by Raúl M (Tigre)

The 35 ID was the left division of the IV AK (General der Infanterie v. Schwedler) which belonged to the 6 AOK within the Heeres Gruppe B. It had the task of breakthrough the Netherlands border line positions at Kerkrade, Heerlen, Valkenburg.; then it was to get across the Juliana-Canal, the Meuse River, the Meuse-Schelde Canal and the Albert-Canal.

In the afternoon, May 09, arrived the attack order. The offensive was to begin on May 10 1940 at 05:35 hours. By 20:00 hours (09 May 1940) weapons and equipment already had been loaded within the AA 35 which was to act as division’s spearhead while the men though to themselves if this time the alarm was real.

In the darkness, at 02:00 hours, the AA 35 left towards Herzogenrath and at 05:15 the Führer speech was read to the men. On May 10 1940, at 05:35 hours with the reinforced regiments IR 34 (right) via Merkstein Hofstadt – Merkstein – Neu Merberen – Merkstein Herbach and the IR 111 (left) via Merkstein – Herzogenrath – Noppenberg – Wilhelm Schacht – Grube Nordstern ahead crossed the international border. The IR 109 was acting as Corps reserve.

The border fortifications at Kerkrade, Heerlen and Valkenburg were broken against light resistance only. At 06:10 Kerkrade was in German hands and the railways facilities there were taken without damages. Both advance guards proceeded forwards. At 09:15 hours the first great obstacle, the Juliana Canal, was reached but all the bridges were already blown there. At 11:00 hours with strong artillery support, both frontline regiments got across it.

At 12:00 hours, the AA 35 (left) and the Vorausabteilung Bode – II. / IR 34 (right), assailed the second big obstacle, the Meuse River. By 16:00 hours both detachments were on the Meuse-Schelde Canal. During the afternoon hours the crossing started; the AA 35 got across first at 17:20 hours, the Vorausabteilung Bode did the same at 18:00 hours. During the night parts of the frontline regiments had crossed without the heavy weapons because the Pi Btl 35 could not build a bridge yet due to the water’s depth and enemy air raids.

Leaving Lanaeken behind the IR 111 reached the Petersheimer wood’s easthern edge with its frontline battalions. The wood was free of enemies so several recce patrols were sent towards the Albert Canal. By midnight both infantry regiments (IR 111 and IR 34) were deployed along it.

On May 11 1940, during afternoon hours and after hard fighting, the division’s troops could get across the Albert Canal; hence within 48 hours the 35 ID had overcame all the water’s obstacles (four) laying ahead its march rutes and the first attack’s objective, the road Bilsen – Maartenslinde, was reached.

The whole day the enemy carried out aerial raids, british, french and belgian planes, all of them were rejected by our own Flak (antiaircraft guns). This fact delayed the heavy guns’ advance hampering its march towards the front.

The AA 35’s Commanding Officer and its cyclist company (radfährer) were on the Meuse’s far river bank waiting for the rest of that unit.

On May 12 1940, the motorized elements belonging to the AA 35 resumed its march at 05:00 hours getting across the Juliana Canal, the Meuse and the Meuse Canal joining the rest of its detachment by 10:00 hours; the Pi Btl 35’s troops had finished the pontoons and trestles bridges by 06:00 hours so at 10:00 hours the first two light artillery groups (AR 35) crossed the Canal on its way to the front.

The allied carried out a big aerial attack against the Meuse crossing. The Luftwaffe shot down 8-9 planes and several were set afire by the Flak. In the afternoon the AA 35 got across the Albert Canal and by 15:00 hours had reached Heers without enemy resistance. At 21:00 hours the Abteilung headed towards Gors op Leeuw but short of its march objective it got stuck two hours in the middle of an artillery column. The AA 35’s task for next day was to reconnoiter against Heers – Waremme – Rosoux.

On May 13 1940, at 05:00 hours the AA 35 was on the move; the mood was not good at all at that time. The Detachment went through the marching infantry and soon won the division’s head. With the cavalry squadron (Reiterschwadron) as spearhead the unit advanced quickly without enemy resistence. Around Bertrée the AA 35 found the panzer division which was in the lead (3 Pz Div); it was setting the attack towards Jauche.

At Bertrée the inhabitants were friendly and during afternoon took place and aerial raid carried out by french planes one of them was shot down by a nearby Flak unit. For the night the AA 35 signal platoon received the orden of listening the panzer’s frequency. The night passed quietly.

On May 14 1940 in the morning, the AA 35 was in Bertrée waiting for new orders. At 12:00 hours the march order came and by 13:00 hours it was advancing on Jauche – Thorembais having as its objective Malèves.

Along the road they found also the infantry columns and its vehicles, up to 2/3 of them were composed of belgian and dutch cars, besides there were little charts and horses also. The “landsers” carried their machineguns, ammunitions boxes and assault tools even in baby carriages. Speaking on their mood and discipline, they marched with unfasten collars and rolled up sleeves, looking for any relief for the burning sun and the dust. At 20:00 hours the AA 35 had arrived at Malèves and shortly afterwards an allied air raid took place but without causing any harm.

