15th Infantry Division (Belgium)

Source:[1]

At the start of the war on May 10, 1940, the 12th Division was assigned the southernmost position of the Fortified Position of Antwerp, covering a portion of the anti-tank canal between St-Job-int-Goor and the Albert Canal at Massenhoven. Contrary to the Namur and Liège Positions, the forts of the Antwerp Positions were unmodernized forts of World War One vintage. Moreover, its artillery batteries were not replaced after being stripped down by the Germans during that conflict. Only some light and heavy machine gun positions were installed to support the infantry of the 12th Division.

During the first days of the conflict, the 12th's units saw elements of the French 7th army pass through its positions on their way to the Netherlands. When these units were defeated they hurriedly passed the Belgian line again, along with elements of the 18th Belgian division which fought delaying actions in the Turnhout area. The French 4th 'dragons portés' where the last to pass through on the 15th of may. At this point, the 12th Division found itself in the first line.

As the Germans closed in, the order was given to abandon the Antwerp Position due to the French defeat in Sedan. The 12th was to regroup behind the Scheldt river, and then proceed to a reserve position at the Leie canal near Ursel. This withdrawal was seriously delayed due to intensive Luftwaffe bombing of remaining Belgian railway infrastructure.

When the Germans reached the English Channel on 22nd May, the Belgian Army, along with the BEF and elements of the French Army, was cut off. It was decided to make a last ditch defense at the Lys and the canal, where the 12th was already in position. The division took up position between Veldekens and Ronsele, digging itself in behind the canal. The 2nd and 23rd regiments occupied the first echelon, the 22nd stood in reserve.

On May 24, the Germans undertook several attempts at crossing the canal. They finally succeeded after capturing a makeshift bridge prepared for a counterattack by surprise. Although the Germans quickly gained a foothold in the sector of the 2nd regiment, the commander of its neighbouring 23rd regiment staged a successful counterattack with the help of two battalions of the 22nd and 2nd regiments. Using a T-13 tank destroyer, the Belgians reached the canal again, took out German machine gun nests and destroyed the bridge. On the 25th, the remaining 235 German troops surrendered.

On the 26th, the Germans attacked again after an hours long bombardment by artillery and Luftwaffe units. This time their attack was successful, especially in the sector of the 23rd. Division headquarters threw the remaining two battalions of the 22nd in the fight, with mixed success. At the end of the day, only the 2nd regiment held on to parts of its positions along the canal. The following day, the 12th Division was ordered to retreat east of Knesselaere. Only the 2nd and 22nd regiments did so in relatively good order, as the 23rd was nearly destroyed.

By the Belgian surrender on the 28th of May, at least 215 officers, NCO and enlisted were killed in action.[2]

Structure of the division at the eve of the Battle of Belgium:[3]

• Headquarters, at Kessel
• Commanding Officer, 15th Division – Lieutenant-General Baron Raoul de Hennin de Boussu-Walcourt
  • 31st Line Regiment
  • 42nd Line Regiment
  • 43rd Line Regiment
  • 23rd Artillery Regiment (Belgium)
  • 15th Bicycle Squadron (to the 18th Division)
  • 16th Engineer Battalion
  • 15th Signal Battalion
  • 15th Divisional Supply Battalion
  • 15th Divisional Field Hospital Battalion
  • 15th Divisional Quartermaster Company
  • 15th Divisional Military Police Unit

• Belgian Army order of battle (1940)