Historical Information

A large number of soldiers of the 60th and 68th division D'infanterie died in this province during the German attack on South Beveland and Walcheren. The French fought there even after the Dutch capitulation on May 14, 1940 from which Zeeland was excluded, in the positions near the canal through Zuid-Beveland, in the defense of the Sloedam and Arnemuiden and Vlissingen. In fierce rearguard action to secure the crossing of the French troops to Breskens, one of the division commanders died at Vlissingen. On February 28, 1944, a reconnaissance operation took place to German coastal fortifications north of Scheveningen. It was carried out by six members of the 1st battalion of the Fusiliers Marine commandos (No. 10 Interallied Command), who all died. Their commander, a captain of the marines and a command stayed here in this earth. At the beach of the Wassenaar battle, a memorial commemorates this commando action.

In total, more than 600 French soldiers lost their lives in, near or above the Netherlands in the May days of 1940 and the war years thereafter. Their names are immortalized on the monument. Many were reburied in their homeland after the end of World War II, many also remained unknown.