De Peel is an area in the south-east of the Netherlands, on the border between Noord-Brabant en Limburg. Twice, the warmachine ran over this part of my country, first in May 1940 and later in 1944 during and after Market Garden. In 1940, the Peel-Raam line ran here. It was supposed to be a major defense line, but since the Belgians failed to link their defences to this line, considered to be too vulnerable and the main line of defense was moved all the way west, to Dordrecht.
Nevertheless, Dutch soldiers fought here to slow down the German advance in an unfinished weak defense line. I visited a place called Mill, and I want to share a story and pictures of this place. Later, I will give some attention to the 1944 events in Overloon.
One of the unique aspects of the war in the Netherlands is the use of pantzer trains by the Germans. Overall they were not very succesful, but in Mill they almost succeded.
See for reference, the map below of the defenseline from Wikipedia.
IN the early morning of May 10th 1940, a group of German soldiers disguised as Dutch soldiers and helped by some Dutch traitors managed to conquer the railwaybridge over the river Meuse (Maas) at Gennep before it was blown up. They took advantage of this succes by sending two trains right through the Dutch defense. The Dutch defenders, who did not know that the war had started and oblivious to the events at Gennep thought the trains were Dutch and did not stop them and the railway was not blocked. About 1 km behind the line, the Germans unloaded a bataljon of troops which would attack the Dutch from the rear. The Pantzertrain inthe mean time went back to get more troops.
At the defese canal at Mill, the defenders had just realised that the trains that just passed were actually german and they set up the railway blockade in record time. At 05.15h, the train hits the 'asperge' blocks at full speed, derailing. A little Dutch bunker near to the place kept the germans inside the train by using it's light machinegun. After some time, the bunker was attacked from the rear by the unloaded troops and had to surrender.
There are many stories to tell about the battle at Mill, about the gunners who stopped the German attack with their ancient gunns from 1870. About the single soldier who fended off 40 Germans on his own. And about the many Dutch uniforms, found in the German train at Mill.
Anyway, here some pictures:
The derailed train after the battle.
The 'Asperge' blocks on which the train derailed. This is the actual spot where it happened. The impact was so enormous that some coaches where launced and fell into the defense canal, about 100 meters away.
Remains of the old Defense Kanaal
The railwaybridge over the defense canal at Mill, close to the place were the train derailed.
A closeup of the 'Asperges'
Remains of Dutch trenches on the west-side of the bridge
Another view on the bridge
The bunker that kept the Germans inside the train
Another view on the Peel-Raamstelling at Mill. The defense canal. In the back, you can see a bunker. The left side is the west side of the canal.
I the next post I will give some attention to the 1944 fighting in this area, especially in Overloon.
Nevertheless, Dutch soldiers fought here to slow down the German advance in an unfinished weak defense line. I visited a place called Mill, and I want to share a story and pictures of this place. Later, I will give some attention to the 1944 events in Overloon.
One of the unique aspects of the war in the Netherlands is the use of pantzer trains by the Germans. Overall they were not very succesful, but in Mill they almost succeded.
See for reference, the map below of the defenseline from Wikipedia.
IN the early morning of May 10th 1940, a group of German soldiers disguised as Dutch soldiers and helped by some Dutch traitors managed to conquer the railwaybridge over the river Meuse (Maas) at Gennep before it was blown up. They took advantage of this succes by sending two trains right through the Dutch defense. The Dutch defenders, who did not know that the war had started and oblivious to the events at Gennep thought the trains were Dutch and did not stop them and the railway was not blocked. About 1 km behind the line, the Germans unloaded a bataljon of troops which would attack the Dutch from the rear. The Pantzertrain inthe mean time went back to get more troops.
At the defese canal at Mill, the defenders had just realised that the trains that just passed were actually german and they set up the railway blockade in record time. At 05.15h, the train hits the 'asperge' blocks at full speed, derailing. A little Dutch bunker near to the place kept the germans inside the train by using it's light machinegun. After some time, the bunker was attacked from the rear by the unloaded troops and had to surrender.
There are many stories to tell about the battle at Mill, about the gunners who stopped the German attack with their ancient gunns from 1870. About the single soldier who fended off 40 Germans on his own. And about the many Dutch uniforms, found in the German train at Mill.
Anyway, here some pictures:
The derailed train after the battle.
The 'Asperge' blocks on which the train derailed. This is the actual spot where it happened. The impact was so enormous that some coaches where launced and fell into the defense canal, about 100 meters away.
Remains of the old Defense Kanaal
The railwaybridge over the defense canal at Mill, close to the place were the train derailed.
A closeup of the 'Asperges'
Remains of Dutch trenches on the west-side of the bridge
Another view on the bridge
The bunker that kept the Germans inside the train
Another view on the Peel-Raamstelling at Mill. The defense canal. In the back, you can see a bunker. The left side is the west side of the canal.
I the next post I will give some attention to the 1944 fighting in this area, especially in Overloon.
