Vitality I WTO (id:#61798)

(Rivers to the Reich ID: U40)   [next]   [previous]

South Beveland, Holland 1944-10-24 (2 others)

Overview:

The south shore of the Schledt was nearly cleared. Unfortunately, guns on the north bank, though much less commanding, could threaten the Allied shipping lanes to the port of Antwerp. The eastern portion of the north shore was a fingerlike strip of land known as South Beveland. The German defense of South Beveland, and Walcheren Island to the west, was entrusted to the 70th Infantry Division. Known as a “whitebread” unit, the 70th was composed of men suffering intestinal ailments. Arned in large part with captured ordnance, what was lacking in fighting spirit it made up for with a series of in-depth fortifications along South Beveland's narrow length. The Canadian First Army had tried earlier to break the German position with an armored thrust – and had been bloodily repulsed. Now, the Canadian 4th Bde, with assault engineers in the spearhead, would make the push.

Defender: German (Infanterie-Division 70)  

Errata (source)