June 19th, 1940
Nevers Sector - The vanguards of the XIV. AK (mot) of Von Kleist attempt a coup de force. At the end of the afternoon, reconnaissance elements of the 9. PzD arrive in Nevers, continuing to search for a passage passage over the Loire. The 7th DLM abandons the city, located on the east bank of the river, to concentrate on the bridges. Aspirant Pastor recounts: "A first 75 mm gun (Tissot's marshal des logis) was located in the open, 50 m from the entrance to the bridge, followed by a second gun, a little more sheltered behind. The bridge was blocked by a barrage of trucks, including one loaded with ammunition. Around 8 pm, contact was established with the enemy. Tissot's gun was the object of
automatic weapons fire. Faced with this threat, he destroyed the ammunition truck. On its side, the second gun opened fire on the enemy. At the eighth shell, there was silence on the
on the opposite bank. Shortly afterwards, a new gunfight broke out and an armoured vehicle advanced on the bridge. It was quickly destroyed by a direct hit from Tissot's gun. Ammunition exhausted, I order the withdrawal. In order to protect the attachment of the pieces, the servants fired the the shot. The section then left the village on board its tractors. During this time some sappers managed to destroy the bridge. The Germans did not gain a foothold on the opposite bank till the next day at about 2:00 a.m.". The coup de main of the XIV. AK (mot) on the bridges of Nevers fails.
La Charité Sector - At the end of the morning, the 151. ID launches a strong crossing at La Charité. The defenders cannot avoid that some infantrymen cross the river on the remains of the bridge deck. The Germans gain a foothold in the west and then advance. In the evening, General Germain goes in person to the the barricades set up on the lateral canal, with the men from his headquarters: he knew that the next day would be the last day of fighting on the Loire and he wanted to be with his soldiers for this last effort.
Cosne et Cours-sur-Loire Sector - The 28th DIAlp is reinforced by the 28th RICMS. In the morning, a new frontal attack on Cosne failed, but it pinned the defenders who could not oppose another crossing, further south, at Saint-Thibault.
Briare Sector - New German attempt. In the morning, a bridgehead is created south of Briare. In the afternoon, a French counter-attack reduces the bridgehead, but does not succeed in eliminating it.
At the same time, the 96. ID crosses the Loire at Bonny-sur-Loire, it is only stopped at night on the lateral canal.
Gien Sector - The German attack resumes in the morning. The 1. Mountain ID progresses slowly, slowed down by the French support points organized around the FT tanks. Several counter-attacks launched by the infantry and the R-35s of the 53rd BCC (five tanks were destroyed by German artillery) block the extension of the bridgehead and prevented the enemy from breaking through. The German commanders, convinced that they were facing a strong concentration of French tanks, take a defensive stance in this sector, contenting itself with using its artillery.
Sully-sur-Loire Sector - At dawn, the 98. ID launches a new attack on the ruins of the viaduct bridge. The German infantry tries several times to pass, supported by the artillery which falls on the entirety of the resistance center. At the end of the morning, the first German infantrymen set foot on the south bank and intense hand-to-hand fighting takes place in the ruins of Sully. The second battalion of the 141st RI has to be engaged to block the enemy progression.
Chateauneuf-sur-Loire to Orléans Sector - As the Sigloy bridgehead proves to be very threatening, the last armoured vehicles of the 4th DCR are directed there during the evening of the 18th and are in place on the morning of the 19th to support a counter-attack led by the 7th DIC. A rare event in this campaign: a few aircraft intervene - and even more surprisingly, they were French! This support proves to be decisive and allows the counter-attackers to regain the lost ground until the gates of Châteauneuf-sur-Loire; the Germans, however, keep a bridgehead on the south bank.
Orléans to Beaugency Sector - Near Orléans, the night of the 18th to the 19th is marked by a daring operation of the Corps Franc Darnand, of the 29th DIAlp, north of the Loire. Several German vehicles are destroyed, which stopped the momentum of the invaders.
In Orléans itself, the German wait-and-see attitude does not last. At dawn on the 19th, the 33. ID attacks.
For two days, a deluge of artillery rains down on the city, especially since the bombardments of the south bank by the Germans are answered by the counter-battery fire of the French against the north bank... However, overwhelmed by a series of attacks on different points, the defenders, too few in number, could not prevent the attackers from gaining a foothold on the south bank.
Blois Sector - At dawn, the Germans launch a crowd of boats on the river two kilometers downstream of Blois, out of range of the French machine guns. These boats let themselves go with the current and the drift led the enemy quite far south of the French positions, which were thus flanked.
