11. The field grave of German paratroopers of the Ersatzkompanie Moll near the Tongplaat farm

In this photo, the grave of several German paratroopers of the Ersatzkompanie Moll can be seen. The Ersatzkompanie Moll was the Ergänzungskompanie (replacement company) of Fallschirmjäger Regiment 1. The company was, without any coordination with the staff of Fallschirmjäger Regiment 1, dropped haphazardly on 11 May in two phases over the Tongplaat and near the Zuidendijk. At the Tongplaat, this led to many unnecessary German casualties because the paratroopers landed almost directly on the positions of Ensign Marijs. He was in command of 2‑I‑28 R.I., which had earlier that morning withdrawn to the Tongplaat after a confrontation with German paratroopers at the intersection of Oude Veerweg/Schenkeldijk in Dubbeldam.

Fighting broke out between the newly landed paratroopers and Marijs’s company. The latter had little ammunition, and the position of the Ersatzkompanie Moll was not favorable either. This led to a temporary ceasefire initiated by Oberleutnant Moll, which Ensign Marijs agreed to. A first-aid post was set up at the Tongplaat farm, and during the ceasefire the fallen soldiers were buried in field graves — one on the Dutch side and four on the German side.¹ The field grave of the four German soldiers can be seen in this photo.

These are the following fallen soldiers of the Ersatzkompanie Moll:

• Gefreiter Jakob Heldt
• Gefreiter Hans Slezak
• Jäger Karl Kenning
• Jäger Josef Lieperth ²

It is a remarkable — and as far as is known, the only — photograph of the fallen soldiers of the Ersatzkompanie Moll at the Tongplaat.

« 10. German paratrooper graves between the Zanddijk and the Tweede Tol 10