0512_03: The Dutch Counterattack - PzC 12 France '40

The Battle of Dordrecht, 12 May 1940: Though some isolated pockets of Fallschirmjägers held out,
the Dutch largely controlled the situation north of the Nieuwe Maas and the threat to the Hague had
been neutralized. To the south, however, the situation was far more serious. Gruppe Süd had a firm
grip on the IJsselmonde, controlled the Moerdijk bridges, and had a strong presence on the Isle of
Dordrecht. On the evening of May 10th General Winkelman ordered General Van Der Bijl's Lichte
Divisie, the Netherlands' most mobile and best-trained division, to counterattack across the Noord
and clear the IJsselmonde. After a sharp fight at Alblasserdam in the early morning hours of May
11th, it became clear that the Dutch bicyclists could not force a crossing of the Noord and the next
day Lichte Divisie would attempt another approach. Van Der Bijl sent three battalions across the
railroad bridge near Sliedrecht on the northeast corner of the Isle of Dordrecht with the mission of
clearing the Fallschirmjaegers off the island and then continuing the attack north towards
Rotterdam. The surviving elements of the 3e Grensbataljon would attack from the west across the
'S-Gravendeel ferry. Though the Dutch outnumbered the Germans, they were inexperienced and
running out of time - 9. Panzer had crushed the remaining Dutch forces in Noord Brabant and was
hurrying to relieve the beleaguered Fallschirmjaegers... [Size: Small]