Battle of Mill: Difference between revisions
| Line 33: | Line 33: | ||
==Battle== |
==Battle== |
||
The German [[armored train]] and troop train passed through the border unopposed and arrived in the town of [[Zeeland, North Brabant|Zeeland]] at 04:30. The Dutch forces, unaware of the invasion, had been completely surprised and didn't have time to open fire. The German troops disembarked at the Zeeland train station and radioed that they had successfully penetrated the Dutch lines. |
The German [[armored train]] and troop train passed through the border unopposed and arrived in the town of [[Zeeland, North Brabant|Zeeland]] at 04:30. The Dutch forces, unaware of the invasion, had been completely surprised and didn't have time to open fire. The German troops disembarked at the Zeeland train station and radioed that they had successfully penetrated the Dutch lines. Disappointed that they hadn't made contact with the Dutch, they shunted the armored train around and sent it back to the border. Now fully aware of the situation, Dutch engineers installed the Aspergers barricade over the tracks and reinforced it with several mines. |
||
Unable to stop in time, the armored train crashed into the barricade, derailing and sending the first carriage into the trench. The small unit on board quickly disembarked and captured two away-facing casemates. They were then pinned down by rifle and machine gun fire. |
Unable to stop in time, the armored train crashed into the barricade, derailing and sending the first carriage into the trench. The small unit on board quickly disembarked and captured two away-facing casemates. They were then pinned down by rifle and machine gun fire. |
||
Meanwhile, a company of Germans that had been dropped off in Zeeland headed northeast to flank the Dutch casemates on the defense line. |
Meanwhile, a company of Germans that had been dropped off in Zeeland headed northeast to flank the Dutch casemates on the defense line. |
||
They ran into the artillery battalion, which was equally surprised to see them. The Dutch quickly turned their cannons and opened fire, albeit only one cannon at a time. The Germans sustained heavy casualties and |
They ran into the artillery battalion, which was equally surprised to see them. The Dutch quickly turned their cannons and opened fire, albeit only one cannon at a time. The Germans sustained heavy casualties and after about an hour decided to withdraw to nearby woods. |
||
Another company sneaked through unoccupied trenches and launched an attack on the Dutch casemates at the road between Mill and Volkel. The Dutch sustained some casualties, but returned fire, forcing the Germans to withdraw to the troop train. |
|||
German forces then advanced along the rail line towards Mill. Along the way they encountered 10 casemates, whose weapons were pointed southeast and were caught completely by surprise. The Germans promptly captured 9 of them. They flanked the tenth one and captured most of its crew, but one soldier refused to surrender and slammed the door shut. He then proceeded to fire wildly through the casmate's loopholes, forcing the Germans to back off. |
|||
==References== |
==References== |
||
Revision as of 06:18, 1 January 2016
 | This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
|
| Battle of Mill | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Battle of the Netherlands | |||||||
 Ruins of a Dutch casemate near Mill | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Netherlands |
 Germany | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Unknown |
Gerhard Kauffmann | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| ~2,000 troops |
~30,000 soldiers 1 armored train 1 troop train | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
30 killed 50 wounded |
500 killed and wounded 1 armored train derailed 1 troop train destroyed | ||||||
The Battle of Mill was a day long struggle in and around the Dutch village of Mill on the first day of the invasion of the Netherlands. Although the Germans eventually broke through, they had suffered heavy casualties and were delayed in their advance by one day.
Background
German forces favored an attack on Mill in North Brabant for several reasons. The eastern approach was covered by thick forest, there was no swampland in front, and once inside there would be a number of roads and nearby railway that could be used to push westward.
Covering the Dutch defensive line 10km area was an anti-tank ditch lined with barbed wire and 47 casemates. The line was manned by 2 battalions, equipped with four 57mm field guns. These were supported by an artillery battalion station west of Mill, armed with twelve 84mm field guns. A company of engineers was also stationed in the area, responsible for barricading roads and prepping bridges for demolition. They were equipped with a special railway barricade referred to as "Aspergers"[1]. During the battle smaller units would be ordered to reinforce the position at Mill. Overall, the Dutch would utilize approximately 2,000 men.
The Germans planned to spearhead the assault with two trains carrying the 3rd battalion of the 481st regiment. They were to be shortly thereafter joined by the rest of the 256th Infantry Division. However, issues with transportation over the Maas river would mean that the whole division wouldn't reach Mill until noon. They would be without their heavy artillery[2].
Battle
The German armored train and troop train passed through the border unopposed and arrived in the town of Zeeland at 04:30. The Dutch forces, unaware of the invasion, had been completely surprised and didn't have time to open fire. The German troops disembarked at the Zeeland train station and radioed that they had successfully penetrated the Dutch lines. Disappointed that they hadn't made contact with the Dutch, they shunted the armored train around and sent it back to the border. Now fully aware of the situation, Dutch engineers installed the Aspergers barricade over the tracks and reinforced it with several mines.
Unable to stop in time, the armored train crashed into the barricade, derailing and sending the first carriage into the trench. The small unit on board quickly disembarked and captured two away-facing casemates. They were then pinned down by rifle and machine gun fire.
Meanwhile, a company of Germans that had been dropped off in Zeeland headed northeast to flank the Dutch casemates on the defense line. They ran into the artillery battalion, which was equally surprised to see them. The Dutch quickly turned their cannons and opened fire, albeit only one cannon at a time. The Germans sustained heavy casualties and after about an hour decided to withdraw to nearby woods.
Another company sneaked through unoccupied trenches and launched an attack on the Dutch casemates at the road between Mill and Volkel. The Dutch sustained some casualties, but returned fire, forcing the Germans to withdraw to the troop train.
German forces then advanced along the rail line towards Mill. Along the way they encountered 10 casemates, whose weapons were pointed southeast and were caught completely by surprise. The Germans promptly captured 9 of them. They flanked the tenth one and captured most of its crew, but one soldier refused to surrender and slammed the door shut. He then proceeded to fire wildly through the casmate's loopholes, forcing the Germans to back off.
References
External links