During the Eightteen Day Campaign (10 May - 28 May 1940), as the battle of the Belgian Army against the German invaders is called, circa 6.000 Belgian military personnel died. It is unknown how many Belgian soldiers fought on after the capitulation - it is known that a number of these men died during the Dunkirk evacuation.
A small part of them lost their lives in the Netherlands; some in combat, in Zeeuws Vlaanderen, most however died as prisoners of war as the ship that was carrying them towards Germany sailed over a German magnetic mine, near Willemstad.
The last part of the Netherlands not under control of the Germans was Zeeuws Vlaanderen.
The French 68th Division was instructed to deploy itself along the coastline from the west coast up to the small bay called 'De Braakman", almost halfway Zeeuws-Vlaanderen. The French 60th Division took positions along the Westerschelde coast from the bay to the east, where it was flanked by some battalions of the French 21st Division that defended the last bit of coast up to the westbank of the Scheld Canal.
On the east side of the Scheld the Belgian army had taken defensive positions. Next to the remainders of the 60th and 68th Division plenty of other units were presented in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen. Some organised companies or sections of Dutch troops from 38 and 40 Regiment Infantery as well as other smaller units and some Belgian units of the 1st and 2nd Cavalry Division.
Also the notorious Belgian "Ardense Jagers" arrived, an elite fighting unit that apart from elite fighting skills proved to be raw men with little civilization. Their trail through Zeeuws-Vlaanderen was easy to follow by the rampage and looting of villages.
Next to these units some thousands of unorganised Dutch troops were found at Zeeuws-Vlaanderen. Men from at least fourteen different regiments were identified, but a multitude of smaller units were also represented. Many of these troops tried to reach France. Some succeeded, many were captured on their way anyhow.
In the days that followed Zeeuws-Vlaanderen would become more and more isolated. At the 18th already the Germans occupied the Belgian cities Leuven, Mechelen and Brussels. They also managed to penetrate the tough defence-line around Antwerp. When soon after Guderian's formidable tank army managed to follow the Somme to the west, the huge German claw around Belgium was almost shut tight. At the 22nd the Germans reached the coast south of Boulogne. From thereon its was simply a countdown at what stage the Germans would eventually occupy Zeeuws-Vlaanderen.
The 22nd of May the French 60th and 68th Division left Zeeuws-Vlaanderen, and a day later both Belgian Cavalry Divisions followed. These units did not simply leave Zeeuws-Vlaanderen; they stole everything they could find of any value. Almost every village in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen found its shops and stores back in a state of complete emptiness and often smashed to pieces. Many inhabitants of the area experienced the future occupational force a relief in comparison to the Allied forces. That feeling of relief wouldn't last too long ...
At the 24th the eastern part of Zeeuws-Vlaanderen was occupied by the Germans, after some brief but intense fighting around Terneuzen. It would last until the 29th of May before the last bit of Dutch ground was finally fallen in German hands. It was the day after the Belgian capitulation. It would last more than four years for this piece of Holland to be liberated of the German yoke. A dark and black era had just started ...
BELGIAN PRISONERS OF WAR WHO DIED IN THE NETHERLANDS, MAY AND JUNE 1940
MAASTRICHT
In May and June 1940 eight or nine Belgian prisoners of war died, presumably of wounds sustained in combat.
It could be the true number was eleven (see 12/10/1940).
OUDENBOSCH
On 30/05/1940 one Belgian prisoner of war died, presumably of wounds sustained in combat.
On the 30th of May 1940 the "Rhenus 127", packed with 1200 prisoners of war, sailed over a German magnetic mine, on the 'Hollands Diep, near Willemstad. The ship broke in two and sank. Most of the prisoners managed to save themselves, but 167 Belgian soldiers drowned (Wiesner states '132').
134 Victims are buried at the Belgian War Cemetery Willemstad, park Havenhoofd, Willemstad. On this cemetery rest in total 159 Belgian soldiers who died in the Netherlands (some of them in 1944/1945).
Jozef Reyniers, ?, 14é Artillerie, age unknown, 11/05/1940, Maastricht (DOW as POW?)
Maurice Jules
Vancoppernolle, ?, ?, age 29, 11/05/1940, Maastricht (DOW as POW?)
Gustaaf de Koster, Corporal, 18é Linie /15, age 27, 12/05/1940, Maastricht (DOW as POW?)
Andre De Pessemier, Corporal, 18é Linie, age 26, 12/05/1940, Maastricht (DOW as POW?)
Jan Vrijsen, Brancardier, age 31, 12/05/1940, Maastricht (DOW as POW?)
Pierre Zoller, ?,
Ardeense Jagers?, age unknown, 12/05/1940, Maastricht (DOW as POW?)
Landri Lambert, ?, 5é Linie,
?, died in Humbeek (B) or Maastricht (DOW as POW?) back up
16/05/1940: Maastricht
Henri Portelle, Onderluitenant (Res.), 2é Karabiniers /4, age unknown, 16/05/1940, Maastricht (DOW as POW?)
