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Balance

Introduction

In this section we present a balance of the battle of Zeeland, incorporating the French losses in Noord-Brabant. Some parts may have been published elsewhere on this site too, but on this balance sheet all figures are summarized for an easy overview. 

The French

The French 60th and 68th infantry divisions had both lost about 25-30% of their man-power and virtually all heavier equipment that had belonged to the two regiments that had fought at Walcheren and Zuid-Beveland. Most guns, AA, machine guns, carts and vehicles had been left behind. Walcheren and Zuid-Beveland had become one huge army dump.

The exact casualty rates of the French units in Zeeland are not known, but there are 154 men registered as KIA in Zeeland. These men are mostly identified by full name, rank, unit, date of registration and location of death and burial.

According to official sources 229 French were killed in Noord-Brabant and Zeeland. We have registrations of 154 KIA in Zeeland and 62 in Noord-Brabant, adding up to 206 KIA in total.

These 154 men killed in Zeeland, include one man of the French navy and three men flying personnel. The 150 army KIA included 17 officers, of which one Général de Brigade [Deslaurens, C.60 DI], two Majors, three Captains and eleven Lieutenants. In total 8 men were registered under 68 GRDI, 83 for 271.RI, 30 men for 224.RI and 29 men registered with other units or unspecified.

The 62 KIA in Noord-Brabant included four airmen, three of them officers (two Captains, one 1st Lieutenant). The 58 army men include 2 officers - both Lieutenants. Of these 58 men there were thirteen of 2.GRDI, 5.GRDI, 12.GRDI and 27.GRDI, twelve of 4.RDP, nine of 92.RI and seven of 38.RI. The remaining seventeen were of several other units or unspecified.

The number of WIA is unknown. A rather reliable benchmark is a 1:4 KIA/WIA ration. The registered French number KIA in the Netherlands is 206 men. That would imply a mere 800 men WIA. Obviously a mere guestimate.

It is estimated that about 3,000 men were taken prisoner, at least according to German sources. How accurate that number is, is hard to tell. It seems however not exaggerated.

Dutch losses

The Dutch - defenders of their own soil - had disgraced themselves in the battle of Zeeland. They had lost only 38 men - amongst which 5 officers including two of the airforce - in eight days of war. Bearing in mind that at least five of these men were killed due to an accident or Fifth Column suspicion [one senior NCO had been killed by the hurds from Noord-Brabant under suspicion of Fifth Column activities] and another five by a French volley on a Dutch column near Middelburg, only 28 men had been killed due to enemy doing.

If one even further studies these figures, one can conclude that the far majority of these men had been killed due to air-raids and navy losses. During actual combat [no accidents included] in the two defence-lines [Zanddijkline: 7; Bathline 2] and local fights elsewhere [Zierikzee 1; Tholen 2; Bruinisse 1] only thirteen soldiers had been killed!

Anyway, 38 KIA was an extremely low figure bearing in mind that eight days of war in this province had exposed 7,500 Dutch soldiers - later even more than 10,000 - to the enemy. That loss was for example only 20% of the French loss, and clearly a fine comparison of the actual effort-balance between the two Allies.

Three more Dutch soldiers of the Zeeland forces were killed in the days after the battle. Besides of the navy (and navy volunteer) force in Zeeland 40 men were killed. The BV.34 (militarised tug) was good for the most severe single loss, 20 men KIA. On board the HrMs Bulgia, a brown water gun boat, 13 men were killed. The hospital ship Luctor et Emergo, bombed in the harbour of Flushing, went under with four men killed on board. Finally of the HrMs Hydra, also a brown water gun boat, three men perished.

In total 87 men killed during the battle of Zeeland and three more in the weeks after. Their names and units were the following (credits to lt-col rtd. E.H. Brongers for composing the below list):

