Operation Blackcock
Encyclopedia
Operation Blackcock was the code name for the clearing of the Roer Triangle formed by the towns of Roermond
, Sittard
and Heinsberg. It was conducted by the 2nd British Army
in January 1945 between 14 and 26 January 1945. The objective was to drive the German 15th Army back across the Rivers Rur
and Wurm
and move the frontline further into Germany. The operation was carried out under command of the XII Corps by three divisions, the 7th Armoured Division (better known as the "Desert Rats"), the 52nd Lowland Division and the 43rd Wessex Division ("Wessex Wyverns"). The operation, named after the Scottish black male grouse
, is relatively unknown despite the sometimes fierce battles that were fought for each and every village and hamlet within the "Roer Triangle".
or West Wall was formed along the banks of the Rur. Dutch South-Limburg was already liberated in September by the American Ninth Army, but the area above the line Sittard - Geilenkirchen was still in German hands. Here the front had settled along the "Saefeller Beek", a small creek forming another seemingly immense obstacle. These obstacles formed a triangular area, referred to as the Roermond Triangle, which probed like a small bulge into the frontline. As a result of the German offensive in the Ardennes (Operation Herbstnebel (aka the Battle of the Bulge
) the Allies had to withdraw resources to stop the German advance in the sector of the American First Army. Therefore the British 2nd Army, 12th British Corps had taken over the task of guarding of the frontline north of Sittard from the US Army. The Maas front was guarded by the 8th British Corps.
The 12th British Corps was facing the German XII SS Corps, commanded by Günther Blumentritt
, which had two infantry divisions present along the frontline between Geilenkirchen and Roermond. In the area of Roermond these divisions were strengthened by the Fallschirmjäger Regiment Hübner
.
was awarded twice, both posthumously, for actions during Operation Blackcock. The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest award for valour that can be awarded to members of the British and Commonwealth armed forces of any rank in any service and civilians under military command. It is only awarded for bravery "in the face of the enemy". Fusilier Dennis Donnini
of the 4/5 Royal Scots Fusiliers
, 52nd Lowland Division, received the VC after his heroic actions in the German village of Stein
on January 18. Dennis Donnini
is buried at the Sittard War Cemetery (Netherlands). The second VC was awarded to Lance Corporal Henry Eric Harden
of the Royal Army Medical Corps
(RAMC), a medical orderly attached to British No. 45 Commando, for his heroic action during the bitter fighting at the Dutch villages of Brachterbeek and Linne on January 23. Henry Eric Harden
is buried at Nederweert
War Cemetery (Netherlands).
in Sint Joost. In the end it would take four attack waves to clear the village, the final attack taking place on Sunday, January 21. In total, sixty Fallschirmjäger
were taken prisoner. The 9th Durham Light Infantry
and 1st Rifle Brigade had suffered heavy losses in Sint Joost. The Durham Light Infantry suffered 33 casualties, of which 8 were killed in action. The Rifle Brigade counted 34 casualties, of which 3 men from I Company were KIA. More than one hundred German soldiers were killed, most of them lying dead in the houses. Those paratroopers who were not killed only dared to leave the cellars under safe cover of the civilians, afraid that they would be shot by the victors. Hübner had lost one whole Company and a second had been nearly destroyed.
), 439 and 440 Squadron, and was based at Eindhoven. The squadrons were equipped with the Hawker Typhoon
1B fighter bomber. RCAF 143rd Wing lost six aircraft during Operation Blackcock, two of which crashed in Montfort. When Montfort was finally liberated by the "Desert Rats" on January 24 the civilians were in a deep state of shock. The bombing raids on Montfort cost the lives of 186 civilians, most of them buried under their destroyed homes.
Once Operation Blackcock was completed the plans for the capture of the Rhineland could commence. Operation Veritable
by the Canadian 1st Army was launched on February 8th and was aimed at breaking through the German defences in the Reichswald
, some 60 kilometers north of the Roer Triangle. Operation Grenade
by the US Ninth Army was launched on February 23. General William Hood Simpson
's US Ninth Army crossed the river Roer south of Heinsberg
in the early hours of 23 February 1945. Twelve hours later Simpson had 16 battalions on the east bank, together with 7 heavy bridges, and a number of light assault bridges. American losses were light on the first day, and 700 prisoners had been taken.
A task force was formed by XVI Corps
which rushed towards Venlo to meet with the British in the north. On March 1st Roermond
was captured by the Recce (reconnaissance) Troop of the US 35th Infantry Division (the "Santa Fe" Division) without a single shot.
