Battle of Belgium order of battle

(Redirected from Belgian Army 1940)

This is the order of battle for the Battle of Belgium, a World War II battle between German and Allied forces in Belgium on 10–28 May 1940.

Allied armed forces

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Belgian air service

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The Belgian Air Service (Aéronautique Militaire Belge) comprised three main aerial regiments:[1]

  • 1er Régiment d'Aéronautique (1st Air Regiment - Observation and Army Cooperation aircraft)
    • 1er Groupe (Fairey Fox)
    • 2e Groupe (Fairey Fox)
    • 3e Groupe (Fairey Fox)
    • 4e Groupe (Fairey Fox)
    • 5e Groupe (Renard R.31)
    • 6e Groupe (Renard R.31)
  • 2e Régiment d'Aéronautique (2nd Air Regiment - Fighter aircraft)
  • 3e Régiment d'Aéronautique (3rd Air Regiment - Reconnaissance and Bomber aircraft)

The Aéronautique Militaire Belge was reinforced by the Royal Air Force:

Belgian Army

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The strength of the Belgian Army extended to seven Corps, a Cavalry Corps and several ad hoc units and fortresses. In the following overview, the position of each division at the start of hostilities on May 10, 1940 is given in parentheses.

French First Army Group

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General Lord Gort

German armed forces

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Army Group B

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Commanded by Colonel General Fedor von Bock

Luftwaffe

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The Luftwaffe order of battle for operations over Belgium:[12]

Citations

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  1. ^ Aéronautique Militaire Belge Order of Battle
  2. ^ Belgian Cavalry Corps Order of Battle, 10 May 1940[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ Mitcham 1985, p. 52.
  4. ^ Mitcham 1985, p. 46.
  5. ^ a b Mitcham 1985, p. 185.
  6. ^ a b Mitcham 1995, p. 505.
  7. ^ a b Mitcham 1985, p. 352.
  8. ^ a b Mitcham 1995, p. 509.
  9. ^ Mitcham 1985, p. 163.
  10. ^ Mitcham 1985, p. 422.
  11. ^ Mitcham 1985, p. 360.
  12. ^ Hooton 2007, pp. 45-48.

References

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  • Mitcham, Samuel. Hitler's Legions: The German Army Order of Battle, World War II. Dorset Press, New York. 1985. ISBN 0-88029-214-8 (Formerly ISBN 0-8128-2992-1)
  • Hooton, E.R. (2007). Luftwaffe at War; Blitzkrieg in the West. London: Chevron/Ian Allan. ISBN 978-1-85780-272-6.
  • Gunsburg, Jeffrey A., 'The Battle of the Belgian Plain, 12–14 May 1940: The First Great Tank Battle', The Journal of Military History, Vol. 56, No. 2. (Apr., 1992), pp. 207–244.
  • Belgian Cavalry Corps Order of Battle, 10 May 1940[permanent dead link]
  • Aéronautique Militaire Belge Order of Battle
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