 Name  Rank  Unit  KIA  Location
         
army/airforce        
         
 Aarts, J.M.  2nd Lt  St 30.RI  14.5.1940  Middelburg
 Bakker, L.  Sld  LuWa  10.5.1940  Heemstede AFB 
 Baljeu, F.  Corp   St 40.RI   11.5.1940    Yerseke 
 Barendse, A.  Sld   2-I Dep KMD   16.5.1940   's Heer Arendskerke 
 (5)  Bisseling, F.C.  Sgt (wmr)   5.KRA   16.5.1940   Kapelle 
 Bongartz, W.  Sld   St II-17.RA   16.5.1940   Kapelle
 Breen, J.  Sld   2-I-38.RI   15.5.1940   Tholen 
 Coerengel, W.A.   Capt   2-II-38.RI   17.5.1940   Terneuzen 
 Daane, L.  Sld   2-III-38.RI   17.5.1940   Zierikzee 
 (10) Dam, S. van  Corp   3-III-38.RI   15.5.1940   Yerseke 
 Donkers, P.F.  Sld  St III-17.RA   16.5.1940   Kapelle 
 Drost, J.  Sgt (wmr)   MC II-40.RI    16.5.1940   Kapelle 
 Durian, J.  Sld   7th Det. Coast.Arty.   16.5.1940   Heemstede AFB 
 Eberlé, E.J.  Sgt   3rd Coy Guard Tr.   16.5.1940   Oosterland 
 (15) Est, M. van der  Sld   1-II-17.RA   26.5.1940   Terneuzen (WIA) 
 Goetheer, J.  Sld   2-I-38.RI   15.5.1940   Tholen 
 Haberkorn, L.W.  Capt   4th Car Coy (Peeldiv.)     15.5.1940   Oostkapelle 
 Jong, E.J. de  Corp   St 30.RI   14.5.1940   Middelburg 
 Jousma, I.  Sld  St II-17.RA  16.5.1940  Kapelle 
 (20) Kellendonk, A.F.   Sld   16th Coy Pio  14.5.1940   Middelburg 
 Kingma, B.  Sld  St III-40.RI   16.5.1940   Kapelle 
 Laven, N.J.  Sld   1-GBJ   13.5.1940   Yerseke 
 Malsen, J. van  Corp  2-I-40.RI  15.5.1940   Kruiningen 
 Moerman, J.  Sld   16th Coy Pio   14.5.1940   Middelburg 
 (25) Monté, W.W.H.  WO   St III-27.RI   13.5.1940   Serooskerke 
 Pieterse, W.  Sgt   1-14.GB   14.5.1940  Rilland 
 Prins, S.H.  1st Lt   1-III-38.RI  12.5.1940   Yerseke 
 Ridder, J. de  Sld   2-III-40.RI   16.5.1940   Kapelle 
 Rooseboom, W.  2nd Lt (PO)   IV-2 Air Regiment   10.5.1940   Nieuwerkerk 
 (30) Sandt, J.W. van de   Sld   16th Coy Pio   14.5.1940  Middelburg 
 Schot, T.  Corp  109th Bt LuA (AAA)  13.5.1940   Schore 
 Snoep, C.  Corp   St 40.RI   11.5.1940   Yerseke 
 Steenbergen, B.  1st Lt (FO) obs.   IV-2 Air Regiment   10.5.1940   Nieuwerkerk 
 Stoutjesdijk, A.M.  Sld   3-14.GB  14.5.1940  Rilland 
 (35)  Troost, J.  Corp   1-III-38.RI   12.5.1940   Yerseke 
 Valk, J.A. van der  Sld   MC-II-38.RI   14.5.1940   Vlissingen 
 Verbruggen, H.  Sld   MC-II-38.RI   14.5.1940  Koudekerke  
 Westdijk, A.N.  Sgt   1-III-38.RI   15.5.1940   Yerseke 
         
