The province of Zeeland - and Walcheren in particular - is most often associated in Second World War history with the events of the second half of 1944. During October and November of that year, British and Canadian divisions, supported by a number of smaller Allied units - including Norwegian, French, Polish, Belgian, and Dutch commando troops - carried out a daring and unprecedented assault on the island. As part of operations Switchback, Infatuate I and II - collectively better known as "the battle for the Scheld "- the Allies sought, and ultimately succeeded, in clearing the south-western Netherlands of German forces.
On Walcheren 1944, the operation was preceded by a highly unusual preparation. The Germans were quite literally flushed out. In the weeks before the ground assault began, Allied aircraft bombed the island’s dikes and coastal defences, dropping more than 9,000 tonnes of bombs. As a result, almost the entire island was flooded, forcing the Germans either to withdraw their mobile units from Walcheren or to concentrate them on the few remaining elevated positions, where they became highly visible targets. This preparation was followed by the main amphibious assault, during which Allied forces landed at three separate locations on the island and succeeded in clearing it after several days of fierce and bloody fighting against the German occupation forces. The price paid by the island, its inhabitants, and the combatants themselves was enormous. Walcheren in 1944 witnessed one of the bloodiest battles fought in Western Europe during the Second World War.
The campaign to clear the Scheldt estuary in 1944 proved extremely costly for both sides. Allied casualties during the series of operations amounted to nearly 13,000 men killed, wounded, or missing. German losses are more difficult to determine with precision, but are estimated at between 10,000 and 12,000 killed and wounded, in addition to some 41,000 prisoners taken. The Dutch civilian population also paid a terrible price. Communities across the entire island of Walcheren were either virtually wiped from the map or suffered severe destruction. Several hundred civilians lost their lives during the preparatory bombing campaign, the fighting and the devastating inundations that accompanied the campaign
The story of the fighting in the province of Zeeland in May 1940 has been covered in only a handful of Dutch publications on the Second World War. Outside the Netherlands, even well-informed historians are often unaware that Zeeland continued to resist the Germans after the capitulation of the rest of the country on May 15th. In the broader context of the war, its significance was relatively limited.
The modest attention given to the campaign in historical literature can probably be explained largely by a sense of shame and dishonour. Both the Dutch and French forces in Zeeland performed poorly during the eight days of fighting the province endured in May 1940. Certainly, a number of smaller units - such as several anti-aircraft batteries and one or two resilient local groups of defenders - fought diligently, and in some cases exceptionally well, but these remained the exception rather than the rule. Likewise, certain individuals, such as the French General Deslaurens, distinguished themselves through remarkable conduct, leadership and sacrifice.
In general, however, the Battle of Zeeland does not lend itself easily to a triumphant or inspiring narrative. Rather, it is a story of profound disappointment, hopeless defeat, and numerous incidents in which both Dutch and French troops failed to uphold the honour of their colours.
The story of the battle of Zeeland in May 1940 is characterised by a long series of disappointing performances by both the Dutch and French armies. Nevertheless, we believe it is of the utmost importance that this history be told, particularly because Zeeland constituted a joint Allied theatre of operations during the opening days of the ground war. While the Dutch may rightly take pride in their achievements during the battles for The Hague, Dordrecht, Rotterdam, and the Grebbeberg, they should not lose sight of the failures that occurred elsewhere at almost the same time.
The account that follows is therefore not written in a spirit of rehabilitation or heroic glorification. Instead, the events presented to the reader are described in a sober, balanced, and humble manner.