Beautiful flowers began to bloom over the Netherlands, which was the prelude to the assault by the paratroopers of Göring's 7th Air Division and the 22nd Airborne Division. Things started better than expected. Valkenburg, Ockenborg and Ippenberg near The Hague were successfully controlled by paratroopers. But immediately the Dutch infantry woke up from the initial panic and chaos. With the cooperation of the heavy artillery units, the Dutch 1st Infantry Division and the Dutch 2nd Infantry Division guarding the surroundings of The Hague began to counterattack against the paratroopers who occupied the airport.
After fierce fighting, the paratroopers of the 7th Aviation Division and the 22nd Airborne Division were finally driven out of the airports on the front lines of Valkenburg, Oakenberg and Ipenburg at night. This temporarily saved the capital and the government, but Although the paratroopers withdrew from the airport, they were still gathering in the countryside and forests, forcing the two Dutch infantry divisions to not support the battle in other areas.
Without its own allies to come to its rescue, the Netherlands would surely have been defeated by Germany within days. The current Dutch royal family, including Queen Wilhelmina, can only place its hopes on the French. At this time, the French First Army was arriving at night and night. General Geraud's Seventh Army might stop the Germans at the bridgehead of Mordik. The Seventh Army was advancing from the English Channel and arrived at Tilburg on the afternoon of May 11.
Although the Seventh Army has the 21st Infantry Division, the 60th Infantry Division, and the 68th Infantry Division. 1st Army: 25th Mechanized Division, 1st Cavalry Division
14th Army: 9th Mechanized Division, these powerful units, but this French army, like the besieged Dutch, has no air support. Although it does not lack armored vehicles, anti-tank guns and anti-aircraft guns, it is still scattered With the use of armored forces, they were certainly no match for the German armored divisions that already had experience in blitzkrieg. They were immediately driven back to the southern Dutch city of Breda.
At this time, Lieutenant Colonel Karl List, who was in Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, was also very anxious. From time to time, he picked up his telescope and looked anxiously at the Royal Palace of the Netherlands. Sergeant Felix once observed the situation in the square in front of the palace. Like Sergeant Felix, Lieutenant Colonel Karl List also believed that the Dutch would be panicked when they heard the news of the outbreak of war. Taking to the streets to obey their government and the queen, the SS commandos lurking here could take advantage of the chaos and storm the Royal Palace of the Netherlands.
But beyond their expectation, after the war started, the Dutch people were really panicked. Sergeant Felix also followed the plan and found a few soldiers who were proficient in Dutch to lurk in the crowd together, preparing to incite these people. Go and gather in front of the palace. But neither government officials nor Queen Wilhelmina appeared. The guards standing ready in front of the palace reminded Sergeant Felix not to act rashly, and Sergeant Felix could only return to the place where the commandos gathered in frustration.
"Lieutenant Colonel, the palace is heavily guarded. We can't guarantee the success rate at all!" Sergeant Felix said after returning.
"Well..." Lieutenant Colonel Karl List frowned so hard that he could squeeze out water. He walked back and forth anxiously and said, "There is no guarantee of success in our actions now. Let's report it to the leader! Listen to the leader. Opinion!"
"Lieutenant Colonel, I listen to you!" Sergeant Felix said listlessly. It seemed that the problem in front of him had hit him hard.
At this time, Lin Wei had just arrived at the edge of the Albert Canal, which was the Eben Emaar Fortress that had just experienced a fierce battle. Lin Wei stood on the Wildwizet Iron Bridge on the Albert Canal, preparing to Entering Belgium, we took a look at the SS Skeleton Division, which was following the Sixth Army and was responsible for attacking Belgium. At this moment, Lin Wei's adjutant, Robert C. Crawford, who never left Lin Wei, walked up and said, " Leader, workers are calling!”
"What! Give it to me quickly..." Lin Wei said anxiously as soon as he heard the call from the worker. Before Robert C. Crawford could start reading, Lin Wei grabbed it and took a look.
"Leader, the situation in Amsterdam is not very good now. The Dutch Royal Palace is heavily guarded. With our strength, it is impossible to capture the Dutch royal family safely. The earlier plan must be scrapped! In this case, I hope the leader can give us clear instructions! "Lin Wei quickly scanned the contents of the telegram, stood on the bridge and began to meditate motionlessly.
"Map!" Lin Wei said simply. Robert C. Crawford immediately took out the combat map he carried with him and threw himself on the vehicle parked nearby to show Lin Wei.
"Have the paratroopers in Valkenburg, Oakenberg and Ippenberg been driven out by the Dutch army?" Lin Wei asked.
"I'm afraid that's the case, leader!" Robert C. Crawford said awkwardly.
"It's okay, it's okay..." Lin Wei bowed his hands and kept mumbling without knowing what he was thinking. After a while, he started looking at the map again, and after a long time he said, "Call them back, and stay lurking for the time being, waiting for my news!"
"Okay, leader!" said Robert C. Crawford.
"Power up the Eagle's Nest!" Lin Wei ordered, "The SS commandos lurking secretly in the Netherlands are planning to attack the Dutch royal family and government. In view of the tight defense of Amsterdam, it is difficult for the plan to succeed! I have ordered them to continue Lurking, waiting for an opportunity to continue to act. Now I have a plan. It is impossible for the Netherlands' military strength to resist our attack. The only thing I need to worry about now is whether we can capture the Dutch royal family! This requires the tenth to attack the Netherlands now. The cooperation between the Eighth Army and the Air Force! The occupation of the Dutch airports in Valkenburg and Oakenburg locked the Dutch government's escape route at the airport in Ipenburg. At the same time, the Eighteenth Army detoured towards the coastline of the Netherlands, cutting off the Dutch from the sea. There is no possibility of escape, and the remaining matters will be left to the SS commandos. I hope the Führer can agree to my suggestion!"
"Leader, the telegram has been sent!" After a while, the staff officer next to him said.
"Well, very good!" Standing on the Wildwizet Iron Bridge, Lin Wei looked at the silent Albert Canal and shouted, "Today it is the Netherlands and Belgium, tomorrow it will be the United Kingdom and France! There is no such thing in the world No one can stop the march of Germany! Whoever dares to stop will be trampled to pieces!"
"Hey, Hit? Le!" Hearing Lin Wei's heroic words made the German army and the SS staff officer who were still passing quickly feel excited and full of longing for Germany's tomorrow.
Hit in the Eyrie? Le, Mashan received the telegram from Lin Wei without any hesitation, Hit? Le immediately approved Lin Wei's suggestion and was ready to provide support anytime and anywhere, because Hit? Hitler himself was an adventurous person, which he proved from his surprise attack on the Rhineland to the annexation of Austria and the dismemberment of Czechoslovakia, so Hit? Le will reuse Lin Wei who seems to be as adventurous as himself. Hit? Le has a strong curiosity about every novel warfare method, which is why everyone is not optimistic about this sickening operation, but Hit? The reason why Le Qi gave full support.
After the Eighteenth Army defeated the French Seventh Army, which came to support France, the Ninth Armored Division, as a sharp-edged force, was able to pass through the bridges at Mordijk and Dordrecht, and arrived in Rotterdam on the afternoon of May 12. Opposite the south bank of the Nivi Maas River. The bridges in Rotterdam have always been in the hands of the German airborne troops.
However, tanks cannot pass those bridges in Rotterdam. It turned out that the Dutch had blocked the northern end of the bridge by this time. In the early morning of May 14, the Dutch's situation was very critical, but not yet desperate. The "Dutch Fortress" has not yet been breached. The powerful German airborne troops around The Hague were either captured or dispersed into nearby villages. Rotterdam has not yet been lost.
After the Eighteenth Army defeated the French Seventh Army, which came to support France, the German Sixth Army successfully crossed the Albert Canal and separated the French Seventh Army from the main force of the French First Army. The Eighteenth Army was freed up to take care of the Dutch. At this time, the Netherlands was fighting alone with only six infantry divisions. Under the powerful attack of the 18th Army, one division was soon completely defeated.
Britain and France were also advancing rapidly at this time, hoping to save the Netherlands. Originally, France deployed its main forces on the French-Belgian border from the west of Sedan to the Strait. This line of defense, from northwest to southeast, consists of the French Seventh Army, the Belgian Army, the British Expeditionary Force, the French First Army and the Ninth Army. After the war began, the French Seventh Army, which was closest to the Netherlands, entered Belgium. When the British and French army commands dropped their troops into Belgium one after another, the outcome of this war had begun to be determined. Army Group A in the central Ardennes region began to cross the Ardennes region, ready to give them a fatal blow at any time.
As far as the Dutch were concerned, it was only a five-day war. As for the Belgian, French and British expeditionary forces, their fate was also decided in this short period of time. As far as Germany is concerned, in terms of the execution of strategies and tactics, everything went according to plan, and even went smoothly than planned.
The reason why the British, French and German armies were in such an embarrassing situation was mainly because they were too paralyzed and lacked the concept of combat readiness. While Germany was sharpening its sword and preparing to launch an attack on the Western Front, the British and French were sleeping. Their staff headquarters did not believe the alarms emanating from Brussels and The Hague. London was busy dealing with a three-day cabinet crisis, which was resolved on the evening of May 10 when Churchill succeeded Chamberlain as prime minister. The British and French headquarters did not learn of the German attack until the roar of German bombers overhead and the ear-piercing scream of Stuka dive bombers broke the pre-dawn silence. A little while later, at dawn, another desperate appeal for help came from the Dutch and Belgian governments.