled to get over the river. At 17:00 hours as the 7./IR 73 breaks out of the houses of Beveren they receive heavy defensive fire from the flank where the artillery of 30.ID was not firing as promised. At once the first three floating-sacks of the II./IR 73 are destroyed by enemy machineguns on the open meadow down to the river bank. With the last one UO Rakemann and his group reaches the river. The soldier who has the paddles (Oberschtz. Riemer) lies heavily wounded in the middle of an open area. UO Rakemann boards the floating-sack with two other men (Gfr. Godehard, Schtz. Brandes). One (Gfr. Kredel) soldier is KIA during embarking. Under heavy fire the three men make it across the river. They land 20 m in front of a well camouflaged belgian position. Schtz. Brandes is killed.

Again Major Köhler is at the first line and leads his troops. He orders the 5./IR 73 to reply the fire from the flank but this has no effect. The 6./IR 73 receives order to cross the river at the I.Btl. sector and attack the enemy river positions from the flank. Major Köhler is wounded (a bullet goes through his leg and hits the Gefr. Schuh behind too)as he is at the front with the 7./IR 73. The commader of the 4./IR 73 Hptm.Meiners takes the command of the I.Btl.
Soon the 6./IR 73 (Lt.Hohnschopp) arrives at the landing setor of the 7.Kp. and the attack there begins to proceed. With the one remaining floating-sack the rest of the 7.Kp. crosses the river and advances together with the 6./IR 73. Several local resistance nest have to be destroyed but the main force of the enemy withdraws.

The entire III./IR 73 follows the I./IR 73 in the evening and Hulste is taken after sunset. The III./IR 73 takes control of the entire frontline so the I. and II.Btl. can camp and rest in Bavichove during the night. Most of the companies had heavy casualties and they reorganize the companies with just two platoons each. Hptm.Meiners stays as commander of the II./IR 73; Olt. Viering (Chef of the 8.Kp.) takes command over the II./IR 73 until Hptm. Knötsch takes command on the next day.

May 25, 1940. During the night the contact to the enemy is lost and the II./IR 59 starts to pursue the enemy as advance unit in the morning. At 09:30 hours the IR 73 begins to follow the enemy with III.Btl. leading towards Stokerij on the road Ingelmunster – Courtrai.

At 11:00 hours Oberst Menkel receives order to send one Btl. to the railroad Ingelmunster – Courtrai and look for enemy units. The III./IR 73 reaches the railroad without enemy contact. The Btl. reports enemy activity in the villages of Capelle – St.Catherine and Lendelede. A bicycle squad under Lt. Kiecksee sent there earlier did not return and so the commander is concerned now. A Stoßtrupp under Hptm.Bruns is sent out to look for them and finds the bicycle unit all dead.

At 12:00 hours the IR 73 receives order to position all Btl. to secure the northern flank of the division. Right III.Btl., then II.Btl. along the railroad, then along the Haazebeek to the road Ingelmunster – Courtrai linked up with the I.Btl. with front to the north. As the positions are ready IR 73 receives new orders. The XI. AK is attacking with the 255.ID and the 30.ID to the north. The 19.ID has to secure the Western flank during this operation. To the right the IR 59 up to the road Ingelmunster – Courtrai, the IR 73 defends the line Doornhoek – east of Lendelede – west end of Capelle – St.Catherine. The I./IR 73 west of the road Ingelmunster – Courtrai, III./IR 73 on the open flank with one company organized into the deep to the south. Enemy resistance west to the railroad is broken. The I./IR 73 takes Lendelede. Two armoured cars and a 15cm battery captured. Advancing forward elements push back several enemy sentries.

In the evening the enemy goes into position in Boschmolens, Winkel, St.Eloi and Snepkoek. Around midnight the I./IR 73 links up with the IR 59, and the III./IR 73 with the IR 54 of the 30.ID.

Source: http://www.geocities.com/chrisawende.../mai_1940.html (off-line now)

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

IR 73 - May 1940.

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Fall Gelb - IR 73 by May 1940)

May 26, 1940. In the morning the enemy shows more activity and attacks german positions and forward positions with artillery and mortar fire. To find out more about the enemy defenses a Spähtrupp (recce patrol) under Lt. Bode is sent to Winkel-St.Eloi. Bode is seriously wounded at the head during this mission and dies a few days later.

Around midday the IR 73 receives order to support the attack of the IR 59, and the IR 74 with fire from all weapons. The IR 73 stays behind as divisional reserve.

