Initiative of a Platoon Leder 5/40*
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Date: May 13, 1940 *
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Battle Location: Meuse River, France*
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Battle Type: German Assault vs France defend. *
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Description: May 13, 1940 the XIX Panzer Corps commanded by Heinz Guderian began the attack across the Meuse river near Sedan. Attached to one of Guderians Panzer Divisions was the 43rd Sturmpionier Battalion, meant to participate in the river crossing.*
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The 3. Company of the 43rd had been designated to participate in the initial assault wave but at 1600 hours the company was dispersed in the southern parts of the Ardennes and the company commander gave the order for the platoons to proceed on their own to the village of Gaulier.*
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About an hour later Lieutenant Korthals in charge of the 1st Platoon reached the village and was immediately taken across the river, where he found the 3rd Platoon waiting. The rest of the company and indeed the battalion was still missing.*
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Korthals decided to assume command of the two platoons and on his own initiative attack south. In doing so his force managed to knock out a number of French bunkers, including the bunkers dominating the area near Bellevue Castle where several attempts by the 1st Panzer Division to cross the Meuse had been frustrated. It also opened the road south for the 2nd Panzer Division.*  
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Acting without clear orders, Korthals managed to make an impact in the battle far beyond what would normally have been expected by a single platoon leader.*
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Source Cedergren, A and Mattson, P; Uppdragstaktik (Auftragstaktik).
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Design by:  Ulf Lundstrom.**
