Giddelo Henri - Lanaken, Belgium - World War II Memorials / Monuments on Waymarking.com

NL: Het Monument Giddelo Henri ter nagedachtenis aan Kapitien-Commandant Giddelo Henri, bevelhebber van de grensfietserseenheid bevindt zich in het park op het Molenweideplein.

10 mei 1940..…4 uur in de morgen…De oorlog was begonnen.
Vreemdsoortige vliegtuigen kwamen geruisloos uit de richting van Maastricht aangevlogen. Het waren zweeftoestellen die neerkwamen dicht tegen de versterkingsbunkers. De grenswachters waren volkomen verrast. Ze wisten niet wat zij meemaakten.
De bunker aan de brug van Veldwezelt, had een bezetting van 13 man. Na verwoede gevechten werd de bunker door de Duitsers ingenomen. Alleen grenswachter Willem Vranken overleefde het treffen, de anderen waren levend verbrand. Ook Kapitein-commandant Henri Giddelo, bevelhebber van de “Grenswacht Lanaken” sneuvelde op 10 mei 1940 op zijn Commandopost. Overal werden vertragingsgevechten geleverd, want tegen zulke Duitse aanvaller, waren de Belgische strijdkrachten niet opgewassen. Al over Tienen, Leuven, Brussel, trokken de troepen zich terug. Te Eppegem zouden de Grenswachters zich hergroeperen. Zij werden gereed gemaakt om terug aan de strijd deel te nemen.
23 mei 1940…..De Grenswachtereenheid, of tenminste wat er nog van overbleef, zou moeten deelnemen aan “de Slag aan de Leie”.

EN: The Monument Giddelo Henri in memory of Kapitien-Commander Giddelo Henri, commander of the frontier cyclists unit is located in the park on the Molenweideplein.

May 10, 1940 ... ... 4 o'clock in the morning ... The war had started.
Strange aircraft came flying silently from the direction of Maastricht. They were gliders that came down close to the reinforcement bunkers. The border guards were completely surprised. They did not know what they were going through.
The bunker at the bridge of Veldwezelt had an occupation of 13 men. After fierce fighting, the bunker was taken up by the Germans. Only border guard Willem Vranken survived the impact, the others were burned alive. Captain-commander Henri Giddelo, commander of the "Border Guard Lanaken" was also killed on 10 May 1940 at his Command Post. Delay fights were fought everywhere, because against such a German attacker, the Belgian armed forces were no match. The troops had already withdrawn from Tienen, Leuven and Brussels. The Border Guards were to regroup at Eppegem. They were prepared to return to battle.
May 23, 1940. The Border Guard Unit, or at least what was left of it, should participate in “the Battle of the Lys”.

Property Permission: Public Access instructions: Park on Molenweideplein Website for Waymark: [Web Link] Location of waymark: Molenweideplein Lanaken, Limburg Belgium 3620 Commemoration: Giddelo Henri Date of Dedication: Not listed Access times: Not listed

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