Battle of Hazebrouck Part 1 / 5

In one of the greatest defeats in the military history of Portugal, the 2nd Portuguese Division, approximately 20,000 men commanded by General Gomes da Costa (later President of Portugal), lost about 300 officers and 7,000 men, killed, wounded and prisoners, resisting the attack of four German divisions, with 50,000 men of 6th German Army, commanded by General Ferdinand von Quast, in the first day of the German offensive. Emergency British troops deployed to help the Portuguese defenses were also captured or forced to retreat. On the flanks of the Portuguese, the British 55th Division (south of the Portuguese) were able to refuse their northern brigade, and despite numerous further attacks formed a firm defensive line which limited the effectiveness of the German attack. However, on the Portuguese northern flank, the British 40th Division were outflanked and attacked from the rear, and as a result allowed the attacking German units to extend the breakthrough of the front line further north. Further German attacks towards the critical logistics centre of Hazebrouck were slowed by the defending British troops, before being stopped by the Australian 1st Division occupying a defensive position 5 miles (8 kilometers) from the town on 13 April.