The Walcheren Landings - 1 november 1944

Описание: (Scroll down for English) Operatie Infatuate II (Die als doel had het eiland Walcheren te bevrijden) begon in de vroege morgen van 1 november 1944 vanuit de haven van Breskens die sinds 20 oktober 1944 in geallieerde handen was. Om kwart voor vijf 's morgens verlieten de eerste landingsschepen de Breskense haven. Tegelijkertijd werd vanuit Breskens een inleidende artilleriebeschieting op de Duitse stellingen in Vlissingen uitgevoerd. Na de landing van een kleine verkenningseenheid landde de eerste aanvalsgolf rond 6:35 uur op het strandje bij de Oranjemolen in Vlissingen dat werd aangeduid als 'Uncle Beach'. De aanval op Vlissingen werd uitgevoerd door commando's van het Britse No. 4 Commando waaronder ook Franse, Nederlandse en Belgische militairen (No 2 (Dutch) Troop). De troepen stonden onder bevel van luitenant-kolonel Robert Dawson.

Operation Infatuate II was the amphibious landing at Westkapelle, also conducted on the morning of November 1. Air support was limited due to the weather conditions. After a heavy naval bombardment by the Royal Navy (a battleship and two monitors plus a support squadron of landing craft carrying guns), troops of 4th Special Service Brigade (Nos. 41, 47, and 48 Royal Marines Commando and No. 10 Inter Allied Commando, consisting mainly of Belgian and Norwegian troops) supported by the specialized armoured vehicles (amphibious transports, mine-clearing tanks, bulldozers, etc.) of the 79th Armoured Division were landed on both sides of the gap in the sea dyke, using large landing craft as well as amphibious vehicles to bring men and tanks ashore. Heavy fighting ensued here as well before the ruins of the town were captured. Part of the troops moved south-east toward Vlissingen, while the main force went north-east to clear the northern half of Walcheren and link up with the Canadian troops who had established a bridgehead on the eastern part of the island. Fierce resistance was again offered by some of the German troops defending this area, so that fighting continued until November 7.