 Netherlands Royal Navy        
         
 Aarts, J.M.  Stoker   HrMs Hydra   15.5.1940   Zijpe  
 (40) Baar, J.C. de  Skipper  HrMs BV.34   14.5.1940   Oostgat 
 Bergers, P.S.  Seaman   HrMs BV.34   14.5.1940   Oostgat 
 Beveren, R. van  Seaman  HrMs BV.34   14.5.1940   Oostgat 
 Blind, J.  Engineer   HrMs Motorloodsboot 1   15.5.1940    Breskens 
 Boer, W. de  Seaman  HrMs Bulgia   12.5.1940   Flushing 
 (45) Bosman, J.G.  Sgt-Mj eng.   Navy AFB Veere   12.5.1940   Veere 
 Bosselaar, W.C.  Stoker   HrMs Motorloodsboot 1   15.5.1940   Breskens 
 Bothof, R.  Seaman   HrMs Bulgia   12.5.1940   Flushing 
 Broere, C.  Corp   HrMs Hydra   15.5.1940   Zijpe 
 Buis, J.W.  Pilot (VMR)   Navy Pilot Service Zeeland    17.5.1940   Terneuzen 
 (50) Cate, J. ten  Seaman   HrMs BV.34   14.5.1940   Oostgat 
 Deen, V.M.  Seaman  Navy AFB Veere   12.5.1940   Veere 
 Dijks, F.  Able Seaman   HrMs Bulgia    12.5.1940   Vlissingen 
 Dommelen, E.C. van  Engineer   HrMs BV.34   14.5.1940   Oostgat 
 Dooms, J.C.  Seaman   HrMs Luctor et Emergo    12.5.1940   Flushing 
 (55) Eenkoren, H.  Stoker   HrMs Bulgia   12.5.1940   Flushing 
 Empel, H. van  Stoker   HrMs Bulgia   12.5.1940   Flushing 
 Geilvoet, J.  Stoker   HrMs BV.34   14.5.1940   Oostgat 
 Hildebrand, G.E.  Eng. 3rd cl.  Navy AFB Veere   17.5.1940   Arnemuiden 
 Houwen, G. van der  Stoker   HrMs BV.34   14.5.1940   Oostgat 
 (60) Huiszoon, L. van der   Seaman   HrMs BV.34   14.5.1940  Oostgat
 Kaandorp, F.C.  Able Seaman   HrMs Bulgia   12.5.1940   Flushing 
 Koek, J.  Seaman  HrMs BV.34   14.5.1940  Oostgat 
 Kuen, C.W.  Stoker   HrMs Bulgia   12.5.1940   Flushing 
 Leeuw, W.J. de  Able Seaman   HrMs BV.34   14.5.1940   Oostgat 
 (65) Maas, P.A. van der  Seaman   HrMs Luctor et Emergo   12.5.1940   Flushing 
 Missaar, J.  WO   Coastal Guardpost Middelburg    05.6.1940  Middelburg (WIA) 
 Nouwen, P.  Stoker  HrMs Bulgia   12.5.1940   Flushing 
 Ouwehand, C.  Seaman  HrMs BV.34   14.5.1940   Oostgat 
 Pijl, F.J. van der  Seaman   HrMs Luctor et Emergo  12.5.1940   Flushing 
 (70) Pijl, K. van der  Seaman   HrMs BV.34   14.5.1940   Oostgat
 Pleijte, P.J.L.F.J.  Nav.Off.   Lightship 'Hinter'   17.5.1940   Flushing
 Pop, P.  Stoker  HrMs BV.34   14.5.1940   Oostgat 
 Putter, A. de  Seaman   HrMs Luctor et Emergo   12.5.1940   Flushing 
 Rijswijk, A. van  Sgt-Mj eng.  HrMs Hydra   15.5.1940   Zijpe 
 (75) Ronde, J. de  Seaman   HrMs Luctor et Emergo   12.5.1940   Flushing 
 Roth, C.  Stoker  HrMs BV.34  14.5.1940  Oostgat
 Schmidt, P.  LTZ 2  HrMs BV.34  14.5.1940  Oostgat
 Schuitema, P.  Seaman  HrMs Bulgia  12.5.1940  Flushing
 Sluijs, W. van der  Stoker  HrMs BV.34   14.5.1940   Oostgat 
 (80) Stigchel, B. van der  Stoker  HrMs Luctor et Emergo  12.5.1940  Flushing
 Thomas, M.  Seaman  HrMs BV.34  14.5.1940  Oostgat
 Tuitel, J.  Seaman  HrMs BV.34  14.5.1940  Oostgat
 Vader, P.  Stoker 1st cl.  HrMs Bulgia  12.5.1940  Flushing
 Visser, J. de  Seaman  HrMs Bulgia  12.5.1940  Flushing
 (85) Volk, A.T.  Eng.  HrMs Luctor et Emergo  12.5.1940  Flushing
 Volmer, J.  Stoker  HrMs Bulgia  12.5.1940  Flushing
 Vos, J.M. de  Aircr. eng.  Navy AFB Veere  17.5.1940  Goes (WIA)
 Waal, C. de  Eng.  HrMs BV.34  14.5.1940  Oostgat
 Wesseling, B.  Seaman  HrMs Bulgia  12.5.1940  Flushing
 (90) Zonneveld, W.   Seaman  Navy HQ Zeeland  17.5.1940  Middelburg
         


Note 1: Most KIA in Kapelle and Yerseke were in fact KIA that fell in the trenches of the Zanddike defence-line.

