ChapterITheBlitzkriegintheLowCountries

THEGermansareboundtoattackinthelatespringorearlysummer.TheysimplycannotwaituntilweandtheBritishattainsuperiorityinmanpowerandmaterials.ItistheFrenchMinisterattheHaguespeaking,thecleverandcharmingBarondeVitrolles,andthedateofmyconversationwithhimisJanuary1940.Hecontinues:Wherewillthebattlebefoughtout?TherearetwotraditionalbattlefieldsinEuropeLombardyandFlanders.Thesecondwillbethesceneofthebigbattleofthepresentwar,justasitwasofanothergreatwarWaterloo.TheGermanswillattackviatheNetherlandsandBelgiumandthedecisivebattleofthiswarwilldevelopsomewherewithinaradiusoffiftymilesfromWaterloo.Itwillbeawarofmovement.AndinthiskindofwarfarewealwayshavebeensuperiortotheTeutons.TheMinisterswords,exceptthelastsentence,werealmostprophetic.TheyshowedthatresponsibleFrenchquartersknewthattheattackontheircountrywasboundtocomeandthatitwouldcomeviatheLowCountries.

WhydidFranceandtheLowCountriesnotdoeverythingintheirpowertoforestalltheGermanmove?Theanswerisasadone.ItisatragicstoryoflackofstatesmanshipinBelgiumandtheNetherlands,whereKingLeopoldandQueenWilhelminarefusedtoconcludeanalliancewiththeWesternPowersortomakemilitaryarrangementsbetweentherespectivegeneralstaffs.Itisastory,moreover,ofincompetence,inefficiencyandfifthcolumnactivitiesbothintheLowCountriesandinFrance.

FortwoyearstheLowCountrieshadbeenlivinginconstantfearthattheirmightyneighbor,NaziGermany,mightlaunchasuddenattackagainstthemandwouldstartitsadvertisedBlitzkriegagainstFranceacrosstheirterritories.Thoughthisfearhadexistedforalongtime,bothBelgiumandtheNetherlandsrefusedtomakealliancesorinitiatestafftalkswiththeWesternPowers.Andthoughtheyrefusedtomakearrangementsforthecrisis,theyexpectedthesetwoPowerstohelpthemwhenitcame.AsfarbackastheendofMarch1939theworldpresspublishedalarmingreportsofGermanysintentiontolaunchanattackagainstSwitzerlandandHolland.Allthesmallneutralsfeltitnecessarytotakecertainmilitaryprecautions.TheninAugust1939thewarcloudsstartedtogatherinearnest.Againthesmallcountrieswerecompelledtoeffectprecautionarymeasures.BothHollandandBelgiumtookforgrantedthatifwarshouldbreakoutoverDanzig,theWesternPowerswouldtrytohelpPolandbymovingagainstGermany;whereuponGermany,tocounteractthismove,wouldlaunchhermotorizeddivisionsintotheLowCountrieswithaviewtopushingthroughintoNorthernFrance.NowBelgiumhadbeenconstructingconsiderabledefenseworkseversince1931.Asthethreatofwarbecamemoreimminentsheincreasedthepace.Holland,owingtoSocialistandotherpacifistinfluencesandalongtraditionofneutrality,hadconsiderablyneglectedherdefenses.Yetshealsostartedtodevelopfortificationsanddefenseworks,coupledwithinundationpreparations.

WhenIarrivedinHollandinOctober1939therewerepersistentrumors,basedontheconcentrationoffortyNazidivisionsoppositetheLowCountries,ofanimminentGermanattack.AtthebeginningofNovemberthesituationbecamesotensethatKingLeopold,tippedoffbyGermanfriends,rushedtoTheHaguetoseeQueenWilhelminainthehopethatthetwocountriesmightavoidaninvasionbymakingaconciliatoryoffertoBerlinjointly.ThemeetingofthetworulerstookplaceonNovember6.Thenextdaysteel-helmetedpolice,armedwithcarbinesandrevolvers,suddenlyappearedaroundallpublicbuildingsinDutchcities.TodayweknowthattheDutchNazishadorganizedaputschforNovember11.ButtheauthoritiesdiscoveredtheplanintimeandarrestedmanyNazis,amongthemseveralscoreofficersandsoldiers.Furthermore,theheadoftheBritishsecretservice,CaptainStevens,andhisassistant,SigismundPayneBest,werekidnappedonNovember9bytheGestapoataDutchfrontiervillage,Venloo.ThenextdaytheGermantroopconcentrationswereaugmented.Hollandmobilizedallherforcesinreadinesstorepelwhatseemedanimminentattack.

WhileIrealizedtheseriousnessofthesituation,IwasoftheopinionatthattimethatthisGermanmovewaspartlyameasureofintimidation,butthatmostofallitwastactical.OneoftheprobablepurposesoftheGermanfeintseemedtometofindouthowBelgiumandHollandwouldactincaseaBlitzattackreallyoccurred;butmorethanthat,itspurposewastofindoutwhattheFrenchandtheBritishwoulddo.

IfthiswastheaimoftheGermanstheysucceededinattainingit.InNovemberoflastyeartheyknewexactlywhereandwhentheDutchweregoingtofloodtheirterritoriesandwhatregimentswouldberushedwhere.TheyknewhowquicklythefirstlineoftheDutchdefensescouldbemannedinacrisis.ThesameoccurredinBelgium.ThiswastheinformationtheGermansneededtoenablethemtocalculatethemovesoftheirownarmysoasalwaystobehoursorevenonlyafewminutesaheadoftherespectivedefensivemovesoftheiropponents.

TheGermansalsolearnedthroughtheirspiesaboutthemovementsoftheFrenchandBritishtroopsalongtheextensionoftheMaginotLine.TheycametotheconclusionthattheFrenchandBritishcouldnotsendhelpfastenoughtoBelgiumandtheNetherlandstobeeffectiveifnospecialarrangementshadbeenconcludedinadvancebetweenthosefourcountries.TheyalsowantedtofindoutwhethertheAlliesweregoingtorushimportantairforcestoHolland.FromtheirknowledgeofAllieddispositionsintheNovember1939crisisintheLowCountriestheGermanStaffcametotheconclusionthatneitherHollandnorBelgiumcouldcountonreallysubstantialarialhelpfromBritain,andthatalmostnonewouldcomefromFrance.

Nevertheless,therewerefactorsinboththeDutchandtheBelgiandefensemovestheBelgianespeciallywhichnecessitatedcertainalterationsintheoriginalBlitzkriegplans.TheGermansnoticedthatBelgiumhadbeenfeverishlyimprovingherdefensesalongtheAlbertCanal.YettheGermanplanwastolaunchthefirstblowatexactlythesamespotasinAugust1914.ItwasareturntotheoriginalSchlieffenPlan,whichdidnotmakethe1914mistakeofleavingoutHolland.In1914thefirstUhlanscrossedtheMeusesouthofVis;in1940theGermanmotorizeddivisionscrossedtherivernorthofVis,onlyafewmilesdistant.Onrevienttoujourssonpremieramour.

ButbeforeactuallylaunchingtheirblowtheGermanswantedtomakeafurtherrehearsalwhichwouldalsoservethepurposeofattractingtheBelgiansattentiontoapartoftheirdefenseswheretheGermanshadnointentionofattacking.Forthispurposeanincidentwasshrewdlystaged.AnairplanewithtwoGermanstaffmajorslandedneartheBelgianfrontier,allegedlybecauseoflackofgas.Intheplanewerefoundtheplansofanimpendingattack,presumablyscheduledforJanuary13,1940.AccordingtotheseplanstheGermanscontemplatedpiercingtheBelgiandefenselinesbetweenAndenneandHuyontheMeuseRiver.Thesubterfugeworked.TheBelgiansnowstartedfeverishlytofortifytheirpositionsinthatsector,divertingtheirattentionfromtheLowerMeuseandtheAlbertCanalwherefourmonthslaterthedecisiveGermanattackwasactuallylaunched.

