1st Division (Netherlands)

1st Division
1e Divisie
Active	Mobilized: April 1940 – Disbanded: May 1940
Disbanded	May 1940
Country	Netherlands
Branch	Royal Netherlands Army (Koninklijke Landmacht)
Type	Infantry Division
Role	Defence of the Fortress Holland (*Vesting Holland*)
Size	Division
Part of	Part of the I Army Corps
Engagements	World War II Battle of the Netherlands (1940)
Commanders
Commander (1940)	Major General M. Bent

The 1st Division (Dutch: 1e Divisie) was a military formation of the Royal Netherlands Army that was mobilized in April 1940 and saw action during the Battle of the Netherlands in May 1940.

It was one of the four principal infantry divisions of the Field Army (Veldleger) and was primarily tasked with the defence of the Fortress Holland (*Vesting Holland*).

Organisation (May 10, 1940)

Upon the German invasion on May 10, 1940, the 1st Division was part of the I Army Corps (I. Legerkorps). The division was commanded by Major General M. Bent. ^[1]

The structure of the division was as follows: ^[2]

Divisional Troops

• Division Headquarters (Staff 1e Divisie)
• Cyclist Company 1st Division (Rijwielcompagnie 1e Divisie)
• 1st Light Armoured Car Troop (1e Sectie Pantserwagens)
• 1st Signals Battalion (1e Bataljon Verbindingstroepen)
• 1st Supply Battalion (1e Bataljon Trein)

Infantry Regiments

• 3rd Infantry Regiment (3e Regiment Infanterie)
• 19th Infantry Regiment (19e Regiment Infanterie)
• 21st Infantry Regiment (21e Regiment Infanterie)

Artillery Regiments

• 1st Artillery Regiment (1e Regiment Artillerie) (equipped with 7.5 cm and 10.5 cm guns)
• 1st Anti-Tank Company (1e Compagnie Pantserafweergeschut)
• 1st Anti-Aircraft Machine Gun Company (1e Compagnie Luchtdoel Mitrailleurs)

Detached Units

Prior to the start of the battle, several units were detached from the division for specific duties, including: ^[2]

• III Battalion, Regiment Grenadiers (III-Regiment Grenadiers) to Commando Luchtverdediging (Ypenburg Airfield)
• III Battalion, Regiment Jagers (III-Regiment Jagers) to Waalhaven Airfield
• 1st Pioneer Company (minus one section) to Groep Merwede
• Anti-aircraft units to the Rotterdam / 's Gravenhage Air Defence Circle and Stelling Den Helder

Commanders

• Major General M. Bent ^[1]

References

1. War Department (1942). Handbook on the Netherlands and Netherlands East Indies Armies. U.S. War Department. p. 24. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
2. "1e Divisie – Dutch Army Order of Battle – May 10th, 1940". Dutch Army 1940 Order of Battle. Retrieved 2024-06-25.