The eastern approach was covered by thick forest, there was no swampland in front, and once inside there would be a number of roads and nearby railway that could be used to push westward.

These were supported by an artillery battalion station west of Mill, armed with twelve antique 8 cm staal field guns.

The German troops disembarked at the Zeeland train station and radioed that they had successfully penetrated the Dutch lines.

Now fully aware of the situation, Dutch engineers installed the asparagus barricade over the tracks and reinforced it with several mines.

Unable to stop in time, the armoured train crashed into the obstruction, derailing and sending the first carriage into the ditch.

Unable to penetrate the armor plating with their machine guns and rifles, the Dutch called in artillery support.

[2] Meanwhile, a company of Germans that had been dropped off in Zeeland headed northeast to flank the Dutch casemates on the defense line.

Another company sneaked through unoccupied trenches and launched an attack on the Dutch casemates at the road between Mill and Volkel.

They flanked the tenth one and captured most of its crew, but one soldier refused to surrender and slammed the door shut.

Had they found the armored train soldiers and attempted to link up with them, the entire defensive line would have been compromised.

Frustrated by this lack of progress, Lieutenant General Friedrich Weber ordered an all-out assault on the line.

37 Junkers Ju 88s attacked the northern portion of the defense line, but failed to kill any Dutch soldiers or destroy any casemates.

A rearguard covered the Dutch withdrawal to South Willem's Canal until 04:00 on 11 May, while heavier fighting continued in the north.

The Dutch defense had allowed for the escape of larger forces further into Fortress Holland, and delayed the Germans progress by one day.