Roermond
Roermond is a city, a municipality, and a diocese in the southeastern part of the Netherlands.The city of Roermond is a historically important town, on the lower Roer at the east bank of the Meuse river. It received city rights in 1231...
, Sittard
Sittard
Sittard is a city in the Dutch province of Limburg, which is the southernmost province of the Netherlands.On the east Sittard borders on Germany . It has some 48,400 inhabitants . Sittard is part of the municipality of Sittard-Geleen...
and Heinsberg. It was conducted by the 2nd British Army
British Second Army
The British Second Army was active during both the First and Second World Wars. During the First World War the army was active on the Western Front and in Italy...
in January 1945 between 14 and 26 January 1945. The objective was to drive the German 15th Army back across the Rivers Rur
Rur
The Rur , — not to be confused with the Ruhr — is a river which flows through portions of Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. It is a right tributary to the river Meuse...
and Wurm
Wurm
The Wurm is a river in Germany , a left tributary of the Rur. The source of the Wurm are several brooks in the forests southwest of Aachen, which form the Wurm after the Diepenbenden reservoir. From there the Wurm nowadays flows through canals through the city of Aachen, until it resurfaces at the...
and move the frontline further into Germany. The operation was carried out under command of the XII Corps by three divisions, the 7th Armoured Division (better known as the "Desert Rats"), the 52nd Lowland Division and the 43rd Wessex Division ("Wessex Wyverns"). The operation, named after the Scottish black male grouse
Grouse
Grouse are a group of birds from the order Galliformes. They are sometimes considered a family Tetraonidae, though the American Ornithologists' Union and many others include grouse as a subfamily Tetraoninae in the family Phasianidae...
, is relatively unknown despite the sometimes fierce battles that were fought for each and every village and hamlet within the "Roer Triangle".
Dispositions along the Roer Front
By the end of 1944 the frontline in Dutch Limburg had stabilized along several natural barriers. By far the most difficult barrier to cross was the river Maas running along the Dutch - Belgian border. The next barrier was the river Rur running from the German Eifel area through Heinsberg towards Roermond, where it joins the Maas. From Heinsberg on southwards the famous Siegfried LineSiegfried Line
The original Siegfried line was a line of defensive forts and tank defences built by Germany as a section of the Hindenburg Line 1916–1917 in northern France during World War I...
or West Wall was formed along the banks of the Rur. Dutch South-Limburg was already liberated in September by the American Ninth Army, but the area above the line Sittard - Geilenkirchen was still in German hands. Here the front had settled along the "Saefeller Beek", a small creek forming another seemingly immense obstacle. These obstacles formed a triangular area, referred to as the Roermond Triangle, which probed like a small bulge into the frontline. As a result of the German offensive in the Ardennes (Operation Herbstnebel (aka the Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
) the Allies had to withdraw resources to stop the German advance in the sector of the American First Army. Therefore the British 2nd Army, 12th British Corps had taken over the task of guarding of the frontline north of Sittard from the US Army. The Maas front was guarded by the 8th British Corps.
The 12th British Corps was facing the German XII SS Corps, commanded by Günther Blumentritt
Günther Blumentritt
Günther Blumentritt was a German officer in World War I, who became a Staff Officer under the Weimar Republic and went on to serve as a general for Nazi Germany during World War II...
, which had two infantry divisions present along the frontline between Geilenkirchen and Roermond. In the area of Roermond these divisions were strengthened by the Fallschirmjäger Regiment Hübner
Fallschirmjäger Regiment Hübner
Fallschirmjäger Regiment Hübner - or Kampfgruppe Hübner - was formed as an alarm unit in August 1944, attached to Fallschirmjäger Division Erdmann in September 1944, and operated as an independent Battle Group from November 1944 until March 1945, when it was formally designated Fallschirmjäger...
.
