Dinxperlo seaforth/argyll and sutherland

Dear Stolpi,

One bridge over the Holtwickerbach was blown, this one had a big hole in the middle
of the road. The other bridge at Voorts was the Tulenbridge. One bridge called the Brüggenhütte over the Aa the second Rietstapperbrug over the Holtwickerbach and
the third was over the Priesterbeek. This last one was a Woodenbridge(Hoonhorster-brug) near Dinxperlo about 400 Metres from the Bridgehead over the Aa and Holtwicker.

Cheers and Regards, Robert

 

....

 

Dear Stolpi, I have A Dutch Defence Map from 1932(Verkend 1936 en 1938). On this map you can see clearly the Four Bridges over the Aa near Dinxperlo. The Garrison of Anholt by the way came over the route Hagesfeld(Regniet) and the Old road from Anholt to Dinxperlo. The other line at the Dreiböomer was abandoned by the Fallschirmjäger and they were retreating to the right frontline near the bridges(Zollblock) this was Major Albert Stecken with his Men. The left route from Anholt was the Major Witzig group, with Volksstürm, SS and Panzergrenadiers. The Battle Started in the early morning 28th of March 1945 and dured till the 30th of March 1945(Route Beggelder to the Small Town of Sinderen) The Heurne was abandoned by its Defenders around 17.30 hours. They retreated to Aalten.

I send you the original Dutch map by privatemail add.

Cheers, Robert

 

....

 

Dear Stolpi, thats a Roger. I don't mind it at all, If you need more material You are welcome then.

Cheers and Regards, Robert

 

Dear Stolpi, the Dutch map-file isn't fit in this setting. I will send You a private messages by private mail.

Cheers, Robert

 

A nice book about the battle Robert-Jan Rijks, De laatste ogenblikken. De slag om Dinxperlo, maart-april 1945

 

Dinxperlo45 I have been reading your thread with interest over the past few weeks. I have a picture of 2820257 Donald Swanson 5th Bn Seaforth Highlanders KIA 26th March 1945. However the reason I have not mentioned before is that this date is before the dates you have requested, 29th 30th March 1945. Would this man be of interest to you and have you seen his Grave?

 

Dear George,

Thank You for your reply, everything of information is welcome.

Regards, Robert

 

I'am looking for information about:
2067-2 Schw.Flak Ers.Abt.37 and
L Bttr.Res.Flak Schw.Abt.518
Mader Johann, geb.2.7.10 in Petersdorf and
Koplin Erich, geb.20.1.01 in Neustettin.
These men and there units were stationed at Dinxperlo at the Maurits Prins Factory. This factory was wiped-out by the RAF at 26-03-1945.
Both men were KIA 26-03-1945 and burried in Dinxperlo.

Welle Rudolf, Fallsch.Gefr. geb, 14.4.26 Oberwolfach KIA 24-03-1945
Obergefr. Bennier Rudolf. geb, 2.10.03 Weestrau KIA 24-03-1945
Both were killed during an RAF Air-attack at a collumn at de Heurne.
These men were burried in Dinxperlo and 'exhuminiert' to Ysselstein.
There were more German cassualties (28th - 31th of march 1945).
Most of the KIA's were brought to (bodiecount-pounts) near the German border Town of Dinxperlo Süderwick and Anholt.

Do you have information about the units named above?
I did search at the Lexicon der WH and the Bündes Archief Germany
Without result.

Regards, Robert

 

Robert here is the photo of 2820257 Donald Swanson 5th Bn Seaforth Highlanders KIA 26th March 1945. Note his brother to the right survived the war.
John.

 

I'am looking for information about:
2067-2 Schw.Flak Ers.Abt.37 and
L Bttr.Res.Flak Schw.Abt.518
Mader Johann, geb.2.7.10 in Petersdorf and
Koplin Erich, geb.20.1.01 in Neustettin.
These men and there units were stationed at Dinxperlo at the Maurits Prins Factory. This factory was wiped-out by the RAF at 26-03-1945.
Both men were KIA 26-03-1945 and burried in Dinxperlo.

Welle Rudolf, Fallsch.Gefr. geb, 14.4.26 Oberwolfach KIA 24-03-1945
Obergefr. Bennier Rudolf. geb, 2.10.03 Weestrau(or Westrau)
KIA 24-03-1945. Both were killed during an RAF Air-attack at a collumn at de Heurne. These men were burried in Dinxperlo and 'exhumiert' to Ysselstein. There are more German cassualties (27th - 31th of march 1945). Most of the KIA's were brought to (bodiecount-pounts) near the German border Town of Dinxperlo Bocholt, Süderwick, Isselburg and Anholt.

There were many Fallschirmjäger-strongpoints and Schwere Flak units in and around Dinxperlo at this period. Do you have any information about the units named above?

I did search at the Lexicon der WH and the Bündes Archief Germany
Without results.

 

Does anyone know if this book has been compiled re the liberation of the village of Dinxperlo? I would be really interested to find out as my Uncle Pte W H Kavanagh was killed during the battle. Thanks.

 

Lalkav - attached a fragment of Alastair Borthwick's book about the 5th Bn Seaforth Highlanders "Battalion, A British Infantry Unit's actions from El Alamein to the Elbe. 1942 - 1945". The book was first published in 1946 under the title "Sans Peur". It gives a very detailed description of the battalion's operation at Brüggenhütte, the bridge over the Astrang stream west of Dinxperlo. It was a nasty battle in which the battalion was suprised and nearly overrun by a German force on March 29th. Losses on the British side were 14 killed and 40 wounded.

The 51st Highland Division at the time was expanding the bridgehead it had established some days earlier over the Rhine at Rees; the 5th Seaforth had just gone through another nasty action: a night attack at Groin, see: http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/50742-rhine-crossing-1945-the-rees-bridgehead-51st-highland-div-in-operation-turnscrew/

 

stolpi many thanks for that info from the book it was really interesting, if a little bit sad, to read it. It was nice to read some personal details regarding my Uncle Billy. We do still have the letter that was sent to my Nan informing her of his death and it does go into a little detail about what had happened but more from a battalion point of view. I will save a copy of the extracts from the book and forward onto family members as I'm sure my Uncle Billy's siblings would be interested to read it, especially as he was referred to as being the life and soul of the party. Thanks again.

 

You're welcome!

If they ever want to visit the area (it has little changed): contact me.

 

Many thanks for the offer, it would be really interesting to actually visit the area where the fighting took place. We have visited his grave at Reichswald as we took my Nan and planted a rose bush but up until a couple of days ago we had no idea exactly where he had died. Anyway, thankyou again for taking the time to give me this information. I can see that I'm not going to be doing much else for quite a while other than read through all of this.

 

Here is the letter that my Nan received from the Lieut Col if anyone would like to read it.

 

I see he is listed as 5th Bn on CWGC. Here's the ref to his units war diary the year he was killed. drop me a PM if you'd like a copy.

WO 171/5268 5 Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs, The Duke of Albany's) 1945 Jan.-Dec.

 

Lalkav - For your information: part of the operation map of the 51st Highland Division for Dinxperlo. The streambed of the Holtwicker Bach has been moved and as a result there is nowadays only one bridge left at Brüggenhütte, the southern one over the Aastrang.



Excerpt from the War Diary of the 152 Brigade to which the 5th Seaforth belonged (together with 2nd Seaforth and 5th Camerons)


Hope this is of help.