At 21:00 hours the IR 73 receives order to take Ingelmunster and establish a bridgehead across the Lys-canal with cover to the west. Elements of the 30.ID are in Ingelmunster but cannot give clear information about the situation. At first the I./IR 73 arrives in Ingelmunster around midnight and takes position in the southwestern part of the town.

May 27, 1940. During the night 26./27. a Spähtrupp of IR 73 under Lt.Poerschke reports Iseghem occupied by belgian troops. The I./IR 73 is ordered to cross the Lys-canal at once and attack the northern part of Ingelmunster. The bridge is destroyed so they use dinghies of the 3./Pi.Btl.19. Hptm. Meiners crosses the canal with the first wave of his Btl. Suddenly the Btl. Staff receives fire from several houses. At once the night is enlightened and enemy fire comes from the houses. The 1./IR 73 advances along the main road of the town and occupies some houses. The 2./IR 73 cleans the park and the castle in the meantime. In the morning the Pz.Jäg.Abt.19 is attached to the I./IR 73 and transported across the Lys-canal. In the morning light the belgians can see the location of the crossing and it has to be moved further to the east. Strong enemy resistance halts the attack of the I./IR 73 in the morning.

At 05:00 hours the II./IR 73 arrives at Ingelmunster and attacks left to the I./IR 73. The 6./IR 73 (Lt.Hohnschopp) gets across the canal at first and reaches the railroad they are not allowed to cross to the west. So the 6.Kp. attacks to the north along the railroad. Left of the 6.Kp. the 5./IR 73 links up and attacks also to the north. Ingelmunster is under heavy artillery and mortar fire during the attack. With support of II/AR 19 and AT guns Ingelmunster is under german control until 11:30 hours.

Around midday the division commander arrives and orders to prepare the IR 73 to march west at disposal of the division and leave one Btl. to secure the bridge across the Lys-canal which was built by Pi.Btl.19 in the morning. So the the I./IR 73 is moved to the southern part of Ingelmunster and relieved by the 7./IR 73 which was reserve. During the regruping of IR 73 the enemy fires with artillery and hits the regimental HQ.

At 14:20 hours the situation in the area of the division changes. The IR 73 which is ready to march to the southwest is ordered to take Iseghem and clean the north bank of the canal together with the attached III./IR 26. At 15:00 hours the IR 73 gives out the orders for the attack on Iseghem. The III./IR 73 advances towards Iseghem on the southern side of the canal. The II./IR 73 attacks the heavy defended Mandel to the west of Ingelmunster and cross to the southern side of the canal after. The attached III./IR 26 attacks Iseghem after Mandel was taken. Ordered time of attack 17:00 hours.

At 16:45 hours after short fire preparation s.IG Zug/II./IR 73 Mandel is taken. The III./IR 73 attacks with the bicycle company at the lead and encounters heavy resistance at Iseghem. The regimental commander orders AT gun and artillery support and leads the attack from the first line together with his Btl. commander. The enemy goes back from house to house. Iseghem is taken by the III./IR 73 at 18:45 hours.

In the meantime the III./IR 26 advances north of the Lys-canal and the II./IR 73 transfers to the south bank of the canal. The enemy along the canal surrenders without resistance. As the III./IR 73 takes Iseghem the III./IR 26 reports the occupation of the north part of the town. The III./IR 26 goes on to clean the north bank of the canal up to Cachten. The IR 73 takes position in Iseghem and rests for the night there without enemy contact.

Source: http://www.geocities.com/chrisawende.../mai_1940.html (off-line now)

Cheers. Raúl M .

Feliz Navidad - Feliz Natal - Frohe Weihnachten - Joyeux Noël - Merry Christmas - Wesołych Świąt!.

[tigre]

IR 73 - May 1940.

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Fall Gelb - IR 73 by May 1940)

May 28, 1940. The IR 73 is ordered to stay in Iseghemand wait for orders. At 16:00 hours, IR 73 marches via Roulers to Westroosebeeke.

May 29, 1940. Elements of the division force the Iser canal north of Ypern during the day. IR 73 rests in Westroosebeeke the whole day.

May 30, 1940. The 19. ID is withdrawn from the circle around Dünkirchen and goes into waiting position.

May 31, 1940. The division (19. ID) is resting. IR 73 stays in Westroosebeeke.



Source: http://www.geocities.com/chrisawende.../mai_1940.html (off-line now)

Cheers. Raúl M .

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