AfterthissecondalerteinBelgiuminJanuary1940,cameathirdatthebeginningofApril.It,too,turnedouttobeanotherfeint,thistimedesignedtodivertattentionfromtheGermanmovementoftroopsinpreparationfortheattackagainstDenmarkandNorway.Twodaysafterwardsthatattacktookplace.ThealerteofJanuary1940hadalreadycausedBelgiumtotakeafurthersteptowardscompletinghermobilization.TheBelgianmobilizationconsistedoffivephases,ofwhichDwasthelast.Byitvirtuallyallmenwhocouldcarryarmsorwereexpertsweremobilized.BelgiumhadnowputphaseDintooperation.InAprilHollandalsotookfurthermobilizationmeasuresandcontinuedfeverishlyworkingonherdefenses.

HardlyhadtheexcitementcausedbythestartoftheNorwegiancampaigndieddown

whenitwasrenewedbyfreshrumorsofanimpendingattackontheLowCountries.ItbecameknownthattheGermanshadconstructedconcretepiersintheMoselleandSauerRiversoppositeWasserbilligandEchternach(bothinLuxembourg),anditseemedobviousthatthesepierswerepartofaconstructionbywhichGermantanksweretofordthetworivers.ThefrightinthecityofLuxembourgreachedsuchproportionsthatmanypersonsfledintoneighboringBelgium.TherealsoweregreatGermantroopmovementswhichobviouslywereintendedtointimidatetheNetherlandsandBelgium.AlongthewholestretchofGermanfrontierfromtheNorthSeadowntotheSaarthatis,facingtheNetherlands,BelgiumandLuxembourgtheGermanshadbythenconcentratedeightydivisions(including,asIsaidabove,fourteenoftheirseventeenmotorizeddivisions).AboutMay6therewaseveryevidencethattheGermanattackwassoontobelaunched.AllleavesintheDutchandBelgianArmieswerestoppedandforthreenightsDutchpatrolshadtostayconstantlyintheirforemostdefensepositionsinastateofcompletereadiness.

May9apparentlybroughtsomealleviationofthestrain.MilitarycirclesinBrusselsbecameconvincedthattheattackwaspostponed,atleastforafewdays.WhydidtheBelgianGeneralStaffthinktheGermanshadpostponedthedateoftheattack?Accordingtoasemi-officialBelgianexplanation,therelaxationoftensioncamefromthefactthatseveraloftheGermanmotorizeddivisionswereknowntohavebeenmovedawayfromthedistrictofAix-la-Chapelle.(Wheretheyweretakenwasnotthenknown.WefoundoutlaterthattheyhadbeenmovedovernighttopositionsoppositeLuxembourg!)ThefifthcolumninBelgiumhelpedtoemphasizethischangeforthebetterbytalkingaboutthenewdispositionoftheGermantankcorps.SomeofmyBelgianfriendshaveopenlysaidthatmembersoftheBelgianGeneralStaffmusthavebeen,knowinglyorunknowingly,toolsoftheGermansecretservice.Atanyrate,theyacceptedtheillusionofadtentetosuchadegreethatonMay9leaveswererestoredintheBelgianArmy.

Onlyafewhourslaterthetruthwasknown.About4:30A.M.,whendawnwasjustbreaking,morethanahundredGermanbombingplanesappearedoverBrusselsanddischargedtheirdeadlycargoes.AtthesametimeanattackwaslaunchedagainstthefrontiersofthethreeLowCountriesfromtheNorthSeatotheSaar.Butthebruntoftheattackwasdirectedattwopoints:againsttheundefendedsmallGrandDuchyofLuxembourg,andagainsttheMaastrichtappendix.TheoldSchlieffenPlan!ThechiefattackdidnotcomewheretheGermansfeigneditwascominginJanuary,namelybetweenNamurandLigeontheMeuse,butontheMeuseaboveLigeandontheAlbertCanal.

UndoubtedlytheGermansknewthatthisMaastrichtcornerwasprobablytheweakestspotintheAlbertCanaldefenses.Theyhadlaidtheirplanswelltosubdueit.ThebridgeontheMeuse(Maas)atMaastricht,inDutchterritory,fellintotheirhandsthroughtreason.ThebridgeacrosstheAlbertCanalwhichcontinuedtherailroadandhighwaycomingfromthisMaastrichtbridgewasalsoofgreatstrategicalimportance.Itfelltothemintact.TheBelgiansallegedthattheofficerinchargeofthedynamitechamberwaskilledbyaGermanarialbomb,andthuswasunabletocarryouttheblowingupofthebridge.TheGermansopenlyboastthattheyboughtthewholegroupwhichwastoblowupthebridge.Asamatteroffact,muchthesamethinghappenedtwentymilestothenorthwest,whereanotherimportantbridgeontheAlbertCanalwasnotblownup.Itisgivenasanextenuatingcircumstancethatthisbridgewasfullofrefugeesandthattheofficerswere

hesitanttoblowuptheirowncompatriots.Thismayormaynotbetrue.Butifitistrue,thentheirhesitationcontributedheavilytobringaboutthedownfalloftheirwholecountry.

AnotherbadcasewasthatofthefortressEbenEmael.ThisformidablegroupofstrongfortswasoneofthestrongestpartsoftheLigesystem.ThatsystemconsistedoftheLigefortressproperandofthefourotherfortressesoftheLigeplateau:Neufchteau,Pepinster,BatticeandEbenEmael.BatticewasthemightyfortwhichdominatedAix-la-Chapelle;EbenEmaelsfunctionwastoruletheroadfromAix-la-ChapelletoMaastrichtandbeyond.ItwasputoutofactionbytheGermansasearlyasnoonontheveryfirstdayofthecampaign,May10.

AccordingtotheBelgiansemi-officialversion,EbenEmaelwastakensosoonbecausetheGermansconcentratedalltheirsurprisetechniqueonitanextraordinarilyviolentbarrageofheavygunsandvigorousarialbombardment,incombinationwithanattackbyparachutists.Nowitistruethatthissuddenonslaughtonagarrisonnotyettriedinwarmusthaveconfusedthedefenders;butEbenEmaelconsistedofawholeseriesoffortsandpillboxes.TheGermansmadesimilarextremelyheavyattacksonotherfortressesintheLigedistrict,andthesefortresseswerestillholdingoutfiveandsixdayslater.Whydidthestrongestandmostmodernofthemallsurrendersoquickly?Onecannothelpfeelingthatwhatwasbelievedbysomemilitaryattachsmusthavebeentrue,namelythatFlemishtraitorscontributedtotheresult.ThecaptureofthekeyfortressofEbenEmaelandofthreebridgesontheMeuseandtheAlbertCanalopenedthewaytotheGermanmotorizedcolumns.WhenIvisitedtheAlbertCanaldefensesinAprilofthisyear,Belgianstaffofficerstoldmethattheycalculatedthesedefensescouldholdoutfortwentydays.OthermoreconservativeforeignobserversbelievedthattheBelgianswouldbeabletoholdonattheAlbertCanalforatleastfivedays.FivedayswereconsideredenoughtobringFrenchandBritishtroopsuptothesecondline,Antwerp-Louvain-Namur.OntheveryfirstdayoftheGermaninvasion,theGermanshadsucceededinpiercingthedefenselinewhichwasexpectedtoholdoutanywherefromseveraldaystoseveralweeks.

WhileGermanmotorizedtroopswerepouringintoBelgiumthroughthegapthuscreated,Germanbombingplanes(allegedlynumberingabouttwothousand,andinanyeventmanyhundredsstrong)werebusyallthemorningbombingtheremainingBelgianpositionsbetweenHasseltandLige,aswellastherestoftheBelgianlines.ItseemsthatthematerialdamagecausedbytheseGermanbomberswassmallinproportiontothenumbersused,butthemoraleffectwasdevastating.AccordingtoBelgianofficerswhoparticipatedinthelastwar,theairbombardmentsofthisyearwerenotnearlysodeadlyandefficientastheoldheavy-artillerybarragesusedtobe.ButGermanpropagandasucceededinallcountriesincreatingsuchapsychosisaboutarialbombardmentsthatwhenthedeadlycargoesofthebombingplaneswerereleasedontheBelgiantroopstheirmoralecompletelycollapsed;andbytheafternoonofMay10theBelgianlinebetweenHasseltandLigewasalreadyindissolution.Thisbombardmentwascarriedthroughwiththeevidentaimofspreadingfear.AccordingtowhatIlearnedfromBelgianofficers,manyoftheGermanflyerswerequiteyoungandhadonlyhadfromfourtoeightweeksoftraining.Theirmachineswereinferior.Allthiswasbydesign.TheGermansdidnotthinkitnecessarytosacrificegoodmachinestospreadfrightfulness.Anyyoungaviatorwho

knewhowtoflyinformationandhadbeentaughthowtoreleasebombswasgoodenough;therewasnoneedfordivebombingorevenforflyinglow.ItwasdifferentwiththeairplanessenttobombBrusselsormilitaryobjectivesbehindthelines.ThosewereexcellentHeinkelsorDorniers,withhighlytrainedcrews.