The night from 14 to 15 may 1940 went quietly; on May 15 1940 at 09:00 hours one panzer division (3 Pz) supported by one aerial corps launched an assault against the Dyle position (Dylestellung). The sky was full of stukas, Do-17 and fighters. Around nightfall came the orders for the next day.

On May 16 1940, the movement proceeded with the Dyle crossing. At 08:00 hours the AA 35 resumed its march having the task of covering the division’s right flank. At 11:00 hours St. martin was reached without enemy actions. After leaving behind the Dyle’s battlefield the detachment reached Baissy-Thy. Tank alarm!. Three enemy tanks were put out of action by our antitanks cannons but one of the crews was either killed or wounded in turn; one of our light armored vehicle (panzerspähwagen) caught fire also. There were machinegun nests nearby in the houses but after hard fights they were destroyed. The AA 35 had 4 KIA and 12 WIA.

The recce patrols sent ahead reported around 60 tanks patrolling on the road to Nivelles and they stood there (Banterlez) in the evening. Meanwhile as the IR 111 was approaching Chastre could see the french troops’ withdrawal so according division’s orders strong recce patrols were sent against Ferme del Croix and Ferme Sartage; the IR 34 followed near the IR 111.

On May 17 1940, the advance proceeded by Houtain le Val, Nivelles towards Tilleraye-Ferme passing the same landscape with signs of the enemy withdrawal. AA 35’s mision: got across the Bruselles at Le Kreq; the radfahrschwadron (ciclyst squadron) took the crossing point in spite of heavy resistance and held it till the evening when the infantry came. The cost: 4 KIA and 1 WIA. The detachment’s bulk entered Tilleraye-Ferme. Nivelles was shelled by heavy artillery at least half hour. Near Nivelles our Stukas attacked one own artillery column.

The advance was halted on the Senette. During the afternoon hours the IR 109 moving ahead crossed the Senette at Ronquiéres and broke through Brain Le Comte.

On May 18 1940, around noon, the storm detachments had reached the line Enghies – Soignes; some 400 prisoners, among them the first English troops were taken. The AA 35 proceeded its march at 14:00 hours then got across the Brussel heading to Poinei. Beside the road lay dead some German landsers all of them due head’s shot. At 17:00 hours Poinei had been reached.

On May 19 1940, the order stressed: reconnaissance towards Ath; at 07:00 hours the march was resumed without enemy resistance. Crossing the river Ath the AA 35 suffered several WIA. Marching through Chievres the advance proceeded towards Tongre where the Abteilung took some rest at noon. The march then followed by Armeigines to Notre Dame which could be reached by nightfall.

On may 20 1940, the mission was to move forward to the river Escaut in order to established a bridgehead at Antoing – Tournai. The AA 35 had reached the river by Ramecroix. In that town the Germans could see a destroyed English column, parts of vehicles mixed with human remains were littered all over the ground. The Detachment got heavy artillery fire and should retreat towards Pipaix.

That very day the Schelde crossing began; it was the hardest day of the whole the campaign. The IR 109 crossed by Antoing and the IR 111 did the same by Peronnes; both frontline battalions could establish two little bridgeheads against English elite troops. Due to strong counterattacks, supported by tanks and artillery fire, the bridgeheads were lost; nevertheless, the IR 109 could maintain one little strong hold on the far river bank.

On May 21 1940, the AA remained at Pipaix while the IR 111 could get across the river Escaut establishing a bridgehead. The Division took up defensive positions and also stood fast next day (22 May).

On May 23 1940, the AA 35 was instrusted in order to carry out the reconnaissance towards Fontenay. As a result, it was known that the enemy had already retreated from the water line leaving its positions behind. A serviceable shuttle was found at Fontenay. The large grey columns proceeded slowly ahead. That very afternoon, the 35 ID had reached the French-Belgian border line.

On May 24 1940, at 06:00 hours the unit proceeded its march to Antoing, where the Abteilung crossed the Escaut. The British troops followed its withdrawal through Tournai heading to Templeuves. At every village and crossroads, the Germans found obstacles and blocking positions.

On May 25 1940, the cyclist squadron (radfahr-schwadron) relieved the infantry and by dawn that infantry regiment had proceeded its march as a whole. The AA 35 had by now a hard task: to ward a two kilometer frontline, in its front Scottish troops. The officers were uneasy, however the day went quite calm, in spite of during the night there were alarms and own artillery fire.
On May 26 1940, at dawn antitank alarm; a Recce Patrol of five men was detached to deal with, but in reaching the spot, reported it was an old out of service truck. At noon and evening, heavy aerial attacks against Lille and Roubaix. Around 22:00 hours came our replacements, the advance guard of the 253 ID.

Sources used

Die 35. Infanterie-Division 1939 - 1945 - Dt. Infanterie-Divisionen im Bild - Hrsg.
Kameradschaftsdienst 35. Inf.Div. e.V., Podzun-Pallas-Verlag, Friedberg 1980.
Kriegstagebuch: Aufzeichnungen während des II. Weltkrieges: 1940-1943