9th Infantry Division (Belgium) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 9th Infantry Division |
|
|---|---|
| 9 ème Infanteriedivisie | |
| Active | 25 August 1939 - 28 May 1940 |
| Country |  Belgium |
| Branch |  Belgian Land Component |
| Type | Infantry Division |
| Role | Infantry |
| Size | Division |
| Part of | II Corps |
| Garrison/HQ | Diest |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Lieutenant General, Richard Vander Hofstadt |
The 9th Infantry Division (which means "9th Infantry Division" in Dutch) was a group of soldiers in the Belgian Army. They were part of Belgium's defense during the Second World War. This division played a role in the Battle of Belgium in 1940.
Contents
The 9th Division's Story
Fighting in World War II
When World War II began on May 10, 1940, the 9th Division was defending a key part of the Albert Canal line. This position kept them safe from the first German attack at Eben-Emael. For a few days, the soldiers saw many civilians running away from the fighting. They also saw French soldiers passing through their lines.
To be safe, General Vander Hofstadt told some of his soldiers to move to the Nete River. They were to protect the division's side. These soldiers saw other Belgian units, like the 6th Division, looking scared. This made some of their own troops feel worried.
By the evening of May 12, it was clear the Germans could not be stopped. The 9th Division was then told to move back. They went behind the main defense line called the K-W Line. The 9th Division reached their new spot by May 15. They were defending the city of Mechelen. This area had strong defenses, including the fort of Walem.
However, after another German breakthrough at Sedan, the Belgian army had to leave the K-W Line. The 9th Division was ordered to move to a new line along the Scheldt River, south of Ghent. The troops arrived there on May 18 after some confusion. At their new positions, some regiments had small fights with German advance groups.
The 10th Division, which was next to the British army, faced stronger attacks. By May 21, the British were having trouble. So, the 16th regiment was sent to the very south of the Belgian line. This was to stop the Germans from surrounding them. For these soldiers, it was the fourth defense line they had to quickly prepare in less than two weeks. They soon came under German artillery fire.
When the Germans reached the English Channel, the Belgian army was ordered to retreat again on May 22. This time, the 9th Division was to be a backup force near Tielt. They would support the main defense line behind the Lys River. The 17th regiment was separated from the 9th Division. It was sent to help the 2nd Division Chasseurs Ardennais.
At this point, some soldiers were very tired and stressed. They were sometimes forced to keep fighting.
Soon, the 9th Division was called into action. This happened after the Germans broke through near Kortrijk. On May 24, they took positions along the canal between Roeselare and the Lys. This would be the division's final stand.
The 8th and 16th regiments set up near Ingelmunster and Izegem. But they found that the Germans had already crossed the canal in several places. After heavy fighting on May 25 and 26, the regiments slowly lost their positions. There was even house-to-house fighting in Izegem. Despite some small successful counterattacks, by the end of May 27, the regiments were falling apart. Companies that were not captured moved back towards the sea.
When the Belgian army surrendered on May 28, at least 212 officers and soldiers from the 9th Division had been killed.
How the 9th Division Was Organized
Before the Battle of Belgium, the 9th Division was made up of several parts:
- 8th Infantry Regiment
- Regimental Headquarters (main office)
- Staff Company (support team)
- Medical Company (for health care)
- Scout Platoon (for finding out what the enemy was doing)
- 16th Infantry Regiment
- Regimental Headquarters
- Staff Company
- Medical Company
- Scout Platoon
- 17th Infantry Regiment
- Regimental Headquarters
- Staff Company
- Medical Company
- Scout Platoon
- 4th Artillery Regiment
- Regimental Headquarters
- Staff Battery (support team for artillery)
- 1st Artillery Battalion (groups of big guns)
- 2nd Artillery Battalion
- 3rd Artillery Battalion
- 4th Artillery Battalion
- Armoured Anti-Tank Company (a group with tanks to fight enemy tanks)
- 9th Signals Battalion (for communication)
- 9th Engineer Battalion (for building and destroying things)
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