Note 2: KIA that fell in Rilland were in fact of a patrol that moved in front of the Bath-line.

Note 3: The five men KIA at Middelburg on 14.5.1940 were killed by French fire at the Schroebrug (Vlissingse Jaagpad). The French had been under the impression that it were German troops approaching them, although German troops were not even in Zeeland.

Note 4: Zijpe and Oostgat are offshore locations or water-ways.

Note 5: All lower naval functions are uniformly addressed as Stoker, Seaman or Engineer. LTZ2 (RNLN) equalled Lieutenant-Commander (RN) in 1940.  

The number of killed civilians are not known.

German losses

The Germans lost a considerable number of men during three days of ground war in Zeeland, but bearing in mind that they were the assaulting side, their losses could be regarded as light.

Including the action at Tholen, which was relatively costly [20 men KIA], the German army loss was 89 men KIA. Their heaviest losses at one location were at Tholen and at Oostdijk, when the point SS unit was trapped by cunningly laid land-mines. It costed them at least 10 men KIA alone [against 22 KIA total at that location]. An additional eight Luftwaffe crew men perished with their planes, adding up a total of 97 men KIA. The retaking of Walcheren four years later would cost the Allies much more ...

The losses at Zeeuws-Vlaanderen are unknown. No figures whatsoever of French, Belgian or Germans have been found. It shall not have been high figures, for apart from one or two skirmishes the only action at this area was executed by the airforces. Some Luftwaffe raids must have costs the Allies some losses, but as said, they are unknown. We shall therefore leave it at that.

Remarkable

Two remarkable losses. First of all the combat death of Brigadier-General Deslaurens, the brave commander of the 60th Infantry Division. The circumstances under which he was killed were already addressed before.

On the German side a Colonel [Oberst Oskar von dem Hagen] of the 225th Infantry Division died. He was commander of the 376 IR. He had been the commander of the 18th I.D. in the period 1931-1934. Born on 13 April 1883, he died at the age of 57 years. He was posthumously promoted to General-Major. The circumstances under which he died are unknown, but according to German records succumbed of fatal wounds at the 17th of May in Ossendrecht. 225th ID was indeed active in this area, but only to the rear of the SS Regiment Germania. Possibly the Colonel was a victim of Allied air-raids which were quite frequently executed in this area in those days.

Both officers were the most senior in rank to die on Dutch soil in those days. On the Dutch side three Lieutenant-Colonels were killed or fatally wounded during the same period, but none of these three in Zeeland. They were the most senior Dutch officers to get killed.

Airforce losses

The confirmed and identified losses of German planes are also specifically known, although many French and Dutch military reports speak of more losses and crashes in the sea [which obviously prevents us of wreckage verification].

The registered losses of the German, French, Belgian and British airforces during the 10-27 May episode generate the following figures.

The Luftwaffe lost the highest number of planes, 26 planes: 12 off He-111, 5 off Ju-88, 3 off Bf-109's, 2 off Do-17's, 2 off Bf-110's and 1 He-115.

The French airforce lost 7 registered planes: 3 off Hawk-75's, 2 off Potez-63.11, 1 off Ms-406 and 1 off Chance Vought.

The British and Belgian losses were very low, both one plane. A Blenheim nearby Flushing and a Fairley Fox of the Belgian airforce in Zeeuws Vlaanderen.  

The Dutch lost one modern Fokker T-V medium bomber, seven old C-V recce and light ground-support bi-planes and many air-training planes on Zeeland soil. The T-V bomber had been hit by [own] AA over Veere and appeared to be a total write-off after landing at Haamstede AFB. The seven C-V's were all destroyed on the ground whilst another two C-V's were shot down close to Rotterdam on a mission from Haamstede AFB to Waalhaven. All destroyed training planes had fallen victim to Luftwaffe bombs or strafing.