Operation Infatuate
Encyclopedia
Operation Infatuate was the codename given to Anglo-Canadian operation during the Second World War to open the port of Antwerp to shipping and relieve logistical constraints. The operation was part of the wider battle of the Scheldt
and involved two assault landings from the sea by the 4th Special Service Brigade
and the 52nd (Lowland) Division. At the same time the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division
would force a crossing of the Walcheren causeway.
The city of Antwerp and its port was captured by British 2nd Army in early September 1944. While 21st Army Group's priority at the time was Operation Market-Garden, no sense of urgency was placed in securing the approaches to the port facilities there. Walcheren Island, at the western end of the Beveland Peninsula, overlooked the Scheldt Estuary, and was strongly garrisoned by the German 15th Army who had emplaced strong concrete fortifications and large calibre guns which made it impossible to transit the waterway into Antwerp.
The First Canadian Army
was tasked by 21st Army Group to open the Antwerp area, but in the meantime had been also detailed to capture the channel ports of Boulogne and Calais, in order to ease the logistical concerns associated with drawing supplies from the Normandy beaches. German tenacity in the channel ports meant that the Allied supply lines would continue to extend the further away the front line advanced. The channel ports were eventually "masked" when the Canadian army failed to take the ports, and attention turned to the Battle of the Scheldt
. The 1st Canadian Army advanced north-west from the bridgehead in Antwerp and, after heavy fighting in early and mid-October, broke out onto the narrow isthmus which connected South-Beveland
to the mainland.
On the 9 October 1944 Field Marshal Montgomery finally issued a directive giving priority to the clearing of the Scheldt
and ten days later the Canadians began their approach to Walcheren Island along the isthmus. To the south of the Scheldt, the Germans had been cornered in Zeebrugge
, surrendering the Breskens Pocket on November 2. Both South
and North-Beveland
had been virtually cleared and the time was right for the assault of Walcheren itself. Failure to take Middleburg after the Battle of Walcheren Causeway
was a distasteful prelude to Operation Infatuate.
and part of the 52nd (Lowland) Division landing at Westkapelle
in the west of the island and at Flushing
in the south. The 2nd Canadian Infantry Division
was to cross by a water channel close to the causeway in the east. However, in the Battle of Walcheren Causeway
, it soon became clear that the tidal flats around the water channel were virtually impassable leaving the Canadians with the hazardous option of a direct assault along the well defended causeway — an exposed stretch 40 yards wide and 1500 yards long. The Canadians established a bridgehead on the island through which the British 52nd Lowland Division attempted to pass through. Against much scepticism and opposition, the plan of Lieut.-Gen. Guy Simonds
(acting commander of First Canadian Army
) to breach the island's dykes, and flood the interior, was adopted.
The bombing of Walcheren in October by RAF Bomber Command had breached the dykes around the island and had turned it into a massive lagoon, rimmed by broken dykes. The Germans had installed such defences on the dykes to virtually turn them into a continuous fortification bristling with guns of every calibre. The Marines placed great reliance on Weasel and Buffalo amphibious landing craft. The RM Commandos were to seize the shoulders of the gap in the dyke and then to fan out north and south to roll up the remainder of the German defences by linking up with the southern thrust. The RAF
provided air support and the 79th Armoured Division
provided wand naval gunfire support including Landing Craft Gun (Medium) and multiple-rocket launch systems.
landed at 0545 hours and the remainder at 1000 hours.
On the day of the assault a heavy mist over the Dutch and Belgian airfields limited RAF support for the actual landings, although the skies over Walcheren itself were clear. No.4 Commando, under Lt-Colonel Dawson DSO, had a problem in finding a suitable place to get ashore. Dawson sent a small reconnaissance party (known as Keepforce) ashore in two LCPs. They were followed by Nos.1 and 2 troops who secured the beachhead with minimal casualties and soon began to take prisoners. The main body came in at 0630 hours, but, by this time, the Germans were totally alert and opened heavy fire with machine guns and 20 mm cannon. Nevertheless the Marines got ashore with only two or three casualties, although, the LCA containing the heavier equipment including 3 inches (76.2 mm) mortars, hit a stake and sank some 20 yards (18.3 m) off shore. The mortars were successfully salvaged.
The marines now fought their way through the German strong-points. They were somewhat encumbered by the need to leave rearguards against infiltration. However, they were aided when the leading battalion of 155 Brigade began to land at 0830 hours despite having lost two LCAs to heavy fire from one of the coastal batteries. German prisoners were pressed into service unloading stores and supplies. A good proportion of the defenders of Walcheren were poor quality troops and many suffered from stomach complaints. Curiously the defence positions were well stocked with food and ammunition. By 1600 hours the Commandos had reached most of their objectives and they decided to consolidate as the day drew to a close.
