Hi, Paul Woodadge, WW2TV host here - Edwin was his usual brilliant self. If you have enjoyed this show, please don't forget to click like, leave a comment for other viewers and if you have not done so already please SUSBSCRIBE so you don't miss our next streams. You can also become a member of this channel and support me financially here kzfaq.info/love/UC1nmJGHmiKtlkpA6SJMeA. Links to any books discussed, WW2TV merchandise, our social media pages and other WW2TV shows to watch can all be found in the full KZfaq description. Lastly, my own book Angels of Mercy is always available online - more info here www.ddayhistorian.com/angels-of-mercy.html

I have been a student of WWII for 60 some years and had never heard of this battle. Thanks for bringing it those of us unaware of the sacrifices of these brave men. The pictures of the battlefield reminded me so much of WWI in Belgium. The subject matter expert was excellent in covering the battle with the diagrams and photos so add to his presentation. Another excellent program which seems to be your trademark. Thanks for sharing your passion

My father -in-law was at this battle. He was an officer in the British 47th Marines. There were huge losses. At one point he managed to get behind the German lines. He was a Berlin Jew and had escaped to UK in 1938. After escaping the Nazis, he was arrested and transported to Canada by the Brits (as a German). He got out of that when the Brits realised there were two types of Germans. Then he become an officer in the newly formed British Commandos training in Scotland. Then off to this battle. I have his whole story on DVD.

Hello folks. One of the Top 5 WW2TV shows. Great presentation by an expert with outstanding maps included. Learned a lot about something I knew nothing about. A real education

Brilliant presentation, fantastic levels of research have led to fascinating insights on a relatively little known battle.

Thanks for another very informative podcast! My brain is full after this one 😁 Will definitely have to rewatch 👍🏽

This an absolutely awesome presentation!

Wonderful presentation by Edwin. Thank you. Great detail and research.

Really nice presentation of this battle, and thanks for making this. Of interest maybe there was some discussion / debate regarding the information displayed with the monument for the battle. Summary: the original text, as placed by the municipality, contains many errors. Efforts to have this changed is met by a reluctant municipality. It is a pity that the local Dutch government appears so stubborn to change the text. Local journalists are, as it seems, not better informed or more prepared to research history better.

Brilliant presentation on a little known, but extremely tough, battle in the Netherlands. I absolutely loved all the photos and original documents used in the presentation.

Thanks for the time spent on the research. Having been a Linc I had of course heard of this battle numerous times. I was fortunate enough to have spoken with a few former members who were there. If either of you would care for some footnotes to your knowledge/presentation feel free to message me. I did appreciate the video and pics, especially of The tree. I wasnt unable to make it there on my pilgrimage in 2001 when we Lincs were able to lay to rest one of our own from that very battle field (into the cemetery at Bergen Op Zoom). Cheers and thanks again.

Thx for mate big W

Edwin gives an outstanding presentation on a little known battle. This battle really illustrates the very difficult terrain that the Canadian's fought in during the fall and winter of 1944-45.

As an Australian nearly had a heart attack when Fromelles was mentioned . We don't talk about that place .

Maybe you could edit this documentary, because of the manner of speech by mr. Popken? I think this is a valued production, and as a live stream, it went like we see here. But it really needs some post production care and attention, Summarize the information by Edwin and write it into a script for a voice over. If you do that, you'll have a more to-the-point told report of this forgotten battle in fact the longest lasting battlefield of the Battle of the Bulge.

Excellent. Excellent. Will watch it again. Still indeed wonder why?

Hi, a local here. I grew up hearing stories about this battle from my grandmother. Who lived close to the veer during the war. Local legend says that this battle let to the most deaths per square meters in the entire war. Any idea wether this is true?

14:05 I'm sorry to correct you as hardly anybody knows about this. You're talking about Walcheren and North & South-Beveland. The entire coast lines of Tholen Island, St.Philipsland Peninsula up to Moerdijk was occupied by British 62 Anti-Tank Regiment and a Brigade of 5 Dutch volunteers force of 5 Companies (9-14) Netherlands Intetrior Forces, Commando Brabant, and a support unit of 1.Polish Arm. Rgt. with a unit of Polish Dragoons. And this sector was alone over 70 Km of front line alone. That is without the s & N-Beveland and Walcheren front line and what the Poles had to cover from Moerdijk to the east them selves. To support Kapelse Veer 247 A-T.Bty had to lend 1.Trp of 4 x 17.Pounder Guns to that area. It left 247.Bty for Tholen Island with : 130 men and 8 x 17.Pounders. from St.Annaland to Stavenisse One Trp.of tanks from 1.Polish Arm.Rgt., One Sect.MMG./1.Pol.Arm.Rgt., 1.Recce.Trp./10.Pol.Dragoons at St.Annaland 51 men + 4 Tank Crews & Echelon 9.Company / Netherlands Interior Forces ( Detached 1.Platoon Grd.Tps to St.Philipsland Peninsula, Attached 1.Platoon of Task.Tps. of 10./NL.Int.Forces to 247.Bty itself) +/-155 men in a Riffle Company from Stavenisse around the entire coast line anti clockwise to St.Annaland. So in total about 336 men with 8x 17.Pounder cannons, 4 Shermans, 13 universal carriers, 5 scoutcars to defend the island. At WN.401 were 3 Dutch troopers At WN.402 were 8 Dutch troopers At WN.403 were 8 Dutch troopers And at Post Henk (sub post of WN.403) were 3 Dutch troopers. So for each 3 to 4 Km was one section of 11 armed men with captured German guns and a handful of ammo to defend it. Or 3 barely armed Dutch Troopers for every front line Km depending how you see it. From October Dutch Volunteers were trained to put in the front line, meanwhile small Dutch Resistance groups manned the line since October sometimes without Allied support like Tholen Island about 60 men in civilian clothes. Film footage of the training of 1st Coy. Netherlands Interior Forces,Commando Brabant and reburial of Sgt.Piet Avontuur 10./NIF.,Cdo Brabant. He fell victum to a MEK.40 raid at the St.Philipsland Peninsula during the night of 22/23 of January 1945. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/gauWdtZmldm6oYk.html My Granddad belonged to the Orde Dienst-Tholen and later 9./NIF.Cdo. Brabant. cmhq173 : Page 16 -as stretched along a 100-miles front. Later. " if and when “ Schouwen was cleared, the L. of C. boundary might be altered to include all of the Mainland and Island Territory lying to tho West of the line Willemstad - Bergen-op-Zoom - Antwerp. Sir John felt that the Royal Netherlands Brigade plus the Independent Dutch Battalions would constitute , an adequate Garrison Force for the three Islands, but that the function of command should be given to an A.A. Brigade in the area. (as it turned out a british A-T.Rgt. was chosen for this task).

Good grief Paul. The Germans just left ?? Crikey that could have been a right stale mate ,if that dragged on … I'm sure the 6th Fallchirmjager were Von da Hyde's lot ? And I think didn't them lot give the US 30th Div. a bit of a hard time in Normandy ? I'm not 100 % ,but I think I'm right. I do know the American officers ,thought were for it .. But the OC of the Germans actually invited the US officers to dinner ,as a mark of respect ,and afterwards addressed the US officers politely and professionally.