Battle of Maastricht

Infobox Military Conflict
|conflict=Battle of Maastricht
|

|caption=
|combatant1=
flagicon|Netherlands|size=44px
Royal Dutch Army
|combatant2=
flagicon|Nazi Germany|size=50px
7th Flieger Division
4th Panzer Division
|date=May 10 1940
|place=Maastricht, The Netherlands, and the surrounding area
|Territorial Changes=Germans Capture Maastricht
|result=German victory
|commander1=flagicon|Netherlands Henri Winkelman
|commander2=flagicon|Nazi Germany ?
|strength1=750 soldiers
|strength2=343 Tanks
|casualties1=47 Killed
|casualties2=186 killed
9 Armored Cars Destroyed
9 Tanks Destroyed
10 Planes Shot DownJu-52,Ju-87The Battle of Maastricht was one of the first battles that took place during the German Campaign on the Western Front. Maastricht was a key city in order to capture the Belgian Fort Eben-Emael and split the allied armies in half.

Prelude

The German goal of the operation was to take the bridges over the river Maas intact, in order to have an easier road to France. Therefore the Germans sent in civil teams whose jobs were to sabotage the bridge charges. However, they were spotted and arrested, and when they attempted to run, shot down.

The Battle

The sluice complex at Borgharen - just north of Maastricht - was another water-works that could not be destroyed. A section infantry was stationed here. Close to the bridge one casemate with a machine gun could assist. In the early morning hours a patrol of six motorised infantry-men approached the eastern guard post. They were a recon party of the Hocke squad. They were ordered to stop and four of them were taken prisoner. The other two were able to escape. The Dutch Lieutenant was confident that more would be coming, and he ordered his men to remain prepared. Not so much longer later, more German soldiers appeared on motorized bikes. The Dutch let them approach to within 50 meters of their ambush and opened fire with two machine guns and every rifle available. The Germans temporarily retreated. However, when the Germans brought in reinforcements, the squad was overwhelmed. The defenders tried to draw back to the sluice. The move was difficult under the ever increasing German fire. The occupation of the sluice itself was able to resist the Germans, but the south-eastern squad, which defended the northern entrance into Maastricht, had to give in when their machine gun failed. The gap that now existed in the outer-defences of the city was soon penetrated by the majority of the Germans that had agitated against the sluice.

The 4th Panzer Division had encountered some resistance around Gulpen and this delay cost hours. A southern column, that was instructed to advance against Maastricht from the south, was able to move forward quicker. They appeared in front of the outer-defences at Heugem. Here the barricades had been sealed and locked as instructed. The defending unit was ordered to move back behind the Maas, because it had become clear that the outer-defences had been penetrated.

It was now up to the rear-guard of the outer-defences to slow down the German advance. The rear-guard managed to destroy two Armored Cars and block the road for the remaining cars. When the German infantry had almost reached his position the commanding Dutch sergeant ordered an organised retreat. The squad safely reached the westbank of the Maas a little later.

By this time, only 1 bridge remained intact. That was the railway bridge. The Germans felt that it could be a very useful crossing point for Tanks, and only 35 Dutch Soldiers defended it. As the Germans advanced to the bridge, they were briefly held off by the Dutch defenders. A few German soldiers were killed. The Dutch however soon fell back, because of overwhelming numbers. As the Germans began to cross the bridge, the charges were planted and the bridge fell into the river. After all of the Bridges over the Maas River were destroyed, the only tasked that remained was to hold off the Germans a long as they could.

At the destroyed bridges in Maastricht some stray Dutch units made German life miserable. The Dutch had spread over many strategic points including a sniper squad in the towers of the bridge. When the Germans boldly placed an anti-tank gun in front of the bridge, aimed at the adjacent St. Servaesbrug, the Dutch instantly killed the crew. A new crew shared the same fate. A small number of rubber boats tried to cross the Maas but were shot to pieces. Then the Germans retreated from this location.

At the destroyed railway bridge the heaviest fighting would be seen. What remained of the German squad that had tried to take the bridge, was soon reinforced by the German-Main Force. Two armored cars tried to approach the east bank but were destroyed two anti-tank rifles. Also a light tank was put out of action by the AT rifles. The German losses were high. However, soon after, three more German Armored Cars approached. The situation for the light Dutch infantry had become critical. Many defenders were killed or wounded by the German fire, and soon one of the two AT rifles was destroyed by a hit. The headquarters were contacted to report the situation. From this contact it became clear that the Dutch resistance at Maastricht had been ordered to cease.

Lieutenant-Colonel Govers - Territorial Commander of Limburg - had called a meeting later in the day. The German battle-plans had been found on a German POW in the morning. All German units were mentioned in the plans and maps with directions had been part of the catch. It was clear that all bridges had been destroyed. It was also clear than an entire German Tank Division was deployed in South-Limburg. The TC had only two companies left under his command, without anti-tank guns or artillery. The ancient city of Maastricht - with all its cultural inheritage - should not suffer more than necessary. The outcome of the meeting was that all further opposition to the Germans in and around Maastricht [the last standing defences in Limburg] would be ceased. The TC himself went to the Wilhelminabrug under the banner of truce. Soon contact was established. A few hours later, all Dutch troops in Maastricht and surroundings capitulated.

Aftermath

The battle in South-Limburg [sector Roosteren - Maastricht] had cost the lives of 47 Dutch soldiers [2 officers, 7 NCO's, 38 corporals and soldiers] . The German losses are again not known in detail - although at some scenes accurate figures are available. It is estimated that between 130-190 Germans died due to the fights in the south. After the battle it was reported that 186 German bodies were found. It is confirmed from German material-states that 9 armored cars and tanks were destroyed in Limburg. Also ten German airplanes [mainly Ju-52 and Ju-87] crashed or were shot down in Zuid-Limburg.

Notes

References

* [http://www.waroverholland.nl/ Dutch history site]
* [http://www.waroverholland.nl/summary_day_1_4.html Maastricht]