13th May 1940
Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2022 9:24 am
At 07.00, just over an hour after sunrise, the French attempt a counterattack against the German bridgehead with an infantry regiment made up of Category B reservists and 15 Hotchkiss H35 light tanks. In the very one-sided battle that followed, the attack was torn to pieces by 1st Panzer Division. The effects that followed, however, were completely disproportionate to the battle itself. 55th and 71st Divisions largely evaporated in panic, and the roads leading back from the Meuse were clogged with troops running away from the Germans. The majority of the French defences had been turned from an army into a frightened rabble.
By the end of the day, the Germans have captured several bridges across the Meuse intact and got around half of their three Panzer divisions across the river. The 6th and 8th Panzer divisions had also managed to attack at Monthermé, and although they had crossed the Meuse they were held up by the French positions (mostly manned by troops from Madagascar) and had not yet broken through.
It has become apparent to General von Rundstedt in command of Army Group A (and hence to OKW) that the British and French have not advanced into Belgium as expected, but instead appear to be digging in along the Scheldt line. His original plan had been to advance just inside the French border to the channel to encircle the enemy forces inside Belgium and cut them off from their sources of supply. This route, however, is now full of dug-in French troops expecting an attack across the Belgian border. While any attack would be taking them in the flank and so should succeed, this would slow down his advance and give the enemy a chance to withdraw before he could encircle them. With the agreement of the Fuhrer, the objective of the attack is changed to encircling Paris. If possible, the German forces will then swing north towards Le Havre to complete the original encirclement.
Meanwhile, General Gamelin is starting to suspect that the main effort of the German attack may not be in Belgium. Accordingly, he issues orders for the 5th Army in Nancy to be prepared to counter-attack the German forces advancing through the Ardennes should they be successful in establishing a bridgehead across the Meuse. No orders are issued to 1st Army or II corps of the BEF.
In Belgium, German troops capture Antwerp and Brussels. The number of refugees crossing into the area held by the BEF north of the Scheldt is starting to become a major problem, blocking the roads and causing logistical difficulties. There are some difficulties with the locals (the majority of the refugees are Walloons, while the inhabitants of the region are overwhelmingly Flemings), but on the whole great generosity is shown to the refugees. A number of them, including Dieudonné Saive will rapidly move on to England where they can be of most use to the continuing war effort.
In Holland, the evacuation of Waalhaven by the Fallschirmjägers is partially successful. General Student now has all his forces on the island of Dordrecht but a significant fraction were cut off and captured during the withdrawal. He now has roughly half his original force, but with very little artillery and no anti-tank guns. Attempts are made to parachute in supplies, but the Luftwaffe Ju-52 force has been taking very heavy casualties and little can be delivered.
That night, RN MGBs and MTBs operating out of Vlissingen attack the German pontoon bridge sections at Moerdijk, destroying them and causing further damage to what remains of the bridge. They also attack and sink several of the small boats being used by the Germans to ferry ammunition across the river to the airborne forces, and evacuate the wounded.
Another attack is carried out at the same time by RAF Wellingtons on the south side of the bridge, aided by the waxing moon and causing substantial damage to the bridging equipment stockpiled there. Some of the pioneers were also killed. It will be at least 48 hours before another attempt can be made to bridge the Hollands Diep.
By the end of the day, the Germans have captured several bridges across the Meuse intact and got around half of their three Panzer divisions across the river. The 6th and 8th Panzer divisions had also managed to attack at Monthermé, and although they had crossed the Meuse they were held up by the French positions (mostly manned by troops from Madagascar) and had not yet broken through.
It has become apparent to General von Rundstedt in command of Army Group A (and hence to OKW) that the British and French have not advanced into Belgium as expected, but instead appear to be digging in along the Scheldt line. His original plan had been to advance just inside the French border to the channel to encircle the enemy forces inside Belgium and cut them off from their sources of supply. This route, however, is now full of dug-in French troops expecting an attack across the Belgian border. While any attack would be taking them in the flank and so should succeed, this would slow down his advance and give the enemy a chance to withdraw before he could encircle them. With the agreement of the Fuhrer, the objective of the attack is changed to encircling Paris. If possible, the German forces will then swing north towards Le Havre to complete the original encirclement.
Meanwhile, General Gamelin is starting to suspect that the main effort of the German attack may not be in Belgium. Accordingly, he issues orders for the 5th Army in Nancy to be prepared to counter-attack the German forces advancing through the Ardennes should they be successful in establishing a bridgehead across the Meuse. No orders are issued to 1st Army or II corps of the BEF.
In Belgium, German troops capture Antwerp and Brussels. The number of refugees crossing into the area held by the BEF north of the Scheldt is starting to become a major problem, blocking the roads and causing logistical difficulties. There are some difficulties with the locals (the majority of the refugees are Walloons, while the inhabitants of the region are overwhelmingly Flemings), but on the whole great generosity is shown to the refugees. A number of them, including Dieudonné Saive will rapidly move on to England where they can be of most use to the continuing war effort.
In Holland, the evacuation of Waalhaven by the Fallschirmjägers is partially successful. General Student now has all his forces on the island of Dordrecht but a significant fraction were cut off and captured during the withdrawal. He now has roughly half his original force, but with very little artillery and no anti-tank guns. Attempts are made to parachute in supplies, but the Luftwaffe Ju-52 force has been taking very heavy casualties and little can be delivered.
That night, RN MGBs and MTBs operating out of Vlissingen attack the German pontoon bridge sections at Moerdijk, destroying them and causing further damage to what remains of the bridge. They also attack and sink several of the small boats being used by the Germans to ferry ammunition across the river to the airborne forces, and evacuate the wounded.
Another attack is carried out at the same time by RAF Wellingtons on the south side of the bridge, aided by the waxing moon and causing substantial damage to the bridging equipment stockpiled there. Some of the pioneers were also killed. It will be at least 48 hours before another attempt can be made to bridge the Hollands Diep.