Concept of the Operation
Globally the clearing of the Roer Triangle was planned along three axes. The left axis, formed by the 7th Armoured Division, was aimed at capturing the bridge across the Roer in Sint Odiliënberg (51°8′55.9"N 6°0′12.6"E). For the 7th the operation would start with bridging the creeks south of Susteren. The centre axis, formed by the 52nd Lowland Division was aimed at the capture of Heinsberg. In order to do this a break-in at the German defense line was to be undertaken near Hongen in order to open the road between Sittard and Heinsberg for moving troops. The right axis, formed by the 43rd Wessex Division, was aimed at clearing the area south-east of Dremmen. This axis would use the break in the German defense line that was to be created by the Lowland Division.VC Actions
The Victoria CrossVictoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
was awarded twice, both posthumously, for actions during Operation Blackcock. The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest award for valour that can be awarded to members of the British and Commonwealth armed forces of any rank in any service and civilians under military command. It is only awarded for bravery "in the face of the enemy". Fusilier Dennis Donnini
Dennis Donnini
Dennis Donnini VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Early life:...
of the 4/5 Royal Scots Fusiliers
Royal Scots Fusiliers
-The Earl of Mar's Regiment of Foot :The regiment was raised in Scotland in 1678 by Stuart loyalist Charles Erskine, de jure 5th Earl of Mar for service against the rebel covenanting forces during the Second Whig Revolt . They were used to keep the peace and put down brigands, mercenaries, and...
, 52nd Lowland Division, received the VC after his heroic actions in the German village of Stein
Stein
Stein is a German and Norwegian word meaning "stone" and may refer to:* Beer stein* Stein , a beer brewery in Bratislava, Slovakia* USS Stein , a frigate in the U.S...
on January 18. Dennis Donnini
Dennis Donnini
Dennis Donnini VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Early life:...
is buried at the Sittard War Cemetery (Netherlands). The second VC was awarded to Lance Corporal Henry Eric Harden
Henry Eric Harden
Henry Eric Harden VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:...
of the Royal Army Medical Corps
Royal Army Medical Corps
The Royal Army Medical Corps is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all British Army personnel and their families in war and in peace...
(RAMC), a medical orderly attached to British No. 45 Commando, for his heroic action during the bitter fighting at the Dutch villages of Brachterbeek and Linne on January 23. Henry Eric Harden
Henry Eric Harden
Henry Eric Harden VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:...
is buried at Nederweert
Nederweert
Nederweert is a municipality and a town in southeastern Netherlands with 16.561 inhabitants as of November 1, 2006 and has a surface area of 101,78 km² ....
War Cemetery (Netherlands).
Hübner's Defeat at Sint Joost
The Battle for the Dutch village of Sint Joost (51°7′0.4"N 5°53′58"E) was a turning point in Operation Blackcock. After four days of fighting the Germans were well aware that the armoured division that was facing them relied heavily on the roads to manoeuvre their armour, especially due to poor winter conditions. The small village of Sint Joost was on the route of the 7th Armoured Division’s drive north towards Montfort (51°7′36"N 5°56′49"E). On January 20 in cold and misty weather infantry and cavalry units of the Desert Rats launched a first attack on the (assumed) two German companies of the 2nd Battalion Fallschirmjäger Regiment HübnerFallschirmjäger Regiment Hübner
Fallschirmjäger Regiment Hübner - or Kampfgruppe Hübner - was formed as an alarm unit in August 1944, attached to Fallschirmjäger Division Erdmann in September 1944, and operated as an independent Battle Group from November 1944 until March 1945, when it was formally designated Fallschirmjäger...
in Sint Joost. In the end it would take four attack waves to clear the village, the final attack taking place on Sunday, January 21. In total, sixty Fallschirmjäger
Fallschirmjäger
are German paratroopers. Together with the Gebirgsjäger they are perceived as the elite infantry units of the German Army....
were taken prisoner. The 9th Durham Light Infantry
Durham Light Infantry
The Durham Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1968. It was formed by the amalgamation of the 68th Regiment of Foot and the 106th Regiment of Foot along with the militia and rifle volunteers of County Durham...
and 1st Rifle Brigade had suffered heavy losses in Sint Joost. The Durham Light Infantry suffered 33 casualties, of which 8 were killed in action. The Rifle Brigade counted 34 casualties, of which 3 men from I Company were KIA. More than one hundred German soldiers were killed, most of them lying dead in the houses. Those paratroopers who were not killed only dared to leave the cellars under safe cover of the civilians, afraid that they would be shot by the victors. Hübner had lost one whole Company and a second had been nearly destroyed.