A.E. Bonvart (or Alphense E. Bouvart*), ?, ?, KIA between 21 and 23/05/1940, Sas van Gent, originally buried Algemene Begraafplaats Sas van Gent E.L.L. Hubant, KIA between 21 and 23/05/1940, Sas van Gent, originally buried Algemene Begraafplaats Sas van Gent P.L. Kiekens,
KIA between 21 and 23/05/1940, Sas van Gent, originally buried Algemene Begraafplaats Sas van Gent C.L.A. van de Look, KIA between 21 and 23/05/1940, Sas van Gent, originally buried Algemene Begraafplaats Sas van Gent Jan Lodewijk Segers, Soldier, 2 Rgt. Gidsen, KIA between 21 and 23/05/1940, Sas van Gent, originally buried Algemene Begraafplaats Sas van Gent (W. de Meester: 26/05/1940) D. G. Spies, Soldier, 2 Rgt. Gidsen, KIA between 21 and 23/05/1940, Sas van Gent, originally buried Algemene Begraafplaats Sas van Gent (W. de Meester: Dionys Joris Spies, 26/05/1940) Petrus J. Taes, ?, ?, KIA between 21 and 23/05/1940, Sas van Gent, originally buried Algemene Begraafplaats Sas van Gent
Robert Berckmans, Soldier, 2 Rgt Gidsen, 24/05/1940, died in Aardenburg; originally buried RK Begraafplaats Aardenburg Henri A. Bruneau, Soldier, 2 Rgt Gidsen, 24/05/1940, died in Aardenburg; originally buried RK Begraafplaats Aardenburg Albert F. Colhoven, Soldier,2 Rgt Gidsen, age 24, 24/05/1940, died in Aardenburg; originally buried RK Begraafplaats Aardenburg, now buried Hoboken (B) J.V. de Cuber (or Joseph de Cubber*),
Soldier, 19 Rgt Art, 24/05/1940, died in Aardenburg; originally buried RK Begraafplaats Aardenburg
Josef Geens,
Soldier, 2 Rgt Gidsen, 24/05/1940, died in Aardenburg Frantz. Jacob,
Soldier, 2 Rgt Gidsen, 24/05/1940, died in Aardenburg; originally buried RK Begraafplaats Aardenburg Frans G.A.M. Meeus,
Soldier, 2 Rgt Gidsen, 24/05/1940, died in Aardenburg; originally buried RK Begraafplaats Aardenburg Marcel E.Wuytack,
Soldier, 2 Rgt Gidsen, 24/05/1940, died in Aardenburg; originally buried RK Begraafplaats Aardenburg
Marcel Wagner,
?, Ardeense Jagers?, age unknown, Hulst, 26/05/40
Unclear how many Belgian soldiers lost their lives in this tragedy. From 132 to nearly 200.
Florimont Baetens,
Soldier, ?, age 26, 30/05/1940, Willemstad
Maurice Balcaen,
Soldier, ?, age 32, 30/05/1940, Willemstad
Jean Beine,
Soldier, ?, age unknown, 30/05/1940, Willemstad
Jean Breyer,
Corporal, 1é Ardeense Jagers, age unknown, 30/05/1940, Willemstad
? Claes [from Hasselt?], Corporal,
11é Linie, age unknown, 30/05/1940, Willemstad
Cyriel De Messemaeker, Soldier, ?, age unknown,
30/05/40, Willemstad Georges L. Lèfevre, Corporal, 4é Ardeense Jagers, age 35, 30/05/1940, Willemstad. Washed ashore in Bruinisse, 03/08/1940. Originally buried Bruinisse (NL), now Mussy-la-Ville (B)
Alphonse Leroi, Soldier, ?, age unknown,
30/05/1940, Willemstad
August Martens, Corporal, 11é Linie, age unknown,
30/05/1940, Willemstad
Charles Martens, Soldier,
15é Linie, age unknown,
30/05/1940, Willemstad
Jozef Lodewijk Meerberghs, Soldier, 7é Linie /5, age 22,
30/05/1940, Willemstad
Jean Moers, Soldier,
4é Intendance, age unknown, 30/05/1940, Willemstad
Désiré Neefs, ?, 15é Linie, age 32, 30/05/1940, Willemstad
Emiel Noben, Soldier,
29é Linie, age unknown, 30/05/1940, Willemstad
Emiel Renaerts, Corporal,
11é Linie, age unknown, 30/05/1940, Willemstad
Georges Rosseels, Soldier, ?,
age unknown, 30/05/1940, Willemstad
Maxim Servais, Corporal,
11é Linie,
age unknown, 30/05/1940, Willemstad
Jean Marhieu Slenders, ?, ?, age unknown,
30/05/1940, Willemstad
Jean Jozef Teirlinck, Sergeant,
15é Linie, age 25, 30/05/1940, Willemstad
Albert Tureluren, Soldier, 15é Linie, age unknown, 30/05/1940, Willemstad
Michel Tyskens,
Sergeant, 11é Linie, age unknown, 30/05/1940, Willemstad
Cornelis Frans Van Biesen, Soldier,
11é Linie, age 33, 30/05/1940, Willemstad
Rene Van de Velde, Soldier,
?, age unknown, 30/05/1940, Willemstad
Jean Van Herck, Soldier,
11é Linie, age unknown, 30/05/1940, Willemstad
Hubert Vanderstegen,
?, ?, age unknown, 30/05/1940, Willemstad
Gilbert Vandeweert, Sergeant,
11é Linie, age unknown, 30/05/1940, Willemstad
Leopold Vangeel, Soldier,
29é Linie, age unknown, 30/05/1940, Willemstad
François Vanormelingen,
Soldier, 11é Linie, age unknown, 30/05/1940, Willemstad
Leonard Ost, ?, ?, 08/06/1940, Bommel (DOW as POW?)
Eugene Pulman, Corporal, 8é Linie /3, age unknown, 08/06/1940, Maastricht (DOW as POW?)
Jean Lamy, ?, Ardeense Jagers?, age unknown, 01/07/1940, Willemstad (Rhenus victim?)
Gerard Vernest, Corporal, 18é Linie, age unknown, 12/10/1940, Maastricht (DOW as POW?)
Jean Baptiste Vranckx, Soldier, 18é Linie, age unknown, 12/10/1940, Maastricht (DOW as POW?)
[could it be that both died on 12/05/1940?]