Brigadier Leicester's plan for the attack on Westkapelle called for three troops of No.41 (Royal Marine) Commando, under Lt-Colonel E C E Palmer RM, to land on the north shoulder of the gap blown in the dyke with the objective of clearing the area between there and the village of Westkapelle. The remainder of the Commando, along with the two No.10 (IA) Commando troops, would then come ashore in Weasels and Buffalos launched from LCTs. Their mission would be to clear Westkapelle and then move north. No. 48 (Royal Marine) Commando
, under Lt-Colonel J. L. Moulton DSO, would use the same methods but come ashore south of the gap. From there they would advance on Zoutelande some two miles (3 km) to the south. Finally No. 47 (Royal Marine) Commando
, under Lt-Colonel C.F. Phillips, landed behind No.48 and drove on to meet up with No.4 Commando near Flushing.
The force sailed from Ostend at 0315 hours and by 0930 hours they were off the objective. The ships bombarded the German defences with everything at their disposal including the 15 inches (381 mm) guns of HMS Warspite, the guns of LCGs, the rockets of rocket LCTs and a squadron of rocket-firing Typhoons. The German defences held fire until the assault craft made for the shore. Several landing craft were hit including a rocket LCT which received a direct hit. Thirty landing craft from the Close Support Squadron were lost and over 300 men were killed in the action.
No.41 overran a pillbox in their path and pushed onto Westkapelle where they were met by a battery of four 150 mm guns. They were reduced with the help of some tanks and the Commando then moved north along the dyke.
No.48 also came up against a battery of 150 mm guns. The leading troop commander was killed and several men wounded in an attack on the position. Another attempt was met with intense mortar fire. Supporting fire was called in from the field batteries in the Breskens area together with Typhoon attacks. Following this action another troop went in under cover of smoke and reached the centre of the battery putting it out of action.
The next day No.4 Commando, together with 5 King's Own Scottish Borderers
, continued with the battle for Flushing. No.5 (French) Troop were involved in an action against a strong point nicknamed Dover. One section of the troop gained the roof of a cinema and opened fire on the strong point with their PIAT
. The other sections moved along the street and through back gardens. As the troop was preparing for the final assault, Typhoons attacked the enemy position. That afternoon the Troop resumed their advance and reached the corner overlooking their objective. One house remained occupied by the Germans and as they made for the strong point they suffered several casualties from the fire of No.5 Troop. No.1 Section was now by the Anti-Tank wall and firing PIAT bombs into the embrasures of the strong point at very short range. Corporal Lafont was on the point of breaching the strongpoint with a made-up charge at the ready when the German defenders surrendered.
No.48 (RM) Commando pushed on at first light and took Zouteland, meeting only light opposition. No.47 took over the advance but soon came up against a strong fortified position with an anti-tank ditch and huge Dragon's Teeth. The weather had closed in and no air support was available so they attacked supported only by artillery. They came under heavy mortar fire and suffered several casualties. The other half of the Commando having moved along the dyke were confronted by another 150 mm battery. Their approach was obstructed by pockets of resistance to the front of the battery which were not cleared until nightfall. The three Troops halted in front of the battery and repulsed a German counter-attack just after they had been replenished with much-needed food and ammunition.
Defensive stakes and mines embedded in the base of the dyke made it difficult for supply craft to land stores. By the third and fourth days the Commando were forced to 'endure' captured German rations. To the relief of all concerned supplies were parachuted in on the fifth day near Zouteland.
No.41 and No.10 Commandos reached Domburg on the morning of D+1 where they encountered strong resistance. That evening Brigadier Leicester ordered No.41, less one Troop, to assist No.47 in the south, leaving the Troops of No.10 and one of No.41 to finish mopping up Domburg. No.4 Commando was relieved by 155 Brigade and embarked on LVTs to assault two batteries, W3 and W4 situated north-west of Flushing. They had been fighting for 40 hours and needed a well earned rest. After landing in a gap in the dyke, about which little was known, Lt-Colonel Dawson asked Brigadier Leicester for a break of some 24 hours to rest his men. This was agreed but it was well after dark before the Commando was relieved by 155 brigade. In the event No.47 (RM) Commando overcame the opposition south of Zouteland later that day and linked up with No. 4 Commando. Meanwhile No.10 cleared Domburg with the Norwegians showing particular courage in the face of heavy opposition which cost them a number of casualties.