The Bombing Raids on Montfort
Between Friday evening January 19 and Tuesday 23 January the Dutch village of Montfort was shelled or bombed on seven occasions, and was hit by more than 100 bombs. Most of these fell in the centre of the village. Nearly all of the 250 houses were damaged. Some houses were no more than ruins, and entire families were killed. During these bombing raids the Germans took shelter in the cellars among the civilians, and in the wooded areas just outside the village. The bombing raids that struck Montfort on the 21st and 22nd were carried out by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) 2nd Tactical Air Force - No. 83 Group - 143rd Wing. This Wing consisted of 438 (No. 438 Squadron RCAFNo. 438 Squadron RCAF
438 "City of Montreal" Tactical Helicopter Squadron is a unit of the Canadian Forces under Royal Canadian Air Force. The squadron operates the CH-146 Griffon tactical helicopter from CFB St. Hubert in Quebec, Canada...
), 439 and 440 Squadron, and was based at Eindhoven. The squadrons were equipped with the Hawker Typhoon
Hawker Typhoon
The Hawker Typhoon was a British single-seat fighter-bomber, produced by Hawker Aircraft. While the Typhoon was designed to be a medium-high altitude interceptor, and a direct replacement for the Hawker Hurricane, several design problems were encountered, and the Typhoon never completely satisfied...
1B fighter bomber. RCAF 143rd Wing lost six aircraft during Operation Blackcock, two of which crashed in Montfort. When Montfort was finally liberated by the "Desert Rats" on January 24 the civilians were in a deep state of shock. The bombing raids on Montfort cost the lives of 186 civilians, most of them buried under their destroyed homes.
Epilogue
Operation Blackcock was a success for the allies since all the objectives of the operation were met. The German divisions were thrown out of the Roer Triangle with exception of the area immediately south of Roermond. Here Hübner's paratroopers stayed in control for the time being. The British Division that fought the toughest battles during the operation was without doubt the 52nd Lowland Division which counted 752 casualties. Of these casualties 101 were KIA. Above that 258 soldiers were transported from the front because of sickness, mostly as a direct result of the adverse weather conditions and the extreme cold. The 7th Armoured Division counted just over 400 casualties. The total loss in armour of the Desert Rats was rather light, with only 20 tanks knocked out by the enemy and 23 tanks broke down due to mechanical problems. Of the knocked-out tanks 10 were damaged beyond repair, the others could be repaired. The number of German casualties is unknown, but can be estimated to approximately 2,000. During the operation 490 prisoners were taken by the Desert Rats, amongst them were 6 officers. The Lowland Division took more than 1,200 prisoners, and the Wessex Division took some 400 prisoners.Once Operation Blackcock was completed the plans for the capture of the Rhineland could commence. Operation Veritable
Operation Veritable
Operation Veritable was a Second World War pincer movement conducted by Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery's 21st Army Group to clear and occupy the land between the Rhine and Maas rivers. It took place between 8 February and 11 March 1945. It was a part of General Dwight Eisenhower's "broad front"...
by the Canadian 1st Army was launched on February 8th and was aimed at breaking through the German defences in the Reichswald
Reichswald
A Reichswald designates a historic woodland under imperial protection and usage in the lands of the former Holy Roman Empire. It may refer to:* Nürnberger Reichswald — an old cultivated forest with near Nuremberg, which is today a nature reserve....
, some 60 kilometers north of the Roer Triangle. Operation Grenade
Operation Grenade
During World War II, Operation Grenade was the plan for the U.S. 9th Army to cross the Roer river in February 1945.On 9 February, the U.S...
by the US Ninth Army was launched on February 23. General William Hood Simpson
William Hood Simpson
General William Hood Simpson was a distinguished U.S. Army officer who commanded the U.S. Ninth Army in northern Europe, during World War II, among other roles....
's US Ninth Army crossed the river Roer south of Heinsberg
Heinsberg
Heinsberg is the capital of the district Heinsberg in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is situated near the border with the Netherlands, on the river Wurm, approx...
in the early hours of 23 February 1945. Twelve hours later Simpson had 16 battalions on the east bank, together with 7 heavy bridges, and a number of light assault bridges. American losses were light on the first day, and 700 prisoners had been taken.
A task force was formed by XVI Corps
XVI Corps
XVI Corps can refer to:*XVI Corps , active in the First and Second World Wars*XVI Corps *XVI Corps *XVI Corps , a field corps of the Indian Army...
which rushed towards Venlo to meet with the British in the north. On March 1st Roermond
Roermond
Roermond is a city, a municipality, and a diocese in the southeastern part of the Netherlands.The city of Roermond is a historically important town, on the lower Roer at the east bank of the Meuse river. It received city rights in 1231...
was captured by the Recce (reconnaissance) Troop of the US 35th Infantry Division (the "Santa Fe" Division) without a single shot.