WhenIvisitedtheeasternsuburbsofBrusselsinthemorningofMay11IfoundtomygreatamazementthattheywerefilledwithBelgiansoldiers,infullequipment,alreadybackfromthefront.Theyweresurroundedbyanxiouscrowdsinquiringwhathadhappened.Theytoldofacompletedbcle.InexaggeratingthemagnitudeoftheGermanattacktheyhelpedcreatefurtheruneasinessamongsttheBrusselspopulation,alreadypanickyasaresultoftheconstantbombardmentofthecitybyGermanplanes.SoonthestreetsofBrusselsitselfwerefullofreturningsoldiers,mixedwithrefugeescomingfromnortheasternBelgium.IsawtrucksbearingtheinscriptionsofvariouscitiesLige,Verviers,Tongres.ThreeBelgiandivisionswereincompletedissolution,andothershadbeenbadlyaffectedbydesertions.

WhatIsawonthistheseconddayofthetotalitarianwarinBrusselswasareplicaofthedebacleoftheItalianArmydescribedbyErnestHemingwayinhisbookFarewelltoArms.ItwasanotherCaporetto.Half-heartedattemptsweremadetocollectthedemoralizedtroopsandreformthemattheCinquantenaireexhibitiongrounds.Theeffortwasinvain.MostofthemcontinuedtheirhastyretreatandIencounteredsomeofthemagainafewweekslaterinsouthernFrance.

AremainingsectionoftheBelgianArmytriedtoreorganizeonthesecondlineofdefense,namelyonthelineAntwerp-Louvain-Namur.ByMay12twoBritishdivisionsandsomeFrenchtroopshadarrivedonthislineandtriedtobolsterupthebadlyshatteredBelgianforces.ThoughmanyoftheBritishwereunexperiencedterritorials,theyfoughtbravelyagainstheavyGermanodds,standingupheroicallyunderthedevastatingmass-bombardmentsoftheGermanairplanes.Britishfightingplaneswerestillabsent,orpresentinverysmallnumbers.TheGermanswereabletobombtheBritishtroopsunpunished.

Onthisday,May12,theGermansrepeatedtheirtechniqueofthefirstday,sendinganincrediblylargenumberofplanes(arrivingingroupsof300everyhalfhour)tobombtheBelgian-BritishpositionsbetweenLouvainandNamur.Thebombardmentalongthecenterofthelinewasdonebyinexperiencedflyerswholoosedbombsinmassesjusttoterrorize;butonthetwowingsexpertbomberswereworkingonthetwofortresscitiesofNamurandLouvain.Withinafewhourstheywerereducedtosmoulderingruins.ThedestructionofLouvainandNamur,andthepartialdestructionofAntwerp,deprivedtheBritishofimportantpivotalpoints;forbythetimelargernumbersofBritishtroopsreachedtheseplacestherewerenodepots,storesorbilletsleft.Thismadetheircontinueddefensealmostimpossible.

Atthisjunctureanimportantquestionofresponsibilitymustberaised.ThedbcleoftheBelgianArmyinthenortheastduringtheveryfirsthoursofthewarmusthavebeenknowntotheBritishandFrenchGeneralStaffs.Whatanewspapermanlikemyselfknewinthefirst48hours,BritishandFrenchmilitaryobserversmustcertainlyhaveknowntoo.Whywasnourgentwarningissuedtodissuadetherespectivestaffsfromsendingfurthertroopsintopositionswhichwereboundtoprovetraps?Orifsuchawarningwasissued,

whywasitnotheeded?

Thisisaquestionofjudgmentandresponsibilityinthefield.TheunderlyingresponsibilityrestslargelywithKingLeopoldasCommander-in-ChiefoftheBelgianarmies.Itisalmostimpossibletosendtroopssuddenlyintoaforeigncountrytoassistanuntriedarmyefficientlyifnopreviousplanhasbeenconcludedbetweentherespectivegeneralstaffs.KingLeopoldhadabsolutelyrefusedtoconcludesuchanagreement.Itwasthedeathblowtohiscountry.Evenso,whentheBritishheard(andtheymusthaveheardit,despitetheoptimisticreportssentoutbytheBelgianArmy)thattheBelgiantroopshadexperiencedaCaporettoontheAlbertCanal,theyshouldhavedesistedfromsendingfurtherreinforcementsintoBelgium.HadtheyrestedintheirfortificationswhichformedanextensionoftheMaginotLine,theymighthavewithstoodtheGermanattackwithafairchanceofsuccess.Ibelieve(andsomemilitaryexpertssharethisview)thatresistancewaspossibleontheextensionoftheMaginotLine,despitethegapmadebytheGermansnearSedan.ButletusnowturnourattentiontothesouthernpartoftheBelgianlines.

WhilethedivisionsoftheBritishArmywereextremelyquickinreachingeasternBelgium,theFrenchArmyorganizationfailedcompletelyingettingitsreinforcementsfastenoughtothoseplacesinBelgiumwhich,accordingtotheplansoftheFrenchGeneralStaff,weretobeprotectedbyFrenchtroops.TheBritishcalculationhadbeenthatitwouldtakethemfivedaystoreachtheLouvain-Namurline;manyBritishtroops,however,reachedthislineonthesecondday.TheFrenchcalculatedthattheycouldtakeovertheNamur-Givetlinewithin48hours;butafterthatperiodhadpassedtheystillwerefarfromtheirpositions.

BeforeexaminingwhathappenedsouthofNamur,wemustmakeanexcursiontotheArdennespartofBelgium,ahilly,roughcountry,brokenbymanywoodsandrivers.Thispartwasfortifiedbyasystemofpillboxesandsmallforts.AtthebeginningoftheBlitzkriegtheGermansdidnotconcentratetheirattackontheArdennes.Instead,theyrushedtheirtroopsintoundefendedLuxembourg.TheLuxembourgArmyconsistedof156menandthecitywasalreadyfullofGermanfifthcolumnistsdisguisedastourists.ButeverybodyinBrusselsbelievedthattheFrenchcouldlaunchtheirdivisionsintoundefendedLuxembourgjustasquicklyastheGermanscould.Inactualfact,theGermanssucceededinoccupyingalmosttheentireGrandDuchywithinafewhourswithoutmeetinganyseriousresistancefromtheFrench.AndwhenLuxembourghadbeenoccupied,theGermanswereabletorushtheirtroopsintosoutheasternBelgium.Withtheirartillerytheymoweddownthefirstdefenses.Instantly,Germanmotorcyclisttroopsrushedcross-countryintotheBelgianArdennesataspeedofsixtymilesanhour.Themotorcyclistsdidnotwaittoattackthepillboxes.Thatwasleftforthetanksthatfollowed.Thesepassedthepillboxesandattackedthemfromtherear.TheArdenneswasthusoccupiedwithin48hours.Thisdone,theGermanmotorizedtroopswereabletoproceedtotheattackontheupperreachesoftheMeuse,southofNamur.

