1st Infantry Division (Belgium) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 1st Infantry Division |
|
|---|---|
| 1 ème Infanteriedivisie | |
| Active | 1913 - 1918 1939 - 1940 |
| Country |  Belgium |
| Branch |  Belgian Land Component |
| Type | Infantry Division |
| Role | Infantry |
| Size | Division |
| Part of | Cavalry Corps |
| Garrison/HQ | Hasselt |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Lieutenant General, Walter Coppens |
The 1st Infantry Division (Dutch: 1 ème Infanteriedivisie) was a group of soldiers in the Belgian Army. This division was made up of Infantry (soldiers who fight on foot). They played a part in the Battle of Belgium during the Second World War.
Contents
History of the 1st Infantry Division
Early Years: World War I
At the start of World War I in 1914, this group was called the 1st Division. Lieutenant-General Baix was its commander. The division's main office was in Ghent, a city in Belgium.
It included different groups of soldiers. There were the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Mixed Brigades. They also had some support from the 3rd Lancers Regiment, which used horses. Artillery units, which used large guns, came from the 1st Artillery Regiment.
World War II: Facing the Challenge
The 1st Infantry Division was already ready for action before the war officially started. This meant they had important units like a scouting team, a transport team, and a medical team. Because of this, they were one of the strongest divisions in the Belgian Army.
The division was placed near Hasselt, along the Albert Canal. This was an important defensive line.
When the German attack began, the 1st Infantry Division made their positions very strong. However, the German forces managed to break through their lines. This led to very tough fighting. The 1st Infantry Division had to move back from the Albert Canal.
Later, the division was called back to the K-W Line, another defense line. Part of their division, the 3rd Line Regiment, was sent to a different position called Demer.
When they were called to fight again, the 1st Infantry Division was in charge of a large part of the K-W line. Their defense stretched from Beigem to Nieuwenrode. On May 15, 1940, they moved some troops to make their lines even stronger.
On May 16, something unexpected happened. Other Allied forces, like the French 1st Army and the British Expeditionary Force, suddenly left the K-W Line. This forced the Belgians to also pull back. The 1st Infantry Division was given a very important job. They had to slow down the German advance in the northern area. This gave time for a new defense line to be built in the south.
The 1st Infantry Division did well in their mission. Thousands of soldiers managed to reach a new defense line called the Terneuzen-Oudenaarde line. But soon, the Germans attacked again in the North. This attack threatened the sides of the forces defending the Scheldt Canal. So, the 1st Infantry Division had to build new positions near the town of Sint-Amands.
However, this new line could not be held. The division was pushed back to Ghent.
Things got much worse when the Allied forces in Northern France and Flanders were surrounded. The German pressure kept growing. Eventually, the city of Ghent had to be left.
The 1st Infantry Division then took up new positions in the Korkrijk-Menen area. Korkrijk was made very strong. But there was worry about Menen. No British soldiers were seen there. Only some French engineers were guarding the bridges.
In Korkrijk, the situation became very bad for the 1st Infantry Division. The German attack was very strong. After some time, the Germans broke through their lines.
The division had to move back to a new defense line by May 26. Only three anti-tank weapons were left after the German attack. Out of all the Infantry Divisions fighting under the I Corp, the 1st Infantry Division suffered the most damage. They had only one mixed battalion left, made up of just four companies (smaller groups of soldiers).
This remaining battalion was moved to the 6th Infantry Division. This meant the 1st Infantry Division lost almost all its strength. The rest of this division was officially ended after Belgium surrendered.
How the Division Was Organized
1940 Structure
Here is how the 1st Infantry Division was set up just before the Battle of Belgium:
- Headquarters, located at Hasselt
- Commanding General: Lieutenant-General Walter Coppens
- 3rd Line Regiment
- 4th Line Regiment
- 24th Line Regiment
- 1st Artillery Regiment (used big guns)
- 1st Battalion Engineer (built and destroyed things)
- 1st Battalion of Transmission Troops (handled communications)
- Cyclists Squadron 1ID (soldiers on bicycles for scouting)
- 2nd Auxiliary Battalion
See also
- Battle of Belgium
- Army Group B
- 14th Infantry Division
- K-W Line
