Belgian Land Component

Military

The Land Component, formerly the Belgian Land Force, is the land-based branch of the Belgian Armed Forces. The current chief of staff of the Land Component is Major-General Eddy Testelmans. Ranks in use by the Belgian Army are listed at Military of Belgium.

Read more at Wikipedia

Documents about Belgian Land Component

Sunday 19th May 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Minister of Information to inform Press that "situation although not desperate" becoming "increasingly grave”
extract Churchill: “We must face the fact the Belgian Army might be lost altogether.” Admiralty to make plans to evacuate them
extract Churchill: Fallback to Channel ports “a bomb trap”. “Total loss only a matter of time”. Retreat through Amiens, Rouen
extract General Ironside: Not acceptable. “We could certainly never evacuate the force complete”. Urges south west advance
extract BEF Commander concerned about force’s right flank. If gap widens proposes withdrawal to Dunkirk “to fight it out”
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person Winston Churchill
organisation French Army
organisation Belgian Land Component
 

Meeting minutes

extract French Command issue “stern orders” to drive refugees into fields and off roads to ensure troops can move easily
extract PM assents. RAF to do “everything possible” to assist. “Provided” French fight well “good prospect of success”
extract New French Commander General Weygand proposes joint Anglo-French attack in SW and in direction of Amiens within 24 hours
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person Maxime Weygand
person William Lyon Mackenzie King
person Roger Keyes, 1st Baron Keyes
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation British Army
organisation French Army
organisation Belgian Land Component
 

Meeting minutes

extract King Leopold of Belgium warns that withdrawal of British Expeditionary Force will force “capitulation” of Belgian army
extract Churchill: “Little grounds for confidence”. “No choice” but to follow General Weygand's plan
extract Chiefs of Staff: If BEF fall back “unlikely that more than a small part of the force could be got away”
extract German troops reported three miles from Calais by British tank regiment. Warning ammunition position “serious”
extract PM Churchill: “Best for the BEF to fall back on the Channel ports”. Warns of “catastrophic situation” at Boulogne
extract General Weygand reports he has taken Amiens, Albert and Peronne. "Only solution" to continue this maneouvre
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person Maxime Weygand
person Winston Churchill
place Geneva
place Paris
place Calais
place Berlin
organisation Belgian Land Component
 

Meeting minutes

extract Belgian Ambassador requests arrangements be made to evacuate King Leopold to England. Churchill believes this "premature"
person William Lyon Mackenzie King
person Roger Keyes, 1st Baron Keyes
organisation Belgian Land Component
 

British strategy in the near future.

extract Chiefs of Staff continue forward plans: "Germany has most of the cards" but believe British "morale" will counterbalance
place Birmingham
place Europe
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation United States Navy
organisation Belgian Land Component
 

Meeting minutes

extract General Dill: UK forces “still holding out” in Calais, situation now quieter than the previous night
extract Churchill: We “must be prepared” for PM Reynaud “to say that the French could not carry on the fight”.
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person Maxime Weygand
person William Lyon Mackenzie King
person Adolf Hitler
person Winston Churchill
person Edward Spears
place Europe
place Calais
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation United States Navy
organisation 335th Fighter Squadron
organisation Belgian Land Component
 

Meeting minutes

extract War Secretary Eden: “Now clear” Calais has fallen. UK troops "cut off from the quay", holding positions in the streets
extract No information on Army casualties. “Some personnel” withdrawn from France. Ship leaving Dunkirk “heavily attacked”
extract PM informs War Cabinet King Leopold of Belgium seeking Armistice - to take effect from Midnight. “Certainly not heroic”
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson (Australian politician)
person Alan Keyes
place Halifax Peninsula
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Belgian Land Component
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM argues Air Ministry exaggerating extent of German air superiority. Praises Hurricane as “fine fighting machine”
extract Naval vessels standing by for re-embarkation in Dunkirk area. “Awaiting information" on points selected for operation.”
extract Belgian line near Comines Canal in “grave danger of collapse”. British 5th and 48th divisions sent to reinforce
extract Troops in Calais “still holding out with great gallantry”. Evacuated troops replaced by “other men of the same unit”
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person James Craig, 1st Viscount Craigavon
place South Africa
place Dunkirk
place Narvik
place Paris
place South America
place West Germany
organisation Luftwaffe
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
organisation United States Navy
organisation Royal Navy
organisation Belgian Land Component
 

Saturday 1st June 1940

Meeting minutes

extract BEF Commander in Chief Lord Gort delivers his report on the campaign to Cabinet. PM praises his skill and determination
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person William Lyon Mackenzie King
place Brussels
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation French Army
organisation Belgian Land Component