Battle of Hazebrouck Part 1 / 5

In one of the greatest defeats in the military history of Portugal, the 2nd Portuguese Division, approximately 20,000 men commanded by General Gomes da Costa (later President of Portugal), lost about 300 officers and 7,000 men, killed, wounded and prisoners, resisting the attack of four German divisions, with 50,000 men of 6th German Army, commanded by General Ferdinand von Quast, in the first day of the German offensive. Emergency British troops deployed to help the Portuguese defenses were also captured or forced to retreat.

On the flanks of the Portuguese, the British 55th Division (south of the Portuguese) were able to refuse their northern brigade, and despite numerous further attacks formed a firm defensive line which limited the effectiveness of the German attack. However, on the Portuguese northern flank, the British 40th Division were outflanked and attacked from the rear, and as a result allowed the attacking German units to extend the breakthrough of the front line further north.

Further German attacks towards the critical logistics centre of Hazebrouck were slowed by the defending British troops, before being stopped by the Australian 1st Division occupying a defensive position 5 miles (8 kilometers) from the town on 13 April.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Anzacs
• Australians
• Hazebrook
• WW1
• diggers
• World War 1
• Paul Hogan
• Military
• 1st battalion

[patsyd80]

Australia had some of the bravest and toughest fighters out of the whole British Empire.

[shannon858]

@patsyd80 Thanks mate we pride ourselves on this and will always do our best to help out mates out in trouble.

[JimmyG228]

Even if Hollywood doesn't notice all the Anzacs did for the allies in both world wars Canada does. Canadians & Anzacs were hands down the best soldiers of both world wars in my opinion. God Save The Queen.

Appreciation from Canada, true brothers in arms.

[lordazn]

I have to say, of all the armies in WW2, the Australians had the best uniforms.

[GioZakc]

Those mas are Australian or Polish?

[NobleKorhedron]

Good lord - a toff volunteering for the trenches!! I'm astonished!!

[NobleKorhedron]

This IS WWI, right?

[Albertanator]

@Zeeuw1957 Sorry friend but I do not speak Dutch but I have a good Dutch friend that lives a few doors away so I will get her to translate for me. Take care.

[Zeeuw1957]

@Daniel4646 Ja, dezelfde ; knap gevonden, hoor : ik had hem niet meteen herkend, een jaar of dertig jonger! Wist u dat Paul Hogan dit jaar alweer 73 wordt? Hij is van oktober 1939 ; ouwe zak, hè? Toch had hij hierboven iets bekends in zijn spraak : onverstaanbaar Aussi-Engels! Gelukkig hebben wij ondertiteling onder de films die we thuis op tv of in de bioscoop bekijken, dus daarmee hebben we dan nog geluk! Ander was die rimboejongen helemáál niet te verstaan geweest voor onze zoetgestemde oren!

[Zeeuw1957]

@055697 Da's wat overdreven, vind zelfs ik! Al weet ik ook wel dat horden Yanken die vóór 1990 in de vml. BRD gelegerd waren, niet eens wisten of zij zich op hun hoofdkwartier in Berlijn nu in West- of Oost-Berlijn bevonden. Wat een gelazer had dat gegeven als ze jullie vrij hadden laten schieten : grote kans dat jullie ons in het Westen opgeblazen hadden! En dan dat plassen over die dooie Taliban vind ik ook niet kies, hoor! Of het martelen van onschuldigen in de Abu Greib en in Guantanamo!