However, the French artillery quickly spot the German embarkation site on the north bank and it is fired upon, as well as various suspicious concentrations. But troops who have landed on the left bank manage to infiltrate the woods, then to occupy the first houses southwest of the suburb. Three successive counter-attacks are mounted; the last one, supported by a section of tanks, succeeds in driving the Germans back to the river.
Amboise to Ingrandes Sector - At dawn, the withdrawal of the 10th CA and the Cavalry Corps behind the Loire River reinforces the defense and
changes in responsibilities.
The Amboise and Tours sub-sectors come under the command of General Gransard (10th CA): remnants of the 8th DLIC in Amboise and 2nd DLM in Tours (defense of the Loire between the viaduct of St-Côme and that of Montlouis: combat brigade between the bridges of Tours, brigade including H-39 tanks on the Cher river, artillery on the heights of St-Avertin, Chambray and Joué-lès-Tours).
The sub-sector of Azay-le-Rideau (Langeais) is held by the 5th Light Mechanical Brigade (squadrons Labarthes and La Forest of the 1st Cuirassiers, the three squadrons [Quinslot, Constantin and Vie] of the 2nd Cuirassiers), plus, on the island of Langeais, the Huot detachment of the 3rd motorized group (a large squadron) and about two companies of poorly trained riflemen from the depots. [1]
The Saumur sub-sector is reinforced by various small units, groups and motorized squadrons (Groupe Hacquart of the 19th Dragons, Groupe Montclos, Escadron Gobble of the 1st GRDI, Escadron Corbe, Groupe Franc de Cavalerie De Neuchèze with 7 AMC Renault 35 ACG 1 and some AMD Panhard, elements of the 11th Dragons and 12th Cuirassiers) and by a battery of 4x 75 mm battery of the ERGM of Thouars.
The Angers sub-sector comes under the command of General Langlois (cavalry corps): 1st DLM and 3rd DLM. The 232nd RI, formed from the Angers depot with reinforcements from the 129th GRDI and placed under the orders of battalion commander De Coucy. A battery of 75s from Thouars reinforces the defense of the island of Gennes and another one on that of Port-Boulet.
In Tours, the order to blow up the bridges is given at the beginning of the afternoon, although the order to blow Wilson Bridge is delayed, to allow as many units as possible to withdraw. Among the last detachments to cross the bridge: the artillery of the 8th DLIC, completely exhausted after a 105 km march; a detachment of the 44th and 109th RI of the 47th DI, lost, but experienced and with a martial look. At 23:00, the Wilson bridge is blown up in turn.
In the evening, the vanguards of the 1. KD are in Noyant and Bourgueil and prepare attempts against the bridges of Saumur, Montsoreau and Port-Boulet.
Ancenis to Nantes Sector - During the night, all the bridges of the Loire, from Ancenis to Thouaré, are destroyed. General Héring's staff asks to postpone the destruction of the bridges of the city of Nantes and the canal from Nantes to Brest, in order to allow the retreat of the greatest number of men possible.
At dawn, a column of the 5. PzD arrive at Nort-sur-Erdre, where it meets no resistance. It continues southwards and meets a first plug of the 111th regional regiment, which it sweeps away easily. It finally reached the Nantes-Brest canal, but the bridge destruction charges had just been blown up. Other small enemy detachments are seen in Blain or in Clanet, but they keep their distance.
The bridges of Nantes itself are kept intact until further notice, which allowed numerous retreating elements to cross the river and the city during the day. First, and after a long detour, General Duffour and his staff, then the 121st, 123rd and 126th GRDI, finally, late in the evening, a strong detachment of the 90th RI (17th DLI), whose exhausted men keep a dignified appearance. Contacting General Héring by telephone, Duffour is instructed to take command of the fighting units of the 11th Region (Aymé Group: Nantes, Séchet Group: Oudon, Putinier Group: Ancenis)
[1] The 5th BLM (1st and 2nd Cuirassiers) was formed, without armament, from the surplus of the 1st and 3rd DLM when they were reformed on a lighter model; its leader, Lt-Colonel du Vigier, seized by force on June 16th the weapons of a battalion of mounted fighters stored at the Ruchard camp. In order to save resources, General Pichon took Lt.Col. du Vigier as his deputy; the command of the 5th BLM passed to Lt. Colonel de Vernejoul, who commanded the 2nd Cuirassiers.