Ithadbeencalculated,asIsaidabove,thattheFrenchcouldtakeovertheBelgiansectionoftheMeusebetweenNamurandGivetwithintwodays.Herehappenedtheothertragedyofthewar:thefoldingupoftheFrenchNinthArmy.Itwasthisarmy,underthecommandofGeneralCorap,whichwassupposedtotakeupthepositionsbetweenNamurandGivet.EversincethebeginningofMayextremevigilancehadbeenorderedalongalltheAllied

fronts.YetGeneralCorapwasabsentfromhisheadquarterswhenthewarbeganandarrivedbackonlysomehourslater.SixbridgesontheMeusewerenotblownup.ByMay12thewholeNinthArmywassupposedtohavetakenoverthedefenseoftheMeusebelowNamur.Butonlyfractionsofithadarrived.Overtheunblownbridges,GermanmotorizedtroopswerepouringintoFrance.Nodoubt,theGermaneffortnearSedanwascarriedthroughwithalargenumberofmotorizeddivisions.ButwhereweretheFrenchtanks?WhereweretheFrenchtroops,theFrenchartillery,theFrenchanti-tankguns?Isitanywonderthatthewordtreasonwasspokenopenlyamongtherankandfile?Anditeitherwastreasonorunforgivableincompetence.ForGeneralCorapandhisstafffailedabsolutelytocarrythroughaplandraftedandcalculatedinminutedetailbytheexpertsinParis.ItistruethatthereprovedtobemuchinefficiencyintheFrenchArmy.TherealsowasasurpriseelementintheGermanattack.Granted.Butthereisnoexcuseforsixunblownbridges,fortroopsfarbehindtheirschedule,forartilleryunused.

Whateverthereason,onMay12theGermanarmoredandmotorizeddivisionswerepouringintoFrance.Inafewhoursthebreachwasfiftymileswideandalmostasdeep.Tanks,spreadingfireanddestruction,supportedbyairplaneswithwhichtheywereconnectedbyradiocontact,wererapidlyadvancing.ThetaskofbringingupFrenchreinforcementswasbeingimpededbythedesperateflightofrefugeesfromtheinvadeddistricts.Germanfifthcolumnistshadbeenplantedinadvanceintheborderregionstoinducepanic.Othersmingledwiththerefugeesandcarriedthealarmfromonetownandvillagetothenext.Nevertheless,IstillmaintainthatthisbreachbetweenDinantandSedancouldhavebeenfilledup(justasthebreachatVerdunintheMarchoffensivein1918wasfilledup)iftherehadbeenafirmandcontinuousfrontalongtheBelgian-Frenchborder.Butthisfrontwasinmovement,becauselargenumbersofBritishtroopswerestillpouringintoFlanders,notrealizingthattheirrightflankwasindanger.OnMay15theFrenchevacuatedNamur,andonMay16theBritishfellbackonBrussels.

WeheardthesoundoftheheavygunsinBrussels,andsawmoreandmoreBritishtroopscomingintothedefenseoftheBelgiancapital.BythattimetheSeventhFrenchArmy,whichhadbeensenttooperateintheZeelandpartofHolland,wasobligedtowithdrawtoAntwerp.Itsablecommander,GeneralGiraud,waslatercapturedbytheGermans.

OnMay17IleftBrussels,whichnowwasinthewarzone.ThesamedaytheBritishtroopsfellbacktotheDendreRiver,adaylatertotheScheldtRiver,wheretheyofferedheroicresistance.OnlyonMay20didtheygiveuptheirpositionsontheScheldt.TheythenfellbackontheLys,theriverwheretheyfoughtsowell23and22yearsago.TheirsubsequentretreatandevacuationviaDunkerqueistoowellknowntoneeddescriptionhere.WhiletheBritishputupamagnificentfight,thebehavioroftheFrenchdivisionswasirregular.ThoughsomedisappointedthefriendsofFrance,othersupheldthebestFrenchtraditions,andoneheardofdecimatedregimentsandcompaniesofferingresistanceoverandoveragaintotheinvaders.ButnobodycouldmakegoodthemistakecommittedbytheBritishandFrenchGeneralStaffsinunwiselysendingtheirtroopstoofarintoBelgium,andnothingcouldrepairtheBelgiancatastropheontheMeuseinthefirsthoursofthecampaign.

LetmenowrevertbrieflytothecausesofthedefeatoftheNetherlandArmy.TheDutch,

unliketheBelgians,foughtreallyheroically.WheninFebruaryofthisyearIvisitedtheDutchdefenses,oneofthehighofficerstoldmeconfidentiallythattheDutchexpectedtoholdouttwodaysonthefirstline,twodaysonthesecondtheGrebbeLineandthataltogethertheyhopedtoresisttheattackerforsixorsevendays.Theykeptthetimetableinthefirstfivedays(exceptonlyatMaastricht)andcapitulatedonlyafterthefifth.Bythattimefifthcolumnactivitieshadweakenedtheirresistance,especiallyintherear,andnomoresuppliescouldreachthefightingforces.

ThefifthcolumninHollandwasorganizedinpartdirectlybytheGermans,inpartbytheDutchNazisundertheleadershipofA.MussertandRostvanTonningenworkingwiththeGermans.Mussertwasamanofsmallabilities;thedeputyleader,RostvanTonningen,formerlyLeagueofNationsCommissionerforAustria,wasanambitiousandmoreablemanwhocoperatedverycloselywithBaronvonHahn,anofficialoftheGermanLegationinTheHague.

BaronvonHahnwastheputschexpertoftheGermanNazis.HehadfledfromAustriaafterhelpingtoorganizetheputschwhichendedChancellorDollfussslife.HewasaskedtoleavehispostsinHungaryandBelgium,buttheunfortunateDutchGovernmentallowedhimtobeinstalledasamemberoftheGermanLegationatTheHague.Thereheexploitedtothefullthepacifismoftherulinghouseandoftherulingclass.QueenWilhelminaspacifismmadehersympathizewiththeOxfordMovement.TherepresentativeofthatmovementforScandinaviaandHollandanAmerican,theReverendMr.BlakewasnotonlypopularinhighsocietyinTheHague,butwasseenincompanywithBaronvonHahn.AnotherandunsuspectinglinkbetweentheNazisandDutchhighercircleswasPrinceBernhard,agoodfriendoftheGermanMinister,HerrvonZech.

Inall,theGermanLegationinTheHaguehad43membersentitledtoextraterritorialprivileges,fiveofthemwiththerankofcounsellors.Inaddition,therewerethestaffsoftheGermanconsulatesinTheHagueandotherDutchtowns.Intheseheadquarterstheplansforfifthcolumnactivitiesweremadeandfromthemthevariousordersweredistributed.Inaddition,theGermanshadablejournaliststohelpintheirpropagandawork.ToTheHaguetheysentHerrAschmann,theformerChiefofthePressBureauintheWilhelmstrasse;andthepresentGermanpresschief,Dr.Dietrich,repeatedlyvisitedAmsterdam.

TheDutchNazishadtheirrepresentativesinthearmy,navy,airforce,meteorologicalinstitute,aswellashereandtherethroughoutthegovernmentoffices;inadditionfifthcolumnistsinlargenumbersweresupplieddirectfromGermanyintheformoftouristsandbusinessmen.Someofthesewereactuallycamouflagedsoldiers.Thus,justpriortotheoutbreakofhostilitiesthreelargeRhinebargesarrivedinRotterdam,supposedlyladenwithGermangoods.InrealitytheycontainedGermansoldierswhoonthemorningofMay10spreadouttoundertakevariousassignedjobsinthecity.ThesefirsttroopsweresoonreinforcedbyNaziofficersandnoncommissionedofficersarrivingontransportplanes.IncoperationwithparachutistsandDutchNazififthcolumniststheycapturedasectionofRotterdamandtheaerodromeofWaalhaven.DesperateattemptsweremadebytheDutch,andlaterbytheBritish,totakeWaalhavenback.ButevenwiththehelpoftheR.A.F.theyneversucceeded.

InBelgium,wherethefifthcolumnwasnotorganizedonthesamescaleasintheNetherlands,manyparachutistswereshotdowndescendingfromtheair;thefewwholandedunnoticedinwoodsduringthecoverofthenightprovednomoredangerousthanfifthcolumnistsalreadypresentinthecountry.Afterall,residentfifthcolumnistscandestroyrailroadjunctionsandstoresandputcommunicationsoutoforderevenmoreeffectivelythanparachutists.Theparachutistsbecomedeadlywhentheycanbeadvertisedtosuchanextentthattheycreateapsychosis.InBrusselsandotherBelgiantownsIsawpeopleshoutingparachutistsataswallow,andthepoliceandsoldierswouldhavetoabandonimportantjobstoscourtheneighborhood.