In the after-action report of the battle Captain J. Linzel of No 10 Commando stated....
At 0815 four Germans approached the Allied troops to ask for a surrender of all remaining German troops in the area. After some negotiation 40,000 Germans surrendered and for them the war was over. No.4 SS Brigade had lost 103 killed, 325 wounded and 68 missing during eight days of fighting. By the end of November after a massive minesweeping operation of the Scheldt, the first cargoes were being unloaded at Antwerp.
The three RM Commandos of No.4 Special Service Brigade, along with the No.4 (Belgian) and No.5 (Norwegian), troops of No.10 (IA) Commando, commanded by Peter Laycock, landed at Westkapelle on the western side of the island. No.4 Commando, with Nos.1 and 8 (French) troops under command, crossed from Breskens and attacked Flushing. In support were 155 Infantry brigade. The brigade had trained for this assault in the Ostend area during October.
Battle of the Scheldt
The Battle of the Scheldt was a series of military operations of the Canadian 1st Army, led by Lieutenant-General Guy Simonds. The battle took place in northern Belgium and southwestern Netherlands during World War II from 2 October-8 November 1944...
and involved two assault landings from the sea by the 4th Special Service Brigade
4th Special Service Brigade
The 4th Special Service Brigade was created in March 1944 from units of the Royal Marines. Due to the success of the Army Commandos’ operations in Norway, the Channel Islands, St...
and the 52nd (Lowland) Division. At the same time the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division
2nd Canadian Infantry Division
The 2nd Canadian Infantry Division was an infantry division of the First Canadian Army, mobilized on 1 September 1939 at the outset of the Second World War. It was initially composed of volunteers within brigades established along regional lines, though a halt in recruitment in the early months of...
would force a crossing of the Walcheren causeway.
Background
The First Canadian Army
First Canadian Army
The First Canadian Army was the senior Canadian operational formation in Europe during the Second World War.The Army was formed in early 1942, replacing the existing unnumbered Canadian Corps, as the growing number of Canadian forces in the United Kingdom necessitated an expansion to two corps...
was tasked by 21st Army Group to open the Antwerp area, but in the meantime had been also detailed to capture the channel ports of Boulogne and Calais, in order to ease the logistical concerns associated with drawing supplies from the Normandy beaches. German tenacity in the channel ports meant that the Allied supply lines would continue to extend the further away the front line advanced. The channel ports were eventually "masked" when the Canadian army failed to take the ports, and attention turned to the Battle of the Scheldt
Battle of the Scheldt
The Battle of the Scheldt was a series of military operations of the Canadian 1st Army, led by Lieutenant-General Guy Simonds. The battle took place in northern Belgium and southwestern Netherlands during World War II from 2 October-8 November 1944...
. The 1st Canadian Army advanced north-west from the bridgehead in Antwerp and, after heavy fighting in early and mid-October, broke out onto the narrow isthmus which connected South-Beveland
Zuid-Beveland
Zuid-Beveland is a part of the province of Zeeland in the Netherlands north of the Westerschelde and south of the Oosterschelde. It is a former island, now peninsula, crossed by the Canal through Zuid-Beveland on the west and the Scheldt-Rhine Canal on the east.It consists of four...
to the mainland.
On the 9 October 1944 Field Marshal Montgomery finally issued a directive giving priority to the clearing of the Scheldt
Scheldt
The Scheldt is a 350 km long river in northern France, western Belgium and the southwestern part of the Netherlands...
and ten days later the Canadians began their approach to Walcheren Island along the isthmus. To the south of the Scheldt, the Germans had been cornered in Zeebrugge
Zeebrugge
Zeebrugge is a village on the coast of Belgium and a subdivision of Bruges, for which it is the modern port. Zeebrugge serves as both the international port of Bruges-Zeebrugge and a seafront resort with hotels, cafés, a marina and a beach.-Location:...
, surrendering the Breskens Pocket on November 2. Both South
Zuid-Beveland
Zuid-Beveland is a part of the province of Zeeland in the Netherlands north of the Westerschelde and south of the Oosterschelde. It is a former island, now peninsula, crossed by the Canal through Zuid-Beveland on the west and the Scheldt-Rhine Canal on the east.It consists of four...
and North-Beveland
Noord-Beveland
Noord-Beveland is a municipality in the southwestern Netherlands and a former island, now part of the Walcheren-Zuid-Beveland-Noord-Beveland peninsula....
had been virtually cleared and the time was right for the assault of Walcheren itself. Failure to take Middleburg after the Battle of Walcheren Causeway
Battle of Walcheren Causeway
The Battle of Walcheren Causeway was an engagement of the Battle of the Scheldt between the 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade, elements of the British 52nd Infantry Division, notably the Glasgow Highlanders, and troops of the German 15th Army in 1944...
was a distasteful prelude to Operation Infatuate.
