Battle of Maastricht The Battle of Maastricht was one of the first battles that took place during the German Campaign on the Western Front . Maastricht was a key city in order to capture the Belgian Fort Eben - Emael and split the allied armies in half . Prelude . The German goal of the operation was to take the bridges over the river Maas intact , in order to have an easier road to France . Therefore , the Germans sent in teams disguised as civilians whose jobs were to sabotage the bridge charges . However , they were spotted and arrested , and when they attempted to run , shot . The battle . The sluice complex at Borgharen — just north of Maastricht — was another water - works that could not be destroyed . A section infantry was stationed here . Close to the bridge , one casemate with a machine gun could assist . In the early morning hours , a patrol of six motorised infantry - men approached the eastern guard post . They were a reconnaissance party of the Hocke squad . They were ordered to stop and four of them were taken prisoner . The other two were able to escape . The Dutch Lieutenant was confident that more would be coming , and he ordered his men to remain prepared . Not so much longer later , more German soldiers appeared on motorcycles . The Dutch let them approach to within of their ambush and opened fire with two machine guns and every rifle available . The Germans temporarily retreated . However , when the Germans brought in reinforcements , the squad was overwhelmed . The defenders tried to draw back to the sluice . The move was difficult under the ever increasing German fire . The occupation of the sluice itself was able to resist the Germans , but the south - eastern squad — which defended the northern entrance into Maastricht — had to give in when their machine gun failed . The gap that now existed in the outer defences of the city was soon penetrated by the majority of the Germans that had agitated against the sluice . The 4 . " Panzerdivision " had encountered some resistance around Gulpen and this delay cost hours . A southern column — which was instructed to advance against Maastricht from the south — was able to move forward quicker . They appeared in front of the outer defences at Heugem . Here , the barricades had been sealed and locked as instructed . The defending unit was ordered to move back behind the Maas , because it had become clear that the outer defences had been penetrated . It was now up to the rearguard of the outer defences to slow down the German advance . The rearguard managed to destroy two armored cars and block the road for the remaining cars . When the German infantry had almost reached its position the commanding Dutch sergeant ordered an organised retreat . The squad safely reached the westbank of the Maas a little later . By this time , only the railway bridge remained intact . The Germans felt that it could be a very useful crossing point for tanks , and only 35 Dutch soldiers defended it . As the Germans advanced to the bridge , they were briefly held off by the Dutch defenders . A few German soldiers were killed . The Dutch however soon fell back , because of overwhelming numbers . As the Germans began to cross the bridge , the charges were planted and the bridge fell into the river . After all of the bridges over the Maas River were destroyed , the only task that remained was to hold off the Germans as long as they could . At the destroyed bridges in Maastricht , some stray Dutch units continued piecemeal attacks on the Germans ; the Dutch had spread over many strategic points , including a sniper squad in the towers of the bridge . When the Germans boldly placed an anti - tank gun in front of the bridge , aimed at the adjacent St . Servaasbrug , the Dutch instantly killed the crew . A new crew shared the same fate . A small number of rubber boats tried to cross the Maas but were shot to pieces . Then the Germans retreated from this location . At the destroyed railway bridge , the heaviest fighting would be seen . What remained of the German squad that had tried to take the bridge was soon reinforced by the German main force . Two armored cars tried to approach the east bank but were destroyed by two anti - tank rifles . Also a light tank was put out of action by the AT rifles . The German losses were high . However , soon after , three more German armored cars approached . The situation for the light Dutch infantry had become critical . Many defenders were killed or wounded by the German fire , and soon one of the two anti - tank rifles was destroyed by a hit . The headquarters were contacted to report the situation . From this contact , it became clear that the Dutch resistance at Maastricht had been ordered to cease . " Luitenant - Kolonel " Govers — Territorial Commander ( TC ) of Limburg — had called a meeting later in the day . The German battle plans had been found on a German POW in the morning . All German units were mentioned in the plans and maps with directions had been part of the catch . It was clear that all bridges had been destroyed . It was also clear than an entire German Tank Division was deployed in South - Limburg . The TC had only two companies left under his command , without anti - tank guns or artillery . The ancient city of Maastricht — with all its cultural heritage — should not suffer more than necessary . The outcome of the meeting was that all further opposition to the Germans in and around Maastricht — the last standing defences in Limburg — would cease . The TC himself went to the Wilhelminabrug under the banner of truce . Soon , contact was established . A few hours later , all Dutch troops in Maastricht and its surroundings capitulated . Aftermath . The battle in South - Limburg ( Sector Roosteren - Maastricht ) had cost the lives of 47 Dutch soldiers ( two officers , seven NCOs , 38 corporals and soldiers ) . The German losses are again not known in detail , although at some scenes accurate figures are available . It is estimated that between 130 - 190 Germans died due to the fighting in the south . After the battle , it was reported that 186 German bodies were found . It is confirmed from German material - states that nine armored cars and tanks were destroyed in Limburg . Also , 10 German aircraft — mainly Junkers Ju 52 s and Ju 87 s — crashed or were shot down in Zuid - Limburg .