NorweretheGermansparticularlysuccessfulwiththeirtrooptransportplanesintheNetherlandsexceptincaseswheretheymanagedtolandonanuncontestedflyingfieldwithfifthcolumnistsreadyintheneighborhoodtohelp.ManyoftheJunkertroop-transports,verybulkyandheavy,werewreckedbyantiaircraftgunfireorbymishapsinlandingonthesoftDutchsoil.

ThecausesoftheGermansuccessesintheNetherlands,asinBelgiumandNorthernFrance,werepartlysuperiorityinnumbersofplanesandtanks,partlybetterarmament,suchasdouble-breastedarmorplateontanksandrapidfirelarge-caliberantitankguns.Butallthis,Ibelieve,wouldnothaveavailedthemhadtheynotalreadyenlistedotheralliesincompetence,treasonandfifthcolumnsympathizers.

Backoftheseimmediatefactorswas,inthecaseofHolland,theoneIhavementionedalreadythefactthattheDeGeergovernmentalwaysfollowedapolicyofabsolute,consistentandblindneutrality.Itrefusedtotreatonmilitaryandpoliticalmatters,notonlywithEnglandandFrance,butevenwithBelgium.

InBelgiumthemethodsemployedbytheGermansweresimilar.Theyaimedatunderminingcivilgovernmentandatcreatingunrestinthearmyandairforceaswellasamongthepolice.Theyalsopromotedpacifism.KingLeopoldwasaweakandsentimentalman,affectedbyamelancholystraininheritedfrombothhisfatherandhismother.HismothersBavarianfamilyhadproducedmanygiftedbutabnormalpeople,amongthemLouisIIofBavariaandtheEmpressElisabethofAustria.HealsodislikedtheEnglishintensely.DuringtheWorldWarhewasanexileinEngland,anditisanacceptedaxiomthataforeignerlearnseithertoloveortohateEnglandinanEnglishpublicschool.Leopoldwasnotasuccessinhisschooldays,andnevergotoverit.ThefriendshipofabrilliantGermanladyalsohelpedtoincreasehispro-Germansympathies.SodidtheadviceofGeneralvanOverstraeten,hisaide-de-camp,whoalwayscounselledhimtoblindneutrality.TheRomanCatholicPremier,HubertPierlot,andtheSocialistForeignMinister,Paul-HenriSpaak,weredefinitelypacifists.BothalsoopposedmilitaryunderstandingswithBritainandFrance.TheyfoughtwithallthemeansattheirdisposaltomaintainBelgianneutrality.ThissuitedtheGermansperfectly.

AllthesecurrentsofpacifismwereofcourseexploitedbyGermanagents.OttoAbetz,thewell-knownGermanagentwhohadsuchapartininfluencingvariousFrenchpoliticiansandisnowHitlersdiplomaticrepresentativeinFrance,wasveryactiveinBelgiumalso,bothinspreadingpropagandaandindistributingfunds.Attheoutbreakofthewar,AbetzwentbacktoBerlintobecometheheadofthepropagandasectionagainstFrance.Hiscolleague,Liebe,thentookoverthemanagementofGermanpropagandainBelgium.

TheGermansalsonaturallyusedthepro-NazielementsamongtheGermanminoritiesinEupen,MalmdyandSt.Vith.TheyexploitedtothefullthedivergencesbetweentheFlemishandtheWalloonpopulations,andgavemoralandfinancialsupporttotheFlemishextremists,theV.N.V.undertheleadershipofDeclerq,aswellastotheFrench-languageFascistmovementoftheRexists,ledbyLonDegrelle.

IfinthecaseofbothcountriesIhaveseemedtooveremphasizetherleofenemyagentsanddomesticsympathizersandpawns,thisisbecausetheiractivitieswerebetterorganizedthaninotherwarsinmoderntimesandbecausetheyweresoastoundinglysuccessful.Idonotunderestimatetheotherfactors.IonlysaythattheorganizingskillandlavishexpendituresofNaziGermanysagentscontributeddirectlytothedefeatoftheNetherlands,Belgiumand,subsequently,France.

ChapterIIFortEbenEmaelTheGermaninvasionofBelgiumattheoutbreakofWorldWarIcon

firmedGeneralBrialmontsearlierassessmentin1887thatafortwasnecessarytoprotectthetownofVisethroughwhichGeneralvonGluckspowerfulFirstArmysweptinAugust1914.However,ofequalimportancewasaforttodominatethebridgesconnectingBelgiumandHollandoverthenewlycreatedAlbertCanal.

Thiswasinauguratedon30May1930,connectingAntwerpwithLiegebyamodern,uninterruptedwaterwaywithinBelgiumsnationalboundaries.TheactualsiteforthenewfortwasdeterminedbythecourseoftheAlbertCanalitself.ThisbeganattheLanayelocksontheMeuseRiverandranthroughachannelcarvedoutofamassivehillfeatureknownasMountStPeterthatwassome40mhighanddominatedthesurroundingterrainasfarastheGermanborder.KnownastheCastercuttingandsome1,300mlong,itwasaremarkableengineeringfeatbythestandardsofthedayanditshighsheersidescreatedanaturaldefensivepositionontheheights.

Planningforthefortcontinuedthrough1931andconstructionbeganon1April1932,underthesupervisionofCommandantJeanMercieroftheCorpsofEngineers.Majorworkswerecompletedin1935whenthefortwasdeclaredoperational,althoughmodificationsandimprovementscontinueduntilMay1940.Thefortresswasshapedlikeadiamondwiththenarrowestpointatitsnortherntipsome40mabovethesurroundingterrainanddirectedtowardsthecityofMaastricht.Fromnorthtosouthitwassome900mlongand700mwidewithanareaofapproximately66hectares(theequivalentof70Americanfootballpitches)ofwhichsome40werefairlylevelground.Itwasherethatthefortsmainweaponsystemsweresituated.Tothenorth-east,thefortresswasprotectedbythesheerfaceoftheCastercutting.TothewestlaytheGeerRiver,whichallowedtheapproachesfromthatdirectiontobeflooded.Inaddition,a450m-long,lOm-wideconcrete-linedanti-tankditchwasdugalongthesideofthefortthatransouthwardsfromtheAlbertCanal.Thisanti-tankditchwasrenderedagreaterobstacletotanksandinfantrybybeingfilledwithwaterfedfromtheGeerRiver.A10m-wide,4m-deepconcreteantitankditchwithextensivebarbed-wireentanglementsandsteelanti-tankobstaclesborderedthesouthernflanksofthefortressandcoveredallapproaches.Needlesstosay,allthesedefenceswerecoveredbyfirefromvariousblockhouseslocatedaroundtheperimeterofthefortressatgroundlevel.

Theblockhouses

Atthesouth-westernpointofthefortresswasBloc1.Thistwo-storeystructurewastheonlyentranceintotheheartofthefortress.Itwasarmedwithtwo60mmanti-tankgunsandthreemachineguns,aswellastwosearchlights.Theentranceitselffeaturedaheavygate,andtheroadwayintothefortressincorporatedaretractablewoodensectionthatcreateda4m-deepgapimpassabletomenandvehicles.Thisinturnwasprotectedbyafurthermachine-gunemplacementinaprotectiveembrasuretoengageanyenemythatpenetratedtheouterdefences.Anyonewhotriedtoscalethegapintheroadwaycouldalsobeeliminatedbygrenadesdroppedthroughspecialslotsinthewall.ThefieldsoffireoftheweaponsofBloc1interlockedwiththoseofBlocs2and6tocovertheapproachesfromthesouthandwest.OntopofBloc1wasanarmouredobservationdomecoveringthesurroundingterrain.ThemanpowerforBloc1comprisedfiveNCOsand23soldiers.Bloc2waslocatedsome200mnorthofBloc1,andwassituatedattheheadofthewater-filledanti-tankditchonthewesternflankofthefortress.Italsowasarmedwithtwo60mmanti-tankweaponsandthreemachineguns,aswellastwosearchlightsandanarmouredobservationdomeontop.Inaddition,itfeaturedasallyporttoallowpersonneltocounterattackfromtheposition.ThefieldsoffireofBloc2extendedfromtheAlbertCanaltothenorthandBloc1tothesouth.TheguncrewofBloc2numberedfourNCOsand22soldiers.Althoughplanned,therewasnoBloc3,buttwospecialemplacementswerebuiltonthebanksoftheAlbertCanalcoveringtheapproachesalongthewaterwayanditstowpaths.Theseweretwo-storeystructuresbuiltintothesheerwalloftheCastercutting.TheywereknownasCanalNordandCanalSudand,beingsome800mapart,theyweremutuallysupporting.CanalNordwasarmedwitha60mmanti-tankgun,onemachinegunandasearchlightcoveringtheAlbertCanaltowardsthevillageandbridgeatKanne,andtwomachinegunspointingintheotherdirectiontowardstheianayelocksandCanalSud.Thelatterhadthesameweaponsbutwiththeconversearrangementofits60mmanti-tankguncoveringtheLanayelocksandMeuseRiver.