Prelude
A three pronged assault was planned with British CommandosBritish Commandos
The British Commandos were formed during the Second World War in June 1940, following a request from the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, for a force that could carry out raids against German-occupied Europe...
and part of the 52nd (Lowland) Division landing at Westkapelle
Westkapelle
Westkapelle can refer to:* Westkapelle - a place in the municipality of Knokke-Heist in Belgium* Westkapelle - a place in the municipality of Veere in the Netherlands...
in the west of the island and at Flushing
Flushing, Netherlands
Vlissingen is a municipality and a city in the southwestern Netherlands on the former island of Walcheren. With its strategic location between the Scheldt river and the North Sea, Vlissingen has been an important harbour for centuries. It was granted city rights in 1315. In the 17th century...
in the south. The 2nd Canadian Infantry Division
2nd Canadian Infantry Division
The 2nd Canadian Infantry Division was an infantry division of the First Canadian Army, mobilized on 1 September 1939 at the outset of the Second World War. It was initially composed of volunteers within brigades established along regional lines, though a halt in recruitment in the early months of...
was to cross by a water channel close to the causeway in the east. However, in the Battle of Walcheren Causeway
Battle of Walcheren Causeway
The Battle of Walcheren Causeway was an engagement of the Battle of the Scheldt between the 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade, elements of the British 52nd Infantry Division, notably the Glasgow Highlanders, and troops of the German 15th Army in 1944...
, it soon became clear that the tidal flats around the water channel were virtually impassable leaving the Canadians with the hazardous option of a direct assault along the well defended causeway — an exposed stretch 40 yards wide and 1500 yards long. The Canadians established a bridgehead on the island through which the British 52nd Lowland Division attempted to pass through. Against much scepticism and opposition, the plan of Lieut.-Gen. Guy Simonds
Guy Simonds
Lieutenant General Guy Granville Simonds, CC, CB, CBE, DSO, CD was a Canadian Army officer who commanded the II Canadian Corps during World War II. He served as acting commander of the First Canadian Army, leading the Allied forces to victory in the Battle of the Scheldt in 1944...
(acting commander of First Canadian Army
First Canadian Army
The First Canadian Army was the senior Canadian operational formation in Europe during the Second World War.The Army was formed in early 1942, replacing the existing unnumbered Canadian Corps, as the growing number of Canadian forces in the United Kingdom necessitated an expansion to two corps...
) to breach the island's dykes, and flood the interior, was adopted.
The bombing of Walcheren in October by RAF Bomber Command had breached the dykes around the island and had turned it into a massive lagoon, rimmed by broken dykes. The Germans had installed such defences on the dykes to virtually turn them into a continuous fortification bristling with guns of every calibre. The Marines placed great reliance on Weasel and Buffalo amphibious landing craft. The RM Commandos were to seize the shoulders of the gap in the dyke and then to fan out north and south to roll up the remainder of the German defences by linking up with the southern thrust. The RAF
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
provided air support and the 79th Armoured Division
79th Armoured Division
The 79th Armoured Division was a specialist British Army armoured formation created as part of the preparations for the Normandy invasion of 6 June 1944...
provided wand naval gunfire support including Landing Craft Gun (Medium) and multiple-rocket launch systems.
Landings
After some debate over the sea conditions the operation was planned for November 1. No. 4 CommandoNo. 4 Commando
No. 4 Commando was a battalion-sized British Army commando unit, formed in 1940 early in the Second World War. Although it was raised to conduct small-scale raids and harass garrisons along the coast of German-occupied France, it was mainly employed as a highly-trained infantry assault unit.The...
landed at 0545 hours and the remainder at 1000 hours.
