The Tweede Tol
In the early morning of 10 May 1940, Dutch soldiers at the Tweede Tol were awakened by aircraft flying overhead. Soon after, paratroopers began jumping from the planes. The objective of these airborne landings was to capture the vital bridges at Moerdijk and Zwijndrecht, thereby opening a route for German ground forces advancing toward Rotterdam and the central part of the Netherlands. The barracks camp where Dutch soldiers were stationed was quickly taken by the paratroopers. The commander of Fallschirmjäger Regiment 1 (FJR 1), Oberst Bruno Bräuer, subsequently established his regimental command post at the barracks near the Tweede Tol. Many Dutch prisoners of war, as well as wounded soldiers, were brought here. Supplies dropped for the paratroopers were also largely gathered at the barracks camp at the Tweede Tol. The following photographs were taken at the Tweede Tol in May 1940.
1. Abwurfbehälters are dropped at the Tweede Tol in Dordrecht during the Second World War
2. Abwurfbehälter are dropped near the Tweede Tol in Dordrecht during the Second World War.
3. Abwurfbehälter are dropped near the Tweede Tol in Dordrecht during the Second World War.
4. Dutch prisoners of war at the Tweede Tol in Dordrecht during the Second World War.
5. The barracks camp at the Tweede Tol in Dordrecht during the Second World War..
6. The barracks camp at the Tweede Tol in Dordrecht during the Second World War..
Staff consultation at the Tweede Tol in Dordrecht during the Second World War.
8. Staff consultation at the Tweede Tol in Dordrecht during the Second World War.
9. The reconnaissance unit of the 9th Panzer Division arrives at the Tweede Tol in Dordrecht during the Second World War.
10. The reconnaissance unit of the 9th Panzer Division arrives at the Tweede Tol in Dordrecht during the Second World War.
11. The reconnaissance unit of the 9th Panzer Division arrives at the Tweede Tol in Dordrecht during the Second World War.
12. Oberst Bräuer visits field graves of his men near the Tweede Tol during the Second World War.
13. Paratroopers after receiving the Iron Cross at the barracks camp of the Tweede Tol during the Second World War.
German paratroopers and a Panzer II of the 9th Panzer Division near the Tweede Tol during the Second World War.
15. German Panzers near the Tweede Tol during the Second World War.
16. Dutch soldiers at field graves near the Tweede Tol in Dordrecht during the Second World War.
17. Dutch field graves with the barracks camp visible in the background.
18. Various Dutch field graves at the Tweede Tol in Dordrecht during the Second World War.
19. Flowers on the graves at the Tweede Tol in Dordrecht during the Second World War.
20. Dutch field graves near the Tweede Tol in Dordrecht during the Second World War.
21. Dutch field graves near the Tweede Tol in Dordrecht during the Second World War.
22. Fallschirmjäger field graves at the Tweede Tol in Dordrecht during the Second World War.
23. Fallschirmjäger graves near the Tweede Tol in Dordrecht during the Second World War.
24. Fallschirmjäger graves near the Tweede Tol in Dordrecht during the Second World War.
25. Dutch machine‑gun bunker at the Tweede Tol in Dordrecht during the Second World War.
26. Fallschirmjäger and German armoured troops on the Zeedijk in Dordrecht during the Second World War.
27. Dutch prisoners of war on the Wieldrechtse Zeedijk.
28. Dutch prisoners of war being disarmed at the Tweede Tol in Dordrecht in May 1940.
29. Oberst Bruno Bräuer in the vicinity of the Tweede Tol in Dordrecht in May 1940.
30. Dutch field graves at the Tweede Tol in Dubbeldam in May 1940.