BothemplacementsfeaturedanarmouredobservationdomeontopincorporatingfiringportsforanFM30machinegunandaflaregun,eitherforsignallingorilluminatingthecanal.ThesedomeswereconsiderablylargerthanBloc6completedtheringofgunemplacementscirclingthefortress,anditcouldalsoonlyfireinonedirection,towardsBloc1.Itwasarmedwithtwo60mmanti-tankguns,twomachineguns,andasearchlight.Italsohadanarmouredobservationdome.Thelatterweighed6,700kgwithaheightof150cmandaninteriordiameterof80cm,whichgaveonlysufficientroomforasingleobserver.Thearmourthicknesswas20cm,andeachdomeincorporatedfourobservationslitsofarmouredglassthatcouldbecoveredwithmetalshutters.Thedomewasdesignedtobeproofagainstartilleryburstsofupto22cmcalibre.Thesearchlightswereoftwotypesandwerehousedinarevolvingarmouredcylinder.TheWillocq-Bottinmodelhadaneffectiverangeof225mandtheGZ33typearangeof700m.Bloc6hadacrewofthreeNCOsand17soldiers.

ThegunemplacementsTheseperimeterdefencesweredesignedtothwartattackfromanydirection,butthefundamentalpurposeofthefortresswasasanimpregnableartillerybatterythatdominatedthesurroundingterrainasfarastheGermanborder.Tothisend,avarietyofgunemplacementswerelandscapedintothetopsuperstructureofthefortress.

AsthethreebridgesovertheAlbertCanalcarryingtheroadsandtheirapproachesfromtheDutchtownofMaastrichtweretheprioritytargetsforthefort,twocasemates,eachcontainingthree75mmquick-firingcannons,wereconfiguredintheirdirection.TheywereknownasMaastricht1andMaastricht2.Maastricht1waslandscapedintothehillynorth-westernflankofthefortress,whileMaastricht2wasontopofthesuperstructure.Thelatteralsoincorporated

TheprincipalweaponsystemsofFortEbenEmaelwerethefourtriple75mmguncasematescoveringthetownsofMaastrichtandVise.NoneoftheotherfortsinthePositionFortifieedeLiegehadsuchgunemplacements.Thelatterwereconfiguredonthreelevelswiththemainammunitionmagazinesontheintermediatelevelofthefortressseparatedfromtheactualgunemplacementbytwopairsofarmoureddoubledoors.Theammunitionroundsweretransportedfromthemagazinesbyhandcartsthroughthearmoureddoorsandbymeansofliftstothelowergalleryofthegunemplacement.This

levelcontainedtheammunitionstoreroomsandpreparationareasfortheroundssuchascleaningandfusingaswellasthelatrinesfortheguncrewthatcomprisedfiveNCOsand28soldiers.Theroundswerethenpasseduptothetoplevelbythreeliftstwoofwhichweresituatedinthecentreofthestairwellthatallowedthecrewaccesstothegunroom.

The75mmquick-firinggunswerebasedontheKrupp1905modelthathadbeeninservicewiththeBelgianarmysincebeforetheGreatWar.Thegunshadafieldoffireinazimuthof70degreeswithanelevationof-5to+37degrees.TheyhadamaximumrangeofIIkmandarateoffireoftenroundsaminutepergun.RoyalesdeCanons)75mmgunwasspeciallydesignedforthisweaponsystem.Withanelevationof-8to+38degrees,ithadarangeof10kmandamaximumrateoffireof25roundsaminute,withasustainedrateofhalfthat.Thegunsfiredtwotypesofhighexplosivesandaspecialcanisterround.Similartoagiantshotguncartridge,thelatterwasdesignatedBoiteaballes,andcontained205leadballseachof1.5cmdiameterforengagingpersonnelontopofthefortress.Witharangeof200m,itwasadevastatingweaponagainsttroopsintheopenanarmouredobservationdomeonitsrooftoallowdirectvisionovertheAlbertCanalandintotheMaastrichtenclave.However,bythetermsofBelgianneutrality,thegunswerenotallowedtofireontoDutchterritory.Thegunshadafieldoffireof70degrees,withanelevationof-5to+37degrees,arangeofllkmandarateoffireoftenroundsaminutepergun.ThereweretwosimilarcasematesconfiguredtofiretothesouthtowardsthetownofVisetocoverthebridgesacrosstheMeuseRiver.ThesecasemateswereknownasVise1andVise2.Again,Vise2waslandscapedintothesouthernflankofthefortresswhileVise1wasontop.ThesecasemateseachhadacrewoffiveNCOsand28soldiers,althoughMaastricht2hadanadditionalthreepersonnelwhoactedasobserversforEBEN3,thearmouredobservationdomeontopoftheposition.

Eachofthecasemateshadtwofloors,withtheuppergallerycontainingthethree75mmgunsandtheircrewsaswellastelephoniststorelaythefiredirectionordersfromthefortresscommandpost.Thegunnersofthesecasemateshadlimiteddirectvisionwiththeoutsideworldandreliedonpreplannedfireordersthatgavethebearingandelevationtoengagetherequisitetarget,beitabridgeoranapproachroad.Onthelowerfloorweretheammunitionstoreandtheliftmechanismstoconveytheroundstotheguns.Thecasemateswerebuiltofreinforcedconcreteupto2.75mthick,capableofsustainingprolongedbombardmentfrom22cmartilleryroundsandallcontemporaryaerialbombs.Furthermore,thechancesofbeingstruckthroughthebombingtechniquesofthedaywerenegligible,andreducedfurtherbythecleverlandscapingofthecasemates,whichwerepaintedtoconformwiththesurroundingvegetationandconcealedbehindpermanentcamouflagenettingtodisguisethemfromaerialobservationbyreconnaissanceaircraft.Throughoutthelate1930scivilianJu52sofLufthansa,theGermannationalairline,regularlycarriedaerialcamerastophotographinstallationsofinteresttotheGermanHighCommandacrossEurope,includingFortEbenEmael.

Whilethesefourcasemateswereconfiguredtobombardthespecifictargetsofthebridgestothenorthandsouthofthefortress,therewerefurthergunemplacementstoengagetargetsofopportunity.Twoofthesewereheavilyarmouredretractablecupolasarmedwithtwin75mmguns.ThesewereknownasCoupoleNordandCoupoleSudduetotheirgeographicallocationontopofthefortress.Despiteitsname,CoupoleNordwaslocatedonthesouth-easterntipofthefortresswherethediamondshapeisatitsbroadest.Itstwin,

CoupoleSud,wasinstalledaboveBloc5atthesouthernmostpointofthefortress.Bothemplacementswerecapableof360-degreerotationtoallowtheir75mmgunstofireinanydirection.Onagivenfiremission,thearmouredcupolarose53cmoutofthegroundtorevealitstwin75mmgunsandtheaimingperiscopeinbetween.Oncethefiremissionwascomplete,thecupolasankintothegroundwhereitsarmouredcarapacemadeitimmunetoattackbyconventionalexplosives.Theoutershellwasasinglearmouredcasting38cmthick,withtwoinnerlayersofsteelplates,each2.5cmthick,interspersedwithafeltmateriallining.Thisconfigurationreducedtheshockeffectontheinsidefollowinganyexplosionontheexteriorofthecupola.Theinteriorwasalsosealedagainstgasattack.TheguncrewcomprisedthreeNCOsand22soldiers.

