2nd Infantry Division (Belgium) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 2nd Infantry Division |
|
|---|---|
| 2 ème Infanteriedivisie | |
| Active | 25 August 1939 - 28 May 1940 |
| Country |  Belgium |
| Branch |  Belgian Land Component |
| Type | Infantry Division |
| Role | Infantry |
| Size | Division |
| Part of | III Corps |
| Garrison/HQ | Liège |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Lieutenant General, Auguste Colpin |
The 2nd Infantry Division (which means '2nd Infantry Division' in Dutch) was a group of soldiers in the Belgian Army. They were an important part of the army during the Second World War. This division fought bravely in the Battle of Belgium.
Contents
A Look Back: The 2nd Infantry Division's Story
The First World War (1914-1918)
When World War I started in 1914, the 2nd Infantry Division was simply called the '2nd Division'. This was because they were one of only seven active divisions in the Belgian Army at that time.
The 2nd Division was led by Lieutenant-General Émile Dossin. Their main office was in Antwerp. The division was made up of three smaller groups: the 5th, 6th, and 7th Mixed Brigades. These brigades were formed from different types of soldier groups. They also had cavalry support from the 4th Chasseurs Regiment. Artillery, which means big guns, came from the 2nd Artillery Regiment.
The Second World War (1939-1945)
When the war began on May 10, 1940, the 2nd Division was given a very important job. They were placed in the southern part of the Fortified Position of Liège. This was a strong defensive area with many bunkers.
Their main goal was to help the French and British armies. They needed to hold the line along the Albert Canal and Meuse rivers. This would give the other armies enough time to get into position along the K-W Line. The 2nd Division set up their defenses between the modern forts of Boncelles, Embourg, and Chaudfontaine. They had many bunkers in two lines.
However, things quickly changed. The 7th Division, which was further north, suffered a big defeat at the Battle of Fort Eben-Emael. This meant the 2nd Division and another division were in danger of being surrounded. By the end of May 10, the 2nd Division was told to quickly move back to the K-W Line.
During this move, the trains carrying the division's heavy weapons were bombed by the Luftwaffe, which was the German air force. This caused many soldiers to die and a lot of equipment to be lost.
Even with these problems, the division arrived on time at their new spot on May 12. Their position was between Rijmenam and Haacht. The first time they met the enemy was on May 15, when the 6th Regiment of the line fought German soldiers.
On May 16, the Belgian army was ordered to retreat again. This was because the Germans had broken through the defenses near Sedan. The Belgian army was told to move back to the Ghent Bridgehead. This was their last prepared line of defense. The 2nd Division marched for two nights to reach their area between Moorslede and Kwatrecht. During this retreat, the 5th Regiment of the line fought a tough battle near the Willebroek canal. They were protecting the main army as it pulled back.
The 2nd Division's section of the Bridgehead was the most open to attack. When they arrived, the soldiers found that farmers had removed some of the barbed wire fences for harvest. Also, many bunkers were closed or did not have the right anti-tank or machine guns. This showed that the Allied leaders were not ready for such a fast retreat.
By May 20, German units made contact with the division. The Germans tried to attack Ghent with armored cars. But the 5th Regiment of the line pushed them back. They used T-13 tank destroyers and strong artillery fire. They destroyed German armored vehicles. A German attack on the 6th Regiment succeeded in taking some forward bunkers using flamethrowers. But Belgian artillery fire stopped their supporting guns.
Early on May 21, the 6th Regiment launched a successful counterattack. They took back some of the bunkers they had lost. German attacks later that afternoon were very strong. They had heavy guns and support from the Luftwaffe. But the 2nd Division fought them off. They worked well with the 4th Artillery Regiment and got help from other units.
Despite a counterattack by other Belgian forces, the Germans had more success against the 5th Regiment. Two of its battalions were pushed back. Some companies of soldiers barely escaped being surrounded.
By May 22, the Germans reached the English Channel. This cut off the British, Belgian, and French armies. The Belgians were ordered to retreat a third time. The 2nd Division was sent to a new area near Hansbeke. This time, the 28th Regiment took the main defensive position. This gave the 5th and 6th Regiments time to rest. As the Belgians dug in, they fought some small battles and artillery duels. They wanted to stop the Germans from organizing an early attack.
As the Battle of the Lys happened, the 2nd Division was not hit the hardest. The main German breakthrough happened to their south. By the end of May 26, the Belgian front along the Lys River was falling apart. The 2nd Division was ordered to retreat again. They moved towards a new defensive line covering Bruges. Except for some attacks by the Luftwaffe, the division did not see much more fighting. This was because Belgium surrendered on May 28.
At least 242 officers and soldiers from the 2nd Division were killed during these battles.
How the Division Was Organized
Before the Battle of Belgium, the 2nd Infantry Division was set up like this:
- 2nd Infantry Division
- Divisional Headquarters (the main office for the division)
- 5th Infantry Regiment (a group of foot soldiers)
- Regimental Headquarters
- Staff Company (soldiers who help with planning and paperwork)
- Medical Company (soldiers who provide medical care)
- Scout Platoon (a small group of soldiers who go ahead to find out what's happening)
- 6th Infantry Regiment
- Regimental Headquarters
- Staff Company
- Medical Company
- Scout Platoon
- 28th Infantry Regiment
- Regimental Headquarters
- Staff Company
- Medical Company
- Scout Platoon
- 2nd Artillery Regiment (a group of soldiers who operate big guns)
- Regimental Headquarters
- Staff Battery
- 1st Artillery Battalion
- 2nd Artillery Battalion
- 3rd Artillery Battalion
- Armoured Anti-Tank Company (a group with armored vehicles designed to destroy enemy tanks)
- 12th Engineer Battalion (a group of soldiers who build and repair things, like bridges or defenses)
See also
