The Battle and Massacre of Wormhout - 28th May 1940

[Drew5233]

Originally Posted by Rich Payne

Are you going to 'do' the Norfolks at Le Paradis next year ?

.

I'm struggling to find the bigger picture in enough detail to photograph it. I've got two books and some files on it but what I've read so far isn't very revealing from a photographic point of view. I think I'll get Pooley's book and see if that adds anymore detail.

I started to look at this last year and fell at one of the first hurdles trying to find out where the SS crossed the canal and got slaughtered-I even joined Herr based forum and they couldn't help so I stopped looking and focused on Wormhout.

I'm thinking of doing Cassel and Hondeghem next unless someone has another suggestion?

Cheers
Andy

[CROONAERT]

Excellent thread, Andy. Interesting to see the detailed German movements. Just curious to see if you came across any reference at all to the actual morale of the LSSAH troops at this point (I'm asking because I've recently been repeatedly stumbling over accounts of SS-T soldiers elsewhere being in a state of (seemingly) near panic at around this time - something I didn't really expect to see).

dave

[Drew5233]

Cheers Dave, I like to think I did the poor b***ards justice and that if anything they gave the SS a dam good bloody nose at Wormhout.

Ref LSSAH I've come across similiar in books and statements taken by members of Lt. Col. Scotlands team that after Poland they weren't too happy with the fact the battles weren't going their way, I can only put this down to better opposition. They appear to on the wrong end of Wehrmacht p**s taking too. I know quite a few Herr staff officers were sniggering and laughing at Dietrich when he finally turned up at his gaffers HQ covered in mud and pig s**t, even his boss (I think it was Guderian) made comment in his diary about his appearance. I don't think that the fact he was 'rescued' by the Wehrmacht after his SS failed to save him helped.

As for the battle at Wormhout with the loss of Dietrich and 2nd Bn's CO - Schutzek, who from what I can gather was quite liked and respected by his men, moral dropped and with no command and control the 2nd Battalions attacks floundered to the point where the SS were retreating and or digging in rather than advancing. To my mind from what I've read, they never really seemed to have any tactics as such in 1940, when attacking enemy positions-they just seem to advance in numbers and were made light work of by MG's at Paradis and Wormhout.

Kate would be a better person to talk to about the SS though regarding fighting ability and moral etc.

[Jem]

Andy, at my age I not sure if I have the right to be hateful towards these murderers, but I am and I hope hell gives them what they deserve. I was born and raised in Warwickshire and knew of this massacre at quite an early age having been told about it and given a book on it. I have also visited the barn and area and the cemetery, God rest therm.

[Fireman]

An absolutely incredible and detailed account. I knew of the massacre but certainly didn't know of it in the detail you have described. Many thanks for all the hard work.

[MALLARD]

ANDY
As you know, I’ve just come back from France and although very close to Esquelbecq and Wormhout I deliberately avoided going there for two reasons, firstly the time available would not have enabled me to do real justice and secondly I’m not certain that a short visit would have been emotionally possible. They are, I believe, places that deserve a proper amount of time, not to be rushed. I did however visit Cassel or rather drive through rattling my teeth as we went over the cobbles. The stop there was very short as we had unwittingly chosen market day. Having read your post and I’ll probably be in trouble for saying this but it deserves a wider circulation than the forum. Have you considered sending a copy to a publisher or even one of the television documentary history programmes? Your research and the quality of your writing deserve that wider audience. My comments in no way reduce the forum’s value but there are undoubtedly many non-forum members who will find your work fascinating, moving, an epitaph to the brave and a condemnation of those who acted in such an illegal and cowardly way. Who knows, a more public airing of a well researched and well written piece might even bring some new members into the forum.

John Mallard.

[Drew5233]

BBC Documentary on the Massacre of Wormhout 1994

As British soldiers retreated from the Belgian border to Dunkirk, some had the misfortune to be captured in battle at Wormhoudt by the notorious Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler regiment. Over 80 were marched to a barn in the French countryside where they were massacred, reportedly under the orders of SS officer Wilhelm Mohnke. In this programme, veterans and witnesses share their unique stories of survival as reporter Penny Roberts visits the scene.

Quite amazing actually seeing the people being interviewed that I wrote about. Makes it all the more worthwhile.

Andy

[CL1]

The Battle and Massacre of Wormhout - 28th May 1940

[idler]

BBC Wales remembers the Gunners.

[rachel-E]

I totally agree with Mallard..

Andy your information on this really does deserve a bigger audience. Not only that, this forum deserves some recognition too.

My dad served with the Royal Warwicks and would have been with the 2nd Battalion during this time. I knew very little about him until i just happened upon this site!!..
I for one am really glad i did.
Andy has helped loads with the info that i needed. Just reading the post and write up on Wormhoudt taught me loads.
The guidance he gave me to read in the right direction helped immensely too. Without him and his knowledge i would still be 'in the dark' about my dad and his regiment.
The rest of the crew who have helped me out too are fantastic. Nothing is too much trouble and even though i'm a tad basic at times, it doesn't phase them .
Just think... I may have missed this place and the people in it, if i hadn't searched well enough.. There are plenty out there like me..

Lets have more recognition for the ole place ;o)...

Thanks guys.. And fair play to you Andy for doing this. It's very much appreciated.

Rachel ;o)