Luftlande - Holland 1940.

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows...............

A bridge in the center of Rotterdam - May 1940.

Rotterdam on May 10, 1940.

South of the river - Waalhaven.

Dietrich v. Choltitz recalled: "as spearhead, Leutnant Schwiebert flew ahead with its fraction; several minutes later followed the bulk of the battalion (III. / IR 16), with intense cold we reach the 3000, then 3500, at last 4000 meters. Thus within the expected time we reached the air-road towards the Dutch border. Shortly before I began to feel that our troops did not fly grouped together. I gave the order to fly more slowly, from 250 k/h went down to 150 k/h and lost height at the same time. Soon the transport group of our battalion was assembled again and proceeded so for the access channel "later tells "first of all, we have come together without loosing a single plane. On the Dutch border we get anti-aircraft artillery fire. Own fighters quick flew around our heavy Ju 52 ".

The story goes like this "Then we reached Rotterdam, where we recognize the airfield. Machines lose height and with increasing speed we went to the ground. The rapid descent raises our blood to the head. "

Sources: El III Reich. IV ANESA 1975.
"Soldado entre Soldados" por Dietrich von Choltitz.
Die Geschichte der 22 Infanterie Division. v Metzsch
OLDENBURGISCHE INFANTERIE (O I R 91/. IR 16/ PzBtlt 314) Nº 15/1989 Nº 20/ 1990.
http://familieholleman.nl/mei1940.html
http://www.zuidfront-holland1940.nl/
http://www.angelfire.com/my/rememberww2/1940/05/10.htm
http://www.mgs-del.de/2_I.R.+65.html
http://4umi.com/image/map/nl/rotterdam/brongers.php

Cheers. Raúl M .

Feliz Año Nuevo - Happy New Year - feliz Ano Novo - gluckliches Neues Jahr - Bonne Année - Felice Anno Nuovo!!!

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows...............

A bridge in the center of Rotterdam - May 1940.

Rotterdam on May 10, 1940.

South of the river - Waalhaven.

While the Dutch 2. III Bat of 39 RI commanded by Captain Petit organized a defensive position in the Plaza Afrikaaner and some 250 meters due north established a supply company. Soon arrived there two German infantry Platoons (Leutnant Schwiebert and Oberfeldwebel Grauting) of the 9. / IR 16 reinforced with elements of the 2. / Pi 22 and held a brief exchange of gunfire. Meanwhile at Waalhaven had landed also in the HQ of the III. / IR 16 (Oberstleutnant v. Choltitz), the remaining of the 9. / IR 16 (Oberleutnant Schreiber), 2. / Pi Btl 22 (Oberleutnant Metzdorf), a cannon Pak 36 and some motorcycles with sidecars.

The bulk of the 9. / IR 16 came to the Plaza Afrikaaner and it was engaged on the fighting, the Adjutant of the III. Battalion (Oberleutnant Grave) tried to move forward with a group of men and was seriously injured, with him fell also Unteroffizier Reichere. However Captain Moquette surrendered with his supply company, hence the German found an easier way to reach the bridge.

Sources: El III Reich. IV ANESA 1975.
"Soldado entre Soldados" por Dietrich von Choltitz.
Die Geschichte der 22 Infanterie Division. v Metzsch
OLDENBURGISCHE INFANTERIE (O I R 91/. IR 16/ PzBtlt 314) Nº 15/1989 Nº 20/ 1990.
http://familieholleman.nl/mei1940.html
http://www.zuidfront-holland1940.nl/
http://www.angelfire.com/my/rememberww2/1940/05/10.htm
http://www.mgs-del.de/2_I.R.+65.html
http://4umi.com/image/map/nl/rotterdam/brongers.php

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows...............

A bridge in the center of Rotterdam - May 1940.

Rotterdam on May 10, 1940.

South of the river - Waalhaven.

Around 09:00 hours had assembled in the North Island (south end of the bridge) elements of the 9. / IR 16 (part on the north side), a Platoon of the 11. / IR 16 (the mass north of the bridge), the 12. / IR 16, plus the decimated paratroopers under Kerfin; in total v. Choltitz had there about 300 men. According to a report of Kerfin the afternoon of May 10, 1940, the total forces in the northern bridgehead amounted to 11 paratroopers and 1 officer, 7 NCOs and 26 men in the IR 16.

In the afternoon had landed the 10. / IR 16 of Hauptmann Bolk, which was given the task of clearing the Afrikaaner Square. This company, with the support of 80 mm mortars of the 12. / IR 16 was able to reduce the Dutch by 16:00 hours. The casualties suffered by the Germans were pretty serious, so for example the 2. / Pi Btl 22 lost all of its officers, the Chief Oberleutnant Metzdorf, and the Platoon leaders Leutnant Barkemeyer and Leutnant Belitz, all wounded. Among those killed were the Obergefreiter Kastner, the Unteroffizier Riechers and the Adjutant of von Choltitz, Oberleutnant Ernst Grave.

Sources: El III Reich. IV ANESA 1975.
"Soldado entre Soldados" por Dietrich von Choltitz.
Die Geschichte der 22 Infanterie Division. v Metzsch
OLDENBURGISCHE INFANTERIE (O I R 91/. IR 16/ PzBtlt 314) Nº 15/1989 Nº 20/ 1990.
http://familieholleman.nl/mei1940.html
http://www.zuidfront-holland1940.nl/
http://www.angelfire.com/my/rememberww2/1940/05/10.htm
http://www.mgs-del.de/2_I.R.+65.html
http://4umi.com/image/map/nl/rotterdam/brongers.php

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows...............

