Belgium in May 1940, a view through the German camera

[Tim DC]

As some of you may know, I am mainly collecting photos from the war on the Western Front in Belgium, may 1940.

The war in the West started on the 10th of May 1940 with the famous capture of Fort Eben Emael by German Fallschirmjäger. Holland surrendered after 5 days, Belgium resisted for 18 days, and France for 6 weeks. The Battle of France ended on the 25th of June.

I am focussing on the war on Belgian soil. The Belgian army was assisted by French as well as British forces, but was unable to take a hard line against the German Blitzkrieg. About 7000 Belgian soldiers were killed.

I will show some additions to my collection and try to add some new now and then.

[Tim DC]

First a look at the German combat uniform as used in may 1940. Althoug M40 versions were already produced, the majority of combat soldiers still wore M36 Feldbluse and M35 helmets. I am not sure about the camouflaged tank in the background. It could be a French Somua or Hotchkiss.

[Tim DC]

Europeans may recognize the Menin gate in Ypres, a famous monument for allied WW1 victims. The area did suffer from bombings, but the monument survived the war. Even today, every evening the Last Post is played to commemorate world war 1 victims.

[Tim DC]

This photo shows a mass grave for Belgian and French soldiers. There must be more than 30. Notice the Belgian flag and the flowers, they did get some respect from their hostiles.

[Tim DC]

A German schutze is posing on a captured allied tank. Perhaps someone can help me identify it?

[Tim DC]

And last for today a nice photo of Belgian POW's in the city Kortrijk, probably one or two days before Belgium surrendered. Some are looking worried, others are just laughing. Many were glad their war - a war which they clearly could not win - was over.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Tim, the tank is a British Infantry Tank Mark II (A12) better known as the "Matilda".

Cheers, Ade.

[Larrister]

Hi Tim, I thought I would add another pic to your thread. This one shows Belgian POWs in Genk, Belguim. The album has several nice pics taken in Belguim. Cheers, Larry

[Tim DC]

Larry, thanks for the input. Just sent you some more info on your photos.

Ade, thanks for the identification, you are right - it is a Matilda.
Do you have a good reference site for British WW2 vehicles?
I do have one for French; http://www.chars-francais.net/index_a.htm

Here's one more; belgian civilians fleeing while Germans move forward in Kortrijk.
Notice the civilians are being stopped in order not to disturb the German advance.

[Tim DC]

Here are some new acquisitions.

A company from the 307th Infantry Regiment is crossing the German-Dutch border on the 10th of May 1940. The regiment was not motorised and had to go to France by foot, officers on their horse. The commander of this regiment, Raegener, became famous because he took the city Antwerp by surprise, an action for which he got the Ritterkreuz.

[Tim DC]

The same unit is crossing the Ghent Channel on the 24th of May 1940. In the 3 days before the 24th, they had to fight the Belgians who had dug in at the other side of the channel. Many Germans were killed while trying to cross the large channel by rubber boats. If you take a look to the previous photo; the first three guys in the foreground were killed at this spot the day before this photo was taken ...

[Tim DC]

Here's a photo I've had for some time now but I found out more about the man burried. It is the French tank soldier Charles Jarri, who died on the 15th of May 1940 in Den******233;e, southern Belgium. He was a reserve pilot in the B1B Char "Poitou II". The whole crew died when the tank was hit by artillery.

[Tim DC]

And last for now a photo of Generalmajor Moritz Andreas, Ritterkreuztrager and Commander of the 208th Infanteriedivision, who was very active in the fightings in Belgium. He is here having dinner in the seaside city De Panne, it looks like some Italian officers have joined him to celebrate the victory in the West.

[ramon]

Unless I'm very much mistaken, the 'Italian officer' sitting next to the RKT officer is no less a personage than Count Ciano, Mussolin's Foreign Minister and son in law.

Nice picture.

[Steiner]

Tim,

I can't see most of your probably interesting pics.