1st Light Regiment of the Gendarmerie (Belgium)
The 1st Light Regiment of the Gendarmerie, often shortened to the 1st Light Regiment (1LR), was a voluntary Police regiment of the Belgian Army that served in the Battle of Belgium and in the German Occupation of Belgium.
World War II[edit]
Basic Source:[1]
Two regiments were formed out of the Territorial Gendarmerie Police Force of Belgium.[2] The 2nd and the 1st Light Regiment Gendarmerie. As a local Police based unit, the 1st Light Regiment was formed out of units that had served in the First World War, and thus, already had veterans that can become the base for its manpower. Mobilized in late 1939, the 1st Light Regiment has two platoons, each armed with 4 newly deployed Machine guns, unlike their counterpart, the 2nd Light Regiment, which had Engineers instead. One thing that they both had were Armored support, allowing them to have extra support when retreating. The 1st Light Regiment also will have two Groups, each with 3 squadrons.
When hostilities began on May 10, 1940, the 1st Light Regiment was on duty at Charleroi, armed at the Belgian-French Border. When supposedly needed to defend the area, the 1st Light Regiment had to dispatch multiple units to the north, becoming part of the defense of the K-W line. It was an important junction leading to the position of Namur, and therefore, needed to be protected from a possibility of a German airborne landing.
More worrying signs formed, as civilians were reporting multiple German paratroopers North of Charleroi, causing enormous stress for Group I of the 1st Light Regiment. They ran North but no paratroopers were spotted. By the end of the first day, Group I will still remain in the Northern flank, and Group II was sent north near Sauvenière.
After the breach of the Albert Canal, and the eminent attack on the Capital, the 1st Light Regiment was sent north, with all of its units, to prevent a German breakthrough. German bombardment continues, as several parachute reports occur in the Dense regions near Brussels. Group II will leave Brussels and will station themselves at Langeveld.
The interruptions about paratrooper landings won't stop as the 1st Light Regiment was driven out of Brussels and scattered into the surrounding area. The 2nd Squadron was sent to take a oil warehouse, helping to supply Group I with a minimal amount of supplies, which will run out in following days.
The 4th and 5th squadrons of Group II were sent away from the main Group, with 4th Squadron now under the direct command of the forces in Antwerp, securing the Northern Flank, and 5th Squadron in reconnaissance missions. Bombings steadily increase.
For the 1st Light Regiment, no action, except more reconnaissance missions occur. After only 6 days into the battle, the Allies decided to abandon the K-W line, including Brussels. Without allied support, the Belgians also had to withdraw. The retreat was complete by the next day, with some the Regiment near Meise, deemed to continue the retreat. Most of Group II is still on other sides of the front, but by May 21, they will join back with the Regiment.
The regiment moves to Bovekerke, as now they were being held in reserve. Most of the professional police of the regiment, along with the Rijkswatchers of the 2nd Light Regiment were sent to Tielt, becoming part of the rearguard as the army struggled to build new defenses along the Leie Canal. This rearguard will be routed and mostly captured by May 24.
Also on May 24, the new defenses across the Leie were breached, with the Germans advancing all along the front. The 1st Light Regiment was sent to a position blocking the German pressure at the North, awaiting the support from 10th Infantry Division. The line became untenable as soon as the Germans had their full attention on the 1st Light Regiment. A general retreat was announced. With a small rearguard delaying, the regiment managed to escape, and reestablished itself on the defense. They retreated further, along with the rest of the army.
Now repositioned in the south, the 1st Light Regiment was placed in reserve again, with the Infantry Divisions doing most of the skirmishes. Retreating with the remains of the Belgian front, reorganization was needed. The 4th and 5th Squadrons of the II Group (Group II) merged into a single unit, consisting of only 3 platoons, low on supplies.
The remaining Rijkswatchers that escaped from Tielt capitulated, weakening the regiment even further, since they bore the brunt of the German attack on the Leie Canal. With little hope of support from the Allies, Colonel Dethise orders all Squadrons of the Regiment to gather at Bovekerke. Then, surrenders his regiment over to the Germans. The normal personnel and Infantry soldiers were immediately disarmed. The police, however, maintained their weapons. The Germans needed such professional support to keep the civilian population at bay. By May 30, almost all of the Belgian Army surrendered, with only some still in France.
After the battle, some of the Gendarmerie Police returned to their duties, now under German occupation. These men included some experienced officers of the Rijkswachters. The rest all either retired or joined the Belgian resistance. After Belgium was liberated in 1944, many of the resistance fighters would return to their duties.
Structure 1940[edit]
Structure of the regiment at the eve of the Battle of Belgium
- Headquarters, at Charleroi[3]
- Commanding Officer, 1st Light Regiment -Lieutenant- Colonel Oscar Dethise
Group I (I Battalion)[edit]
- 1st Squadron (Motorcyclists, Commanding Officer, Jules Mathieu)
- 2nd Squadron (Motorcyclists, Commanding Officer, Dury)
- 3rd Squadron (Anti-tank support, Commanding Officer, Camille Poncè)
- Platoon of Armored Vehicles (Armored Support, Commanding Officer, Deuwaele)
Group II (II Battalion)[edit]
- 4th Squadron (Motorcyclists, Commanding Officer, George Nicolay)
- 5th Squadron (Motorcyclists, Commanding Officer, Georges Pierrard)
- 6th Squadron (Anti-tank support, Commanding Officer, Camille Fagnant)
- Platoon of Armored Vehicles (Armored Support, Commanding Officer, Ajt. Abs)
Other organic units[edit]
- Staff Squadron
- Engineer Platoon (Organic)
- Platoon of Transmission Troops
See also[edit]
- K-W line
- 2nd Light Regiment Gendarmerie (Belgium)
- Fallschirmjäger (Elite Airborne troops of Nazi Germany)
References[edit]
- ↑ "1ste Licht Regiment". De Achttiendaagse Veldtocht (in Nederlands). Retrieved 2021-03-18.
- ↑ "Territoriale Rijkswacht". De Achttiendaagse Veldtocht (in Nederlands). Retrieved 2021-03-19.
- ↑ "1st LIGHT REGIMENT GENDARMERIE - Quartermaster Section". www.quartermastersection.com. Retrieved 2021-03-18.
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