German Infantryman vs British Infantryman by David Greentree

Author:David Greentree
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781472815316
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2015-03-10T16:00:00+00:00

On 23 May, Neave described ‘a clear day and I could see the cliffs of Dover’ (Neave 1972: 95). However, black smoke from a burning oil refinery, the sight of the sinking destroyer Wessex, and the noise of gunfire reminded him ‘The real battle was about to begin’ (Neave 1972: 96). Here, the port facility is shown with burning oil tanks in the background. (Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1971042-88 Foto: o. Ang)

I./SR 86 and 2nd KRRC at Calais, 24–26 May 1940

MAP KEY

1 Mid-morning, 24 May: Oberleutnant Georg Baumunk’s 5./PzRgt 7 supports II./SR 69’s advance through Coulogne into the southern outskirts of Calais and his vehicle is knocked out.

2 1200hrs, 24 May: I./SR 86, supported by armoured vehicles from II./PzRgt 7 or armoured cars of PzAufklAbt 90, advances on Bastion 9. 2/Lt Davies-Scourfield’s men of B Company, 2nd KRRC, hold this position throughout the day.

3 1630hrs, 24 May: II./SR 86 takes the outlying Fort Nieulay.

4 Late afternoon, 24 May: I./SR 69, supported by 6./PzRgt 7 and a platoon from 8./PzRgt 7, advances from Fontinettes against D Company, 2nd KRRC.

5 Evening, 24 May: 2nd KRRC withdraws to Calais-Nord behind the canal line.

6 Night of 24/25 May: Maj Cromwell’s D Company, 2nd KRRC, blocks the Freycinet and Georges Cinq bridges with abandoned vehicles, and HQ Company, 2nd KRRC, blocks the bridge at Pont Faidherbe. B Company, 2nd KRRC, occupies defensive positions behind the canal around La Place Norvège. A Company, 2nd KRRC, is in reserve along the Rue de Victoire. C Company, 2nd KRRC, occupies the north-west perimeter line.

7 0800hrs, 25 May: After an artillery bombardment, I./SR 86 advances against the main railway station and II./SR 69 advances against Calais-Nord from the south. PzRgt 7 is in reserve.

8 1830hrs, 25 May: Tanks carrying explosive charges from 3./PzPiBtl 49 attempt to clear the roadblocks on Pont Freycinet, Pont Georges Cinq, and Pont Faidherbe. All the tanks are neutralized; only at Pont Freycinet do follow-up German infantry secure a small lodgement, which is contained by a counter-attack by Capt Stanton of A Company, 2nd KRRC.

9 1000hrs, 26 May: Another German ground attack against the bridges starts and is initially repulsed, but by 1100hrs German tanks and infantry are crossing Pont Freycinet and by midday Pont Georges Cinq and Pont Faidherbe are also in German hands.

10 1300hrs, 26 May: By this time D Company is in the Rue Notre Dame, C Company on the Boulevard des Allies, A Company the Place d’Armes and HQ Company the Place d’Angleterre, but B Company at La Place Norvège has not retired because orders to do so have not arrived.

11 1500hrs, 26 May: By this time, the Citadel is surrounded and Brig Nicholson is soon captured.

12 1600hrs, 26 May: 2nd KRRC gathers around the Place d’Armes: C and A companies in the square, D Company along the road leading to the cathedral, and HQ Company in the cathedral area. Miller orders the battalion to scatter, and organized British resistance is at an end.

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