Fortifications and Preparations
Germany invaded the Netherlands on 10 May 1940 as part of plan Fall Gelb. They rapidly crossed two thin defence lines, the O-line and the Q-line which the Dutch had built to defend their three northern provinces.
The German 1. Kavalleriedivision—later reformed to the 24. Panzerdivision—had taken the last Dutch defences in front of the Afsluitdijk (Wonsline) on 12 May and was prepared for an assault to take the two lines of pillboxes or casemates of Fort Kornwerderzand (named after a hamlet near the dyke). The eastern line was for defence eastward, while the western line was just behind the first for threats from the rear. Altogether, 17 casemates had been built. They were designed to withstand 210 mm (8 in) rounds (indirect fire), and 280 mm (11 in) rounds (indirect fire). The three main casemates were made of 3 m (9.8 ft) of reinforced concrete. The casemates sheltered 230 men, twenty-one 7.9 mm (0.311 in) Schwazlose machine guns, three 50 mm (1.97 in) guns and a 50 mm shore-based naval gun. There were similar defences at the other end of the dyke.
Read more about this topic: Battle Of The Afsluitdijk
Famous quotes containing the word preparations:
“The most evident difference between man and animals is this: the beast, in as much as it is largely motivated by the senses and with little perception of the past or future, lives only for the present. But man, because he is endowed with reason by which he is able to perceive relationships, sees the causes of things, understands the reciprocal nature of cause and effect, makes analogies, easily surveys the whole course of his life, and makes the necessary preparations for its conduct.”
—Marcus Tullius Cicero (106–43 B.C.)