18th Infantry Division (Belgium)
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18th Infantry Division | |
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Active | 1940 |
Disbanded | 28 May 1940[citation needed] |
Country | ![]() |
Branch | Belgian Army |
Type | Infantry Division |
Role | Infantry |
Size | Division |
Part of | IV Corps (Belgium) |
Garrison/HQ | Kasterlee |
Engagements | Battle of Belgium (World War II) |
The 18th Infantry Division (18de Infanterie Divisie) was an infantry division of the Belgian Army that existed during the Battle of Belgium during the Second World War.
World War II
Source:[1]
At the start of the war, the 15th Division was one of the weaker formations in the army. It was made up entirely of older reserve regiments which was armed with antiquated weapons of world war one vintage. Moreover, its regiments lacked the fourth heavy weapons batallion that was customary in the regiments of the active army and those of newer reserves.
The division was stationed behind the Albert Canal line between Herentals and Massenhoven. To compensate for its weaker units, its lines were somewhat shorter then those of its neighbouring divisions.
As the Belgian front at the Canal collapsed near Liège, the 15th Division was withdrawn from its positions and was made to occupy the lines between the Antwerp Position and the K-W Line, covered by the forts of Kessel and Massenhoven. When the Germans broke through and the K-W Line was abandoned, the 15th Division's line was lenghtened as it was assigned a covering role for the retreat of the army. Only the 42th regiment saw heavy fighting, successfully defending Lier from multiple German probes during the may 17th.
The 15th Division withdrew all the way to the coast, where it was assigned a role in the rearguard. First, it was to prepare the north of Zeeuws Vlaanderen from a possible German attack across the Scheldt while the remaining troops of the French 7th Army withdrew from the region.
After the Germans reached the English Channel and the Allied forces in Flanders were effectively cut off, the 15th Division was positioned along the Yser facing West against a possible German breakthrough over the British sector. As the Lys Battle unfolded and the Germans decisively punctured the Belgian defences at the river, the units of the 15th Division were called in to serious action for the first time.
The 31st line regiment was detached from the Division on 25 may to man a makeshift line over the Roeselare-Ypres railroad. It took position between Frezenberg and Passendale, on the old World War One battlefields. By the 26th of may the regiment found itself in the front line. After several preliminary bombardments, the Germans succeeded in destroying several companies at the first attack, successfully envelopping the remainder of two of its batallions.
The 42nd line regiment was the last to remain on the Yser. As the situation at the Lys became desperate, Army Command was throwing the last remaining reserves into the fray. On the 26th of may, the regiment was hastily transported towards Tielt. As the Belgians embarked on their buses, the Luftwaffe attacked, leaving 20 dead and 75 wounded. By the time the regiment arrived in Tielt, it's morale had taken a serious beating. On the 27th of may, its batallions were deployed under constant Luftwaffe strafing. In the afternoon, shortly after taking position, they found themselves suddenly on the frontline. After a brief fight, they were quickly overwelmed, either surrendering or retreating in disarray.
The 43rd line regiment followed the 31st almost immediately to the position behind the railroad. It took position near Passendale, covering the flanks of the 31st and the 4th of the line. During the night of the 26th it was gradually reinforced by cyclists, machine and AA gun companies from different units.
As the disaster in the area of the 31st unfolded, the 2nd batallion of the 43rd quickly became involved in the fighting, too. Although it attempted to contain the breach on its right, by noon the Germans struck the town of Passendale in force. One by one its companies were defeated, losing several officers as well as its Major Phillippart. By the end of the day only 2 batallions were more or less in fighting condition, conducting a successful fighting retreat inland.
By the Belgian surrender on the 28th of May, at least 215 officers, NCO and enlisted were killed in action.[2]
Structure 1940
Structure of the division at the eve of the Battle of Belgium:[3]
- Headquarters, at Kasterlee
- Commanding Officer, 18th Division – Lieutenant-General Henri Six
- 3rd Carabinier Regiment
- 3rd Grenadier Regiment
- 39th Line Regiment
- 26rd Artillery Regiment (Belgium)
- 18th Bicycle Squadron (to the 18th Division)
- 15th Engineer Battalion
- 18th Signal Battalion
- 18th Divisional Supply Battalion
- 18th Divisional Field Hospital Battalion
- 18th Divisional Quartermaster Company
- 18th Divisional Military Police Unit