On the day of the assault a heavy mist over the Dutch and Belgian airfields limited RAF support for the actual landings, although the skies over Walcheren itself were clear. No.4 Commando, under Lt-Colonel Dawson DSO, had a problem in finding a suitable place to get ashore. Dawson sent a small reconnaissance party (known as Keepforce) ashore in two LCPs. They were followed by Nos.1 and 2 troops who secured the beachhead with minimal casualties and soon began to take prisoners. The main body came in at 0630 hours, but, by this time, the Germans were totally alert and opened heavy fire with machine guns and 20 mm cannon. Nevertheless the Marines got ashore with only two or three casualties, although, the LCA containing the heavier equipment including 3 inches (76.2 mm) mortars, hit a stake and sank some 20 yards (18.3 m) off shore. The mortars were successfully salvaged.
The marines now fought their way through the German strong-points. They were somewhat encumbered by the need to leave rearguards against infiltration. However, they were aided when the leading battalion of 155 Brigade began to land at 0830 hours despite having lost two LCAs to heavy fire from one of the coastal batteries. German prisoners were pressed into service unloading stores and supplies. A good proportion of the defenders of Walcheren were poor quality troops and many suffered from stomach complaints. Curiously the defence positions were well stocked with food and ammunition. By 1600 hours the Commandos had reached most of their objectives and they decided to consolidate as the day drew to a close.
Brigadier Leicester's plan for the attack on Westkapelle called for three troops of No.41 (Royal Marine) Commando, under Lt-Colonel E C E Palmer RM, to land on the north shoulder of the gap blown in the dyke with the objective of clearing the area between there and the village of Westkapelle. The remainder of the Commando, along with the two No.10 (IA) Commando troops, would then come ashore in Weasels and Buffalos launched from LCTs. Their mission would be to clear Westkapelle and then move north. No. 48 (Royal Marine) Commando
No. 48 (Royal Marine) Commando
No. 48 Commando was a Royal Marine battalion size formation in the British Commandos, formed in 1944 during the Second World War. No...
, under Lt-Colonel J. L. Moulton DSO, would use the same methods but come ashore south of the gap. From there they would advance on Zoutelande some two miles (3 km) to the south. Finally No. 47 (Royal Marine) Commando
No. 47 (Royal Marine) Commando
No. 47 Commando was a battalion size formation in the British Commandos, formed in August 1943 during the Second World War. The Commando was assigned to the 4th Special Service Brigade and served North West Europe and took part in the Normandy Landings, operations around Ostend, Antwerp and the...
, under Lt-Colonel C.F. Phillips, landed behind No.48 and drove on to meet up with No.4 Commando near Flushing.
The force sailed from Ostend at 0315 hours and by 0930 hours they were off the objective. The ships bombarded the German defences with everything at their disposal including the 15 inches (381 mm) guns of HMS Warspite, the guns of LCGs, the rockets of rocket LCTs and a squadron of rocket-firing Typhoons. The German defences held fire until the assault craft made for the shore. Several landing craft were hit including a rocket LCT which received a direct hit. Thirty landing craft from the Close Support Squadron were lost and over 300 men were killed in the action.
No.41 overran a pillbox in their path and pushed onto Westkapelle where they were met by a battery of four 150 mm guns. They were reduced with the help of some tanks and the Commando then moved north along the dyke.
No.48 also came up against a battery of 150 mm guns. The leading troop commander was killed and several men wounded in an attack on the position. Another attempt was met with intense mortar fire. Supporting fire was called in from the field batteries in the Breskens area together with Typhoon attacks. Following this action another troop went in under cover of smoke and reached the centre of the battery putting it out of action.
The next day No.4 Commando, together with 5 King's Own Scottish Borderers
King's Own Scottish Borderers
The King's Own Scottish Borderers was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Scottish Division.-History:It was raised on 18 March 1689 by the Earl of Leven to defend Edinburgh against the Jacobite forces of James II. It is said that 800 men were recruited within the space of two hours...
, continued with the battle for Flushing. No.5 (French) Troop were involved in an action against a strong point nicknamed Dover. One section of the troop gained the roof of a cinema and opened fire on the strong point with their PIAT
PIAT
The Projector, Infantry, Anti Tank was a British hand-held anti-tank weapon developed during the Second World War. The PIAT was designed in 1942 in response to the British Army's need for a more effective infantry anti-tank weapon, and entered service in 1943.The PIAT was based on the spigot...
. The other sections moved along the street and through back gardens. As the troop was preparing for the final assault, Typhoons attacked the enemy position. That afternoon the Troop resumed their advance and reached the corner overlooking their objective. One house remained occupied by the Germans and as they made for the strong point they suffered several casualties from the fire of No.5 Troop. No.1 Section was now by the Anti-Tank wall and firing PIAT bombs into the embrasures of the strong point at very short range. Corporal Lafont was on the point of breaching the strongpoint with a made-up charge at the ready when the German defenders surrendered.
No.48 (RM) Commando pushed on at first light and took Zouteland, meeting only light opposition. No.47 took over the advance but soon came up against a strong fortified position with an anti-tank ditch and huge Dragon's Teeth. The weather had closed in and no air support was available so they attacked supported only by artillery. They came under heavy mortar fire and suffered several casualties. The other half of the Commando having moved along the dyke were confronted by another 150 mm battery. Their approach was obstructed by pockets of resistance to the front of the battery which were not cleared until nightfall. The three Troops halted in front of the battery and repulsed a German counter-attack just after they had been replenished with much-needed food and ammunition.
Defensive stakes and mines embedded in the base of the dyke made it difficult for supply craft to land stores. By the third and fourth days the Commando were forced to 'endure' captured German rations. To the relief of all concerned supplies were parachuted in on the fifth day near Zouteland.
No.41 and No.10 Commandos reached Domburg on the morning of D+1 where they encountered strong resistance. That evening Brigadier Leicester ordered No.41, less one Troop, to assist No.47 in the south, leaving the Troops of No.10 and one of No.41 to finish mopping up Domburg. No.4 Commando was relieved by 155 Brigade and embarked on LVTs to assault two batteries, W3 and W4 situated north-west of Flushing. They had been fighting for 40 hours and needed a well earned rest. After landing in a gap in the dyke, about which little was known, Lt-Colonel Dawson asked Brigadier Leicester for a break of some 24 hours to rest his men. This was agreed but it was well after dark before the Commando was relieved by 155 brigade. In the event No.47 (RM) Commando overcame the opposition south of Zouteland later that day and linked up with No. 4 Commando. Meanwhile No.10 cleared Domburg with the Norwegians showing particular courage in the face of heavy opposition which cost them a number of casualties.
In the after-action report of the battle Captain J. Linzel of No 10 Commando stated....
This operation had more impact on me. The objective was to clear the seaway to Antwerp. We went to Belgium, where the Nr4 Troops Brigade and the No10 Commando were billeted. We were an attached unit of 14 men. We entered our LCT's Buffalo's amphibious vehicles to go to Walcheren where we experienced heavy German Artillery. Our vehicle got hit direct by a grenade, setting our flame throwers and ammunition on fire. This was a chaos. Our burning Buffalo was pushed into the sea and I can remember that together with 10 other men I ended-up in another Buffalo and landed at Westkapelle. We experienced some serious fighting there and a lot of the Brigade were killed. It took us 3 days to capture the German dyke at Vlissingen, there were about 300 casements. Captain J. Linzel.
Aftermath
Nos. 4, 47, 48 Commandos then concentrated at Zouteland and a two-day pause ensued while they re-supplied. The remaining enemy resistance was concentrated in the area north-west of Domburg. Nos.4 and 48 Commando set off on foot, although they used LVs to cross the gap at Westkapelle, in order to reinforce No.10 and No.41. While No. 41 assaulted the last remaining battery, W19, No.4 cleared the Overduin woods and pushed on to Vrouwenpolder opposite North Beveland. No.48 remained in reserve, This phase of the operation began on November 8.At 0815 four Germans approached the Allied troops to ask for a surrender of all remaining German troops in the area. After some negotiation 40,000 Germans surrendered and for them the war was over. No.4 SS Brigade had lost 103 killed, 325 wounded and 68 missing during eight days of fighting. By the end of November after a massive minesweeping operation of the Scheldt, the first cargoes were being unloaded at Antwerp.
Units
No. 2 Dutch Troop of 10 IA (Inter-Allied) Commando moved to Brugge in Belgium on 20 October 1944 and was incorporated into No. 4 Commando Brigade. They split up and were attached to other fighting units where, in the case of some officers and men, their native language skills helped Allied liaison with the local population, while others fought alongside their comrades in arms.The three RM Commandos of No.4 Special Service Brigade, along with the No.4 (Belgian) and No.5 (Norwegian), troops of No.10 (IA) Commando, commanded by Peter Laycock, landed at Westkapelle on the western side of the island. No.4 Commando, with Nos.1 and 8 (French) troops under command, crossed from Breskens and attacked Flushing. In support were 155 Infantry brigade. The brigade had trained for this assault in the Ostend area during October.
External links
Further Reading
- Walcheren 1944, Storming Hitler's island fortress; Author: Richard Brooks. Osprey Campaign Series #235; Osprey Publishing. 2011. isbn: 9781849082372