A bridge in the center of Rotterdam - May 1940.

Rotterdam on May 10, 1940.

South of the river - Waalhaven.

At the end of the day landed at Waalhaven the 6. / IR 72 (the IR 72 belonging to the 46 ID was the reserve of the Higher echelon) and was engaged in combat along the New Meuse. At 14:00 hours the Dutch destroyer Hr. Ms. Van Galen was attacked by German aircraft and after receiving a harsh punishment sank with the loss of one killed and 13 wounded.

Already during the night of May 10, 1940 began arriving at Rotterdamm the Dutch reinforcements, being the first to reach the IV./ RI 10, on the morning of May 11, 1940 came the I. / IR 11, the third unit to arrive was the III. / RI 21 but with two companies of riflemen and at 03:00 hours reported in the Cattle Square the 2. Company IV. / RI 15, the rest of the battalion arrived at 09:00 hours.

Sources: El III Reich. IV ANESA 1975.
"Soldado entre Soldados" por Dietrich von Choltitz.
Die Geschichte der 22 Infanterie Division. v Metzsch
OLDENBURGISCHE INFANTERIE (O I R 91/. IR 16/ PzBtlt 314) Nº 15/1989 Nº 20/ 1990.
http://familieholleman.nl/mei1940.html
http://www.zuidfront-holland1940.nl/
http://www.angelfire.com/my/rememberww2/1940/05/10.htm
http://www.mgs-del.de/2_I.R.+65.html
http://4umi.com/image/map/nl/rotterdam/brongers.php

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows...............

A bridge in the center of Rotterdam - May 1940.

Rotterdam on May 10, 1940.

South of the river - Waalhaven.

For the III. / IR 16 the situation was uncertain that May 11 of 1940, the Commander of the 7th Air Division ordered that Oberstleutnant v. Choltitz was to retreat of the north of the bridge and fall back to the island but v. Choltitz refused to comply with that order after the sacrifice made by his troops in order to secure the bridgehead. On the evening of this day the III. / IR 16 had been reinforced with the 2. / IR 16 and the 6. / IR 72.

On May 12, 1940 will be the day when the armored vanguard of the 9th Pz contact the II. / FJR 1 in the southern head of Moerdijk Bridge.

Sources: El III Reich. IV ANESA 1975.
"Soldado entre Soldados" por Dietrich von Choltitz.
Die Geschichte der 22 Infanterie Division. v Metzsch
OLDENBURGISCHE INFANTERIE (O I R 91/. IR 16/ PzBtlt 314) Nº 15/1989 Nº 20/ 1990.
http://familieholleman.nl/mei1940.html
http://www.zuidfront-holland1940.nl/
http://www.angelfire.com/my/rememberww2/1940/05/10.htm
http://www.mgs-del.de/2_I.R.+65.html
http://4umi.com/image/map/nl/rotterdam/brongers.php

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows...............

A bridge in the center of Rotterdam - May 1940.

Rotterdam on May 10, 1940.

South of the river - Waalhaven.

On the night from the fourth to the fifth day, it was possible to establish contact with the troops attacking in the ground (9 Pz). At 08:00 hours on May 14, 1940 came to the CP of the III. / IR 16 an officer of the Staff of the Army Corps (Mot) newly arrived, it was the XXXIX AK, this officer was accompanied by an interpreter with the task of making contact with the Dutch commander at 11:00 hours on the bridge. At 10:00 hours marched on the bridge with a white flag, returning at 11:30 hours. Between 12:30 and 13:00 hours approached the place the Adjutant of the Commander of the city to parley. It did not hear any shots. When the Dutch officer was asked if the city had surrendered, he gave a negative response.

Sources: El III Reich. IV ANESA 1975.
"Soldado entre Soldados" por Dietrich von Choltitz.
Die Geschichte der 22 Infanterie Division. v Metzsch
OLDENBURGISCHE INFANTERIE (O I R 91/. IR 16/ PzBtlt 314) Nº 15/1989 Nº 20/ 1990.
http://familieholleman.nl/mei1940.html
http://www.zuidfront-holland1940.nl/
http://www.angelfire.com/my/rememberww2/1940/05/10.htm
http://www.mgs-del.de/2_I.R.+65.html
http://4umi.com/image/map/nl/rotterdam/brongers.php

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows...............

A bridge in the center of Rotterdam - May 1940.

Rotterdam on May 10, 1940.

South of the river - Waalhaven.

At 14:30 hours the Adjutant returned to the bridge, sadly time elapsed without any decision by the Dutch. They were told that the Luftwaffe would bomb the city if it was still holding. It was coordinated with the bomber group that would be launched red flares to abort the mission. Shortly before the arrival of the air formations the lights were thrown as agreed but a formation failed to distinguish it and continued the mission; at 15:00 hours the bombs fell on the center of Rotterdam and the city burned.

At 17:00 hours arrived the commander of the city and at 18:00 hours he surrendered the city on fire.

Sources: El III Reich. IV ANESA 1975.
"Soldado entre Soldados" por Dietrich von Choltitz.
Die Geschichte der 22 Infanterie Division. v Metzsch
OLDENBURGISCHE INFANTERIE (O I R 91/. IR 16/ PzBtlt 314) Nº 15/1989 Nº 20/ 1990.
http://familieholleman.nl/mei1940.html
http://www.zuidfront-holland1940.nl/
http://www.angelfire.com/my/rememberww2/1940/05/10.htm
http://www.mgs-del.de/2_I.R.+65.html
http://4umi.com/image/map/nl/rotterdam/brongers.php

Cheers. Raúl M .