Therevolvingcupolaandgunroomweighed120tonsandwasraisedbyacounterweight,withthepowerforelevationandrotationprovidedbyelectricmotorswithamanualoverrideincaseofmalfunction.Fivemenoperatedtheguns,twoloaderspergunandagunlayerseatedbetweenthemmanningtheperiscopeandreceivingfireordersthroughhisheadphones.

TheModele1934FRC(FonderiesAboveeachgunwasatelescopicsightfordirectvisionofthefortressroofincaseofinfantryattackbutmostartilleryengagementsreliedonpreplannedfireordersthatgavethebearingandelevationtoengagetherequisitetargetbeitabridgeoranapproachroad.ThistypeoffiremissionwasknownasfeudinterdictionasitwasintendedtodenyalltheapproachesoftheAlbertCanalbridgestotheenemy.Thefireorderscamefromthecommandpostandwererelayedtotheguncrewbytwotelephonistsintheupperlevel.The75mmgunsfiredthreetypesofroundswithtwobeinghighexplosiveandtheothercanister.Theearliermodel75mmHEroundhadarangeof8kmandcontained800gofexplosivewhilethelaterroundhadarangeofIIkmandcontained650gofexplosive.Accordingly,theseroundswerenotheavyenoughtocauseanyseriousdamagetothebridgesthemselves;forthisreasonthebridgeswereriggedwithdemolitionchargesiftheirdestructionwasnecessary.Thethirdtypeofroundwasacanisterroundthatcontained234I2gleadballsforengagingtroopsintheopen.Thecasemateswerebuiltofreinforcedconcreteupto2.75mthickcapableofsustainingprolongedbombardmentfrom22cmartilleryroundsandallcontemporaryaerialbombs.Theexteriorswerepaintedingreenandbrownstripesandallthegunemplacementsweremaskedfromaerialobservationbycamouflagenetting.

Atthelevelbelowthegunroom,theammunitionwaspreparedby14soldiersandanNCOandthenloadedintohoiststhatservedtheguns.Thethirdlevelcomprisedamachineryroomtopowerthecupolawithanelectricianandthreeotherartificersinattendance.Thefourthandlastlevelhousedthemainammunitionmagazine,wheretensoldiersandanNCOretrievedthetypesandquantitiesofroundsrequiredbythegunroom.Theseweretransportedbyhandcartstotheammunitionliftsthatconveyedthemtothesecondlevel.Thetwocupolaswerethusabletoengagetargetsanywherewithina10kmradiusandeventargetsonthefortressitself.CoupoleNordalsoincorporatedanarmoureddoorwithanintegralmachineguntocovertheopenspacesatopthefortressandallowacounter-attackintheunlikelyeventofenemytroopsmanagingtogaintheground.ItcannotbesaidthatthedesignersofFortEbenEmaeldidnotforeseetheneedtodefendthetopofthefortressfrominfantryattack.

TwoadditionalgunemplacementsnamedMi-NordandMi-Sudreaffirmedthis:Mistandingformitrailleuseormachinegun.Theirdesignationrevealstheirverypurpose-thedefenceofthetopofthefortressagainstenemyinfantry.Mi-Nordwaslocatedtothenorth-eastofthefortress,withmostofitsgunsdominatingthelevelgroundtothesouth.ItwasconnectedtoMi-Sudtothesouth-westbyanearthrampartandbarbedwireentanglements.Mi-NordwasalsoconnectedbyanearthramparttotheVise1casematetothesoutheast.TheseearthrampartsorbermsweredesignedtoobscureanydirectvisionfromthetopofMountStPeter,whichwasslightlyhigherthanFortEbenEmael.Accordingly,noobserverordirectfireweapononthehillwasabletoseeorfireatanyofthegunemplacementsontopofthefort.Mi-Nordfeaturedthreemachinegunsandtwosearchlights,aswellasanarmouredobservationdomeknownasEBEN2thatallowedunimpededvisionovertheAlbertCanaltothenorthandtowardsitsvitalbridges.LikeEBEN1and3,thisdomeincorporatedarevolvingperiscopemanufacturedbytheFrenchfirmSocietedOptiqueMecanique,whichwasalsousedontheMaginotLine.OneofMi-NordsmachinegunspointednorthwardstowardstheAlbertCanal,withanadditionalmachinegunprotectingthearmouredentrancedoortothebunkerthatallowedtroopstoexitandmountacounter-attackifnecessary.Mi-Sudwassimilarlyconfiguredbuthadanadditionalsearchlight.Theinterlockingfireofthesemachineguns,combinedwiththedeadlycanisterroundsofthe75mmgunemplacements,wasmorethansufficienttodealwithanyenemytroopsontopofthefortress,evenatnightwhentheywouldbeilluminatedbythevarioussearchlights.BesidethethreepersonnelmanningEBEN2,Mi-NordhadacrewofthreeNCOsand12soldiers,whileMi-SudhadacrewofthreeNCOsand11soldiers.

Inaddition,atthesouthernendofthefortresswasananti-aircraftgunemplacementcomprisingfourMaxim7.65mmmachineguns(MICAorMitrailleusecontreavions)witheachinaseparateopengunpitsome25mapart.Inthemiddleofthepositionwasasmallhutwithatelephoneoperatorwhowasconnectedtothecommandpost.TheMICAcrewcomprisedoneofficer,fourNCOsand13soldiers.AlsonearbywasalargewoodenbuildingknownasBaraqueGraindorgethatactedasaworkshopforthearmourersformtheFoneriesRoyalesdeCanonswhoservicedthegunsofthevariouscasematesandcupolas.AnadditionaltwomachinegunswereheldintheMICAhut,withanothertwoatthegarrisonaccommodationbarracksinthevillageofWonck,ManyofthemachinegunsdefendingthefortresswereversionsoftheMaxim08and08/15thatwerethespoilsofwarfromGermany.MAE{ManufacturedArmesde1Etat)modifiedthesetofiretheBelgian7.65mmround.Aspecialreversiblemountingincorporatingtwomachineguns,oneovertheother,wasdesignedforinstallationinforts.Thisallowedsustainedfiring,withonegunbeingreloadedwitha250-roundammunitionbeltastheothercontinuedfiring.Theemptycartridgecaseswereejecteddownatubeintoacontainerfilledwithacausticsodasolutiontoreducethebuild-upoftoxicfumesfromthespentrounds.AlltheseaspectsareindicativeoftheattentiontodetailbythedesignersforthedefenceofFortEbenEmael.

Butthatwasnotall.LocatedcentrallyatopthefortresswasitsheaviestarmamentofamassivearmouredcupolamountingtwinFRCModele31120mmguns.UnlikeCoupolesNordandSud,itwasnotretractablebutinsteadfeaturedtwoembrasuresinthemassivecastingforthetwo120mmguns.ThisgaverisetoitsnameofCoupole120.Thearmouredcupolawas5.75mindiameterandweighed230tons.Itwasanchoredinahugereinforcedconcretepitwithanadditional210tonsofarmourplateprotectingtheactualgunroom.1

Coupole120rotatedthrough360degreeson36conicalrollerstoallowfiringinanydirection.Thearmoureddomecompriseda21cm-thickoutersteelalloyshellattachedtoa4cmironshell,followedbya5cmthicklayeroffeltpaddingandanother4cmironshell,towhichwasattachedthe25cm-thickinnersteelalloyshellgivinganoverallthicknessof59cm.Thecupolawasonthreedifferentlevels,withthegunroomatthetopandthegunsdividingitdownthemiddle.Thecommanderwaslocatedontheright-handside,fromwherehecouldobservethroughthecupolaperiscope.Withhimwasagunlayerwhooperatedtheelevationcontrolsandmaintainedtheright-handgun.Ontheothersidewasanothergunlayer,wholaidthegunsinazimuthandmaintainedtheleft-handguntogetherwithatelephonistrelayingthefiremissionfromthecommandpost.Onthemiddlelevelwerethehydraulicpumpsandramstopowertheheavycupolaanditsweapons,aswellas11soldierstopacktheseparatedammunitionandsetthefuses.OnthebottomlevelwasanNCOandanotherfoursoldiers,whocollectedthevariousprojectilesandchargesfromtheammunitionmagazineandpassedthemupwardsbyhoists.Coupole120hadacrewoffourNCOsand24soldiers.

