:: Bombing the Dykes ::


At the end of September '44, as it became clear that airborne action in Walcheren would be too risky in terms of casualties, the GOC-in C.of the 1st Canadian Army, Lt.-General Guy Granville Simonds decided the Island should be recaptured by seaborne landings at Flushing and Westkapelle.

In order to inflict as much damage as possible to the German defences, Lt.-General Simonds ordered flooding of Walcheren Island by bombing the crusial seawalls. First at Westkapelle on the 3rd of October, then on the 7th East (Rammekens) and West (Nolledijk) of Flushing and finally at Veere on the 11th of October 1944. On the 2nd of October locals were urged by radio and pamphlets to leave potential strategic objects immediately. The Westkapelle seawall was bombed with almost 1270 ton of explosives. 123 Lancasters bombed Flushing East with 385 ton and Flushing West with 348 ton. Between Veere and Vrouwenpolder 375 ton were dropped by 67 Lancasters. Later in October additional bombardments (almost 5000 tons) on several German defences followed.


British documentary from 1945 by the Ministry of Information about the subsequent flooding of walcheren


Documents :: Operation Reports

Note that supporting planes, such as Mosquito's etc. are not mentioned.


Westkapelle Seawall 3-10-1944
Westkapelle Seawall 3-10-1944

Flushing Seawall 7-10-1944
Flushing Seawall 7-10-1944

Veere Seawall 11-10-1944
Veere Seawall 11-10-1944