This article's lead sectionmay be too short to adequately summarize the key points. Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article.(April 2021)
The Battle of Otterlo was fought in the Netherlands on 16-17 April 1945. German soldiers were encircled on the De Hoge Veluwe National Park and unexpectedly attacked the already liberated Dutch village Otterlo, leading to fierce fighting in hand-to-hand combat. It resulted in an Allied victory, thanks to the deployment of firethrower tanks, and considerable German losses.
In April 1945, the western allies liberated large areas in the Netherlands above the river Rhine. In the context of defeating Nazi-Germany, the army movements had their focus to go north as soon as possible; resulting in the liberation of Groningen at 13-16 April 1945. As a flank protection, an area called 'the Veluwe' was liberated from 14 to 18 April 1945 by the use of two military operations: operation Cleanser and operation Cannonshot. As a result, the troops on the Veluwe were encircled in a pocket which was expected to result in a surrender. Otterlo was liberated on 16 April 1945 during operation Cleanser by Canadian and British troops. The main army moved on to Barneveld, while a couple of units were stationed in and around Otterlo. However, German troops assembled in the village Hoenderloo upon which they decided to break out of this pocket. It was their goal to join the German forces in what they called 'Festung Holland'. They expected that a last stand would have taken place in the Randstad; a battle that eventually never happened. As a big surprise to the allies (the military intelligence completely overlooked the gathering in Hoenderloo), the German troops decided to attack Otterlo during the night of 17 April.[1] These were troops from the 361 Volksgrenadier Division, Regiment 952[2]
The battle
Around midnight, the first German troops surrounded and attacked a small squad that was located outside of Otterlo, as a distraction. According to the regiment's diary, about 25 soldiers raced into Otterlo next and started shooting around.[3] About 800-1000 German soldiers attacked the village from the north, resulting in fierce fighting and hand-to-hand combat. The fighting continued the whole night, including an artillery attack at about 04.30 hours in the morning. The Germans were winning, until a couple of allied WASPS (firethrowers) and regular tanks appeared on the battlefield and turned the tide.[2] They were informed on the fighting by a couple of allied soldiers that retreated into the woods and ran into a couple of scouts by pure coincidence.[4] These scouts originated from a small tank division that was located at the Kröller-Müller museum. Many German casualties were caused by the flamethrowers, as witnessed by local civilians.[1]
Casualties
According to the grave memorial in Otterlo, 17 Canadians and 6 British soldiers lost their lives. No civlians lost their lives during the night, although four civlians had died during the earlier liberation of Otterlo at 15 and 16 April and are therefore mentioned as well. On the German side, the precise amount is still unclear. There are 62 known German graves: 24 bodies in a local mass grave (cleared in 1949) and 37 bodies buried at the German war cemetery in Ysselsteyn. However, eyewitness accounts, the war correspondence reports and the regiment diary report much more dead Germans (including many teenage soldiers). Most numbers varies between 150 and 200,[2] with a radio podcast of CBC mentioning up to 400 deaths.[5]
See also
The Battle of Otterlo (documentary)
Traces of War
References
^ ab"Home | slagomotterlo.nl". slagomotterlo.nl. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
^ abcBrouwer, Jan (2014). Van Market Garden tot Bevrijding. Elst. p. 313. ISBN9081634232.
^The Irish Regiment of Canada Royal Canadian Infantry Corps. "17 April 1945". War Diary. Retrieved 21 August 2021 – via bezeau.ca.
^"Aflevering 6 // de Slag om Otterlo". Bevrijding van de Veluwe. 11 August 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
^"Canadian army repels desperate Germans". CBC Archives. from the original on 28 October 2020.
January 07, 2023
battle, otterlo, this, article, lead, section, short, adequately, summarize, points, please, consider, expanding, lead, provide, accessible, overview, important, aspects, article, april, 2021, fought, netherlands, april, 1945, german, soldiers, were, encircled. This article s lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article April 2021 The Battle of Otterlo was fought in the Netherlands on 16 17 April 1945 German soldiers were encircled on the De Hoge Veluwe National Park and unexpectedly attacked the already liberated Dutch village Otterlo leading to fierce fighting in hand to hand combat It resulted in an Allied victory thanks to the deployment of firethrower tanks and considerable German losses Battle of OtterloDate16 17 April 1945LocationOtterlo52 6 N 5 46 E 52 100 N 5 767 E 52 100 5 767 Coordinates 52 6 N 5 46 E 52 100 N 5 767 E 52 100 5 767ResultAllied VictoryBelligerentsCanadaGermanyCommanders and leadersBert HoffmeisterAlfred PhilippiStrengthca 200 Irish regiment of 5th Canadian Divisionca 1000 361 Volksgrenadier Division regiment 952Casualties and losses17 Canadians 6 British 4 civilians150 200 Contents 1 Background 2 The battle 3 Casualties 4 See also 5 ReferencesBackground EditIn April 1945 the western allies liberated large areas in the Netherlands above the river Rhine In the context of defeating Nazi Germany the army movements had their focus to go north as soon as possible resulting in the liberation of Groningen at 13 16 April 1945 As a flank protection an area called the Veluwe was liberated from 14 to 18 April 1945 by the use of two military operations operation Cleanser and operation Cannonshot As a result the troops on the Veluwe were encircled in a pocket which was expected to result in a surrender Otterlo was liberated on 16 April 1945 during operation Cleanser by Canadian and British troops The main army moved on to Barneveld while a couple of units were stationed in and around Otterlo However German troops assembled in the village Hoenderloo upon which they decided to break out of this pocket It was their goal to join the German forces in what they called Festung Holland They expected that a last stand would have taken place in the Randstad a battle that eventually never happened As a big surprise to the allies the military intelligence completely overlooked the gathering in Hoenderloo the German troops decided to attack Otterlo during the night of 17 April 1 These were troops from the 361 Volksgrenadier Division Regiment 952 2 The battle EditAround midnight the first German troops surrounded and attacked a small squad that was located outside of Otterlo as a distraction According to the regiment s diary about 25 soldiers raced into Otterlo next and started shooting around 3 About 800 1000 German soldiers attacked the village from the north resulting in fierce fighting and hand to hand combat The fighting continued the whole night including an artillery attack at about 04 30 hours in the morning The Germans were winning until a couple of allied WASPS firethrowers and regular tanks appeared on the battlefield and turned the tide 2 They were informed on the fighting by a couple of allied soldiers that retreated into the woods and ran into a couple of scouts by pure coincidence 4 These scouts originated from a small tank division that was located at the Kroller Muller museum Many German casualties were caused by the flamethrowers as witnessed by local civilians 1 Casualties EditAccording to the grave memorial in Otterlo 17 Canadians and 6 British soldiers lost their lives No civlians lost their lives during the night although four civlians had died during the earlier liberation of Otterlo at 15 and 16 April and are therefore mentioned as well On the German side the precise amount is still unclear There are 62 known German graves 24 bodies in a local mass grave cleared in 1949 and 37 bodies buried at the German war cemetery in Ysselsteyn However eyewitness accounts the war correspondence reports and the regiment diary report much more dead Germans including many teenage soldiers Most numbers varies between 150 and 200 2 with a radio podcast of CBC mentioning up to 400 deaths 5 See also EditThe Battle of Otterlo documentary Traces of WarReferences Edit a b Home slagomotterlo nl slagomotterlo nl Retrieved 7 April 2021 a b c Brouwer Jan 2014 Van Market Garden tot Bevrijding Elst p 313 ISBN 9081634232 The Irish Regiment of Canada Royal Canadian Infantry Corps 17 April 1945 War Diary Retrieved 21 August 2021 via bezeau ca Aflevering 6 de Slag om Otterlo Bevrijding van de Veluwe 11 August 2016 Retrieved 7 April 2021 Canadian army repels desperate Germans CBC Archives Archived from the original on 28 October 2020 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Otterlo amp oldid 1075702212, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