Theseparatedammunitioncomprisedtheprojectileandashellcasecontainingthepropellant.Therangetotargetwasthusacombinationoftheelevationofthegunandtheamountofpropellantpackedintotheshellcase.Twotypesofhigh-explosiveprojectileswereused.Thefirstwasa22kgroundcontainingcontactfusingofvariousdelaysdependingonwhetherdetonationwasrequiredonthesurfaceofatargetorafterpenetration.Theexplosivecontentwas2.875kgandwascolourcodedinyellow.Thesecondtypeofprojectilewasblueincolourandweighed20kg.Itcontained2kgofexplosivesandwasdesignedasanairburstweaponagainsttroopsintheopen.Theshell

casehadamaximumweightof13kgandhelduptofivechargebagsofnitrocellulosepropellant.Coupole120hadamaximumrangeof17.5kmandwasthusabletoengagetargetsasfarastheGermanborder,aswellasgivingmutualsupportingfiretoseveralofthefortsinthePFLtothesouth.ItwasobviouslycapableofsupplementingthevolumeoffireofthefixedcasematesintheirprimarymissionofdestroyingthethreebridgesoftheAlbertCanal.However,oneofitsprincipalroleswastoprovidecounter-batteryfireagainstthekindofsiegeartillerythathadbeenthecauseofthedemiseoftheLiegefortsin1914.Assiegeartilleryhowitzersarerelativelyshort-rangeweaponsthatrelyonhigh-angleplungingfirefortheirdevastatingeffecttheywouldbecomevulnerabletothelongreachofCoupole120.However,thesepowerfulweaponsrequiredperiodiccoolingduringsustainedfiremissions,andtherewasnoprovisionforwater-cooling.Accordingly,therateoffirewasnotionallyrestrictedtonomorethantworoundsperminuteforthefirstfiveminutesandoneroundevery40secondsforthenext15minutes.Toconfusehostileaerialreconnaissance,threedummycupolassimilarindimensionstoCoupole120werelocatedatopthefortresswithtwoatthenorth-westandonetotheeastneartheobservationpostEBEN1overlookingtheAlbertCanalandtheLanayelocks.Theseweresimplysheetsteeldomesonaconcretebase,butfromtheairtheywereindistinguishablefromCoupole120.

ArmoureddoorsAnotherlessondrawnfromtheexperiencesofWorldWarIandthefateoftheBrialmontfortswasthatinsteadofgroupingallthemajorweaponsandammunitionmagazinesincloseproximity,allthecasematesandcupolasofFortEbenEmaelwerewelldispersed,withmostbeingatleast150mapartandtheirammunitionmagazinesburieddeepinthebowelsofthefortressitself.Intheunlikelyeventthatanindividualcasematewasdestroyedorinvestedbygroundattack,itscrewcouldwithdrawtoalowerlevelandsealoffthefallenpositionentirelyfromtheinteriorofthefortress.Thiswasachievedbyasystemofheavilyarmoureddoors.Thesecameintwopairsthatwere2mapart,withbothsetsofdoorsclosinginwardsonthemselves.Betweenthetwopairsofdoorswereslotstoaccommodateaseriesof20cmsteelgirdersthatthenformedanothercompletebarrierbehindthepairofdoorsclosesttothecasemate.Thegapbetweenthesteelgirderbarrierandthesecondpairofdoorswasthenfilledwithsandbags.Finally,theinsidedoorswereclosedandlocked,creatinganobstaclethatwasvirtuallyimmunetoconventionalexplosives,thusdenyinganenemyanyaccesstotheinteriorofthefortressifacasemateshouldactuallyfall.Ordinarily,onesetofdoorswasfreeofgirdersandsandbagstoallowaccessfortheguncrewtothecasemateandthefreepassageofammunition.Themagazineswerelocatedbeloweachgunemplacement.Therewere2,000120mmrounds,19,20075mmroundsand6,00060mmroundsavailableforthevariousguns.

CaserneSouterraineThedefencesofBloc1havebeenrecountedabove,butoncepastthere

movablewoodenroadwaythereweredecontaminationroomstotherightfortroopswhomayhavebeenexposedtogasattack.Nexttherewasthemachine-gunembrasureandarmoureddoorthatbarredentrytothefortressitself.Thiscomprisedagallerysome200mlongwithvariousworkshops,fuelstores,thepenitentiary,andseparatelatrinesforofficersandotherranks.Therethencameaslightbendtotheleftwiththeelectricalpowerplantimmediatelyontheright.Thiscomprisedsixdiesel-poweredgeneratorsof140KVAeach,

ofwhichanytwowassufficienttoprovidethepowerneedsofthefortressatanyonetime.Thecoolingwaterfromthegeneratorswasusedforthecentralheatingsystemandtoheattheshowersforthetroops.Theirwashroomswerelocatednearbyandbeyondthemwerethekitchen,canteenandassociatedstorerooms,aswellasthefortresscommandersadministrativeofficesandthebarbersshop.Therewassufficientfuelandfoodtolastthegarrisonfortwomonths.

Anintersectiondividedthegallerywiththehospital,operatingtheatre,anddentalsurgerytotheleftandaccesstothemainstaircaseandelevatorstotheintermediatelevelontheright,aswellastheextensiveaccommodationfacilitiesfortheofficersandotherranks.Accesstotheintermediatelevelwasthroughhermeticallysealedarmoureddoorsandviaa116-stepstaircasewithanelevationof21m.Theelevatorstotheintermediatestagewereonlyusedforofficersandammunition.Theotherrankswereobligedtousethestaircaseandwalkeverywherethroughoutthefortress,whereastheofficerswereallowedtousebicyclestoventurefrompointtopoint.Theintermediatelevelcomprisedalltheinterconnectinggalleriesandtunnelstothevariousgunemplacementsandcasematesofthefortress,withatotallengthofsome4kmunderground.Atvariousintersections,thereweremachine-gunpostsinarmouredembrasurestodominateallavenues,makinganyenemyinfiltrationasuicidalmission.Alsoontheintermediatelevelwerethemaininletsforthefortsairventilationsystem.TheseweresituatedonthesheerwalloftheCastercuttingoverlookingtheAlbertCanal.Theairwasventedthroughaseriesoffiltersasprotectionagainstpoisonousgas.Thepurifiedairwasthenfedintothefortressatatmosphericoverpressuretofurtherinhibittheingressofnoxiousgasesandprecludethegarrisonfromhavingtoweargasmasksduringcombataction.ThemajorexhaustoutletfortheventilationsystemandpowerplantwaslocatedaboveandbehindBloc1,equidistantbetweencasematesMaastrichtIandVise2.Alsoontheintermediatelevelwasthepastedecommandement,orcommandpost,fromwhereallthegunemplacementsonthetoplevelwereissuedfiremissionsbasedoninformationfromvariousobservationpostsontopofthefortressandinthesurroundingcountryside,aswellasotherarmyunitsintheregion.

Observationposts

ThemostimportantoftheseonthefortresswasBloc01althoughitwassituatedjustoutsidethemaincomplexoverlookingtheAlbertCanal,MeuseRiverandLanayelockswithaviewallthewaytotheGermanborder.ItsarmouredobservationdomewasdesignatedBEEN1.Fromitsdominatingposition,Bloc01wasabletoobserveallmovementoverawideareaasfarsouthasViseandthusprovidefiremissionsforVise1andVise2aswellasCoupoles120,NordandSudasnecessary.BesideEBEN1,itfeaturedone60rnmanti-tankgun,threemachineguns,andthreesearchlights.Bloc01hadacrewoffourNCOsand18soldiers,aswellasthreeobserversforEBEN1.EBEN2ontopofMi-NordhadafieldofviewnorthwardsovertheAlbertCanaltowardsthevillageofKanne,asdidEBEN3ontopofMaastricht2,althoughbeingatalowerelevationitsfieldofviewwasnotsoextensivenorthwards.Itdid,however,haveunimpededdirectvisionovermuchofthetopofthefortressandthuswasabletocoordinatetheresponsetoanyinfantryattackinthevicinity.ThesearmouredobservationdomesformedtheeyesofFortEbenEmaelandwerevitalforitsproperfunctioningasanartillerybattery.

Equallyimportantweretheobservationposts(OP)inthesurