Sloedam
Encyclopedia
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The Sloedam is an old dam, connecting the Dutch islands Zuid-Beveland
and Walcheren
near the town of Arnemuiden
. Before this dam was constructed, these islands were separated by a stretch of water called the Sloe. The Sloedam was constructed in 1871 during the laying of the railway between the towns of Vlissingen and Roosendaal, the Zeeuwse Lijn. After World War II
, the areas to the south were poldered
. Ever since the Veerse Gatdam and the Oosterscheldedam were created, the dam does not function as a primary defense against the sea.
In 1940, the area was contested during the German invasion of the Low Countries in May 1940 in the Battle of Zeeland
. A combined French-Dutch force attempted to stop the German invasion, but was unsuccessful in this attempt.
In the period of 1944 and 1945, heavy fighting once again came to the area when the Allies attempted to clear the entrance to the harbor of Antwerpen. After heave fighting, Zeeuws-Vlaanderen
and Zuid-Beveland were freed from German control by Canadian forces. However, the Walcheren island still contained a large German force that controlled access to the Western Scheldt
. De Sloedam was the only access road to the former island of Walcheren.
The Canadians reached the dam from Zuid-Beveland
. The Germans were well prepared, and had established multiple well-prepared mortar sites that allowed them to fire on every point fo the dam. The Canadian attempts to reach Walcheren all failed.
Two Dutch resistance fighters offered their assistance to the Canadians. They knew the sandbars of the Sloe that ran dry during low tide, and these resistance fighers led a patrol to Walcheren that managed to mark the dry area. After a short reconnaissance of the German positions, the patrol returned to Zuid-Beveland. The next day a large Canadian unit managed to cross, once again aided by the resistance men. This unit managed to reach the island of Walcheren, and attacked the German positions from the rear, managing to capture the mortar positions. The main Canadian force then crossed the Sloedam to Walcheren and established a beachhead. Operation Infatuate
, the capture of Walcheren, was about to commence.
The Sloedam is an old dam, connecting the Dutch islands Zuid-Beveland
Zuid-Beveland
Zuid-Beveland is a part of the province of Zeeland in the Netherlands north of the Westerschelde and south of the Oosterschelde. It is a former island, now peninsula, crossed by the Canal through Zuid-Beveland on the west and the Scheldt-Rhine Canal on the east.It consists of four...
and Walcheren
Walcheren
thumb|right|250px|Campveer Tower in Veere, built in 1500Walcheren is a former island in the province of Zeeland in the Netherlands at the mouth of the Scheldt estuary. It lies between the Oosterschelde in the north and the Westerschelde in the south and is roughly the shape of a rhombus...
near the town of Arnemuiden
Arnemuiden
Arnemuiden is a small city of around 5000 people in the municipality of Middelburg in the province of Zeeland in the Netherlands. It is located on the former island of Walcheren, about 3 km east of the city of Middelburg.It received city rights in 1574....
. Before this dam was constructed, these islands were separated by a stretch of water called the Sloe. The Sloedam was constructed in 1871 during the laying of the railway between the towns of Vlissingen and Roosendaal, the Zeeuwse Lijn. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the areas to the south were poldered
Polder
A polder is a low-lying tract of land enclosed by embankments known as dikes, that forms an artificial hydrological entity, meaning it has no connection with outside water other than through manually-operated devices...
. Ever since the Veerse Gatdam and the Oosterscheldedam were created, the dam does not function as a primary defense against the sea.
World War II
During World War II, many battles were fought on and around the Sloedam.In 1940, the area was contested during the German invasion of the Low Countries in May 1940 in the Battle of Zeeland
Battle of Zeeland
The Battle of Zeeland was a little-known struggle on the Western Front during the early stages of the German assault on France and the Low Countries during World War II. Several Dutch and French units attempted to hold off the German onslaught by making a determined defense of the Dutch province of...
. A combined French-Dutch force attempted to stop the German invasion, but was unsuccessful in this attempt.
In the period of 1944 and 1945, heavy fighting once again came to the area when the Allies attempted to clear the entrance to the harbor of Antwerpen. After heave fighting, Zeeuws-Vlaanderen
Zeeuws-Vlaanderen
Zeelandic Flanders is the southernmost region of the province of Zeeland in south-western Netherlands. It lies south of the Western Scheldt that separates the region from the remainder of Zeeland to the north...
and Zuid-Beveland were freed from German control by Canadian forces. However, the Walcheren island still contained a large German force that controlled access to the Western Scheldt
Western Scheldt
The Western Scheldt in the province Zeeland in the southwestern Netherlands, is the estuary of the Scheldt river. This river once had several estuaries, but the others are disconnected from the Scheldt, leaving the Westerschelde as its only direct way to the sea. It is an important shipping route...
. De Sloedam was the only access road to the former island of Walcheren.
The Canadians reached the dam from Zuid-Beveland
Zuid-Beveland
Zuid-Beveland is a part of the province of Zeeland in the Netherlands north of the Westerschelde and south of the Oosterschelde. It is a former island, now peninsula, crossed by the Canal through Zuid-Beveland on the west and the Scheldt-Rhine Canal on the east.It consists of four...
. The Germans were well prepared, and had established multiple well-prepared mortar sites that allowed them to fire on every point fo the dam. The Canadian attempts to reach Walcheren all failed.
Two Dutch resistance fighters offered their assistance to the Canadians. They knew the sandbars of the Sloe that ran dry during low tide, and these resistance fighers led a patrol to Walcheren that managed to mark the dry area. After a short reconnaissance of the German positions, the patrol returned to Zuid-Beveland. The next day a large Canadian unit managed to cross, once again aided by the resistance men. This unit managed to reach the island of Walcheren, and attacked the German positions from the rear, managing to capture the mortar positions. The main Canadian force then crossed the Sloedam to Walcheren and established a beachhead. Operation Infatuate
Operation Infatuate
Operation Infatuate was the codename given to Anglo-Canadian operation during the Second World War to open the port of Antwerp to shipping and relieve logistical constraints. The operation was part of the wider battle of the Scheldt and involved two assault landings from the sea by the 4th Special...
, the capture of Walcheren, was about to commence.
See also
- Battle of the ScheldtBattle of the ScheldtThe Battle of the Scheldt was a series of military operations of the Canadian 1st Army, led by Lieutenant-General Guy Simonds. The battle took place in northern Belgium and southwestern Netherlands during World War II from 2 October-8 November 1944...
describing the operation to free the Scheldt area from German control.