That could have been "Leopoldsburg", just south of the border with Holland.
It got know as the starting point of the "Garden" element in operation "Market-Garden".
here erroneously referred to as "Leopoldville"
Hi Jeroen, that sounds like the one,It was a sign by the side of the road that I remember,would they have had it around the way that I said? That must be the one.We were held there for a few days and then moved on. lcm1
Actually I’m not sure if this was an OKW consideration,
but it occurred to me that the bombing of Rotterdam might be part of the wider German campaign in the West:
Not specifically, but the idea of the terror attack, "Shock & Awe" in Rumsfelds language, was on the table should the Dutch, Belgians or anyone else prove stubborn. The Germans were mightly impressed with what their bombers had done at Guernica & similar attacks in Spain. They tried at again at Warsaw, and probablly had intended it should war occur with the Czechs.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Major Sennef
to draw the attention of the Allies to the north in Army Group B's boisterous advance, and bombing a major city would draw a lot of attention,
while further to the south on the 14 of May1940, the panzers of Army Group A were appearing out of the ‘impassable’ Ardennes
and crossing the Meuse and could still use the distraction the bombing of Rotterdam offered.
The "Matadors Cloak of Army Group B was a important part of the German strategy. However... It was thought essential the Dutch Army be defeated as rapidly as possible and the shipping channels to the great ports of Antwerp, Rotterdam, ect... be secured. The last thing the Germans needed were large secure ports for supply in the rear of the Allied left flank. If those armies, the Belgians, British, and French were to be threatened with isolation in Belgium they had to be denied the North Sea ports. To this end it was essential Army Group B race through and secure the approaches from the Scheldt & northwards. The Germans were aware of the possible role of the French 7th Army and knew its forces linking with the Dutch and covering the norther approach to Antwerp would be bad news for them.
In 1914 the small Belgian Army had retreated to Antwerp & held there for many weeks entrenched in the rear of the German army. In that case the small Belgian force was not a great threat. However in 1940 the Belgian army was three times that size, and there were three full size British and French armies pointed into Belgium. The German plan would not work if those Allied corps had Antwerp and Rotterdam to depend on for supply. The 'Sickle Cut' would have been far more risky in that case, perhaps suicidal. At least thats how the German leaders saw it.
So, they though it imperative the Dutch defense be eliminated with all speed and the North Sea ports nuetralized before the French 7th Army might arrive. It was thought a terror or shock attack on a Dutch city would break their morale and defense. As it was the march of the 9th Pz Div cut through the Dutch defense reached the critical terrain before the French. Without hope of repelling the enemy and linking to the Allied armies the Dutch saw little point in resistance.
If it was the same Bourg leopold that I referred to, I saw no sign of the Belgian army but did see what appeared to be a fairly old town. lcm1
Probably the same place, just to the NE of Beverloo with military training grounds extending just to the east of Leopoldsbourg in a N-S direction.
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