5th Division (Netherlands)
The 5th Division was an infantry division of the Royal Netherlands Army that saw action during the Battle of the Netherlands in May 1940. It was mobilized shortly before the German invasion and was disbanded following the surrender of the Dutch forces.
History
The 5th Division was established in April 1940 as part of the general Dutch mobilization. Upon the outbreak of hostilities on May 10, 1940, the division was subordinated to the III Army Corps. It played a crucial role in defending the southern sector of the Dutch front and later in the defense of the Fortress Holland.Combat Operations
At the start of the German invasion, the 5th Division was under the command of Major General Adrianus Nijnatten. It was positioned in the area of the 'Peel Division'.- A significant portion of the division's infantry regiments was detached to reinforce the Peel Division. This formation manned the forward defensive line along the Peel-Raam Line in North Brabant.
- Following the penetration and eventual abandonment of the Peel-Raam Line, the division retreated towards the Fortress Holland, where it continued to fight until the general surrender on May 14, 1940.
Order of Battle (May 1940)
The 5th Division was a standard infantry division of the Royal Netherlands Army. It was commanded by Major General A. Nijnatten and was part of the III Corps (Netherlands). The structure of the division was as follows:Division Command and Support UnitsInfantry Regiments- ''Artillery and Anti-Tank''