2. German paratroopers near Willemsdorp during the May days of 1940..

A very rare and unique photograph, taken during the fighting in May 1940. Fallschirmjäger are positioned with their heavy machine gun near Willemsdorp. It is likely that these are elements of 12./FJR 1, the heavy machine‑gun company of the 3rd Battalion. In the background on the left (just above the machine gun) appear to be two vehicles requisitioned by the Germans. Slightly more to the right, in the center, stands a Dutch 7‑veld field gun. Several of these guns had been captured by German paratroopers from the 17th Artillery Regiment and were deployed in the defense of the Moerdijk bridgehead. In the background lies the police‑troops barracks. The clouds of smoke were caused by Dutch artillery fire. The photo was likely taken between 11 and 14 May 1940. Today, the location where the German paratroopers were positioned is a truck parking area just past the petrol station. [^1]

[^1] Bron: This information was kindly made available to us by Mr. A. Goossens of the website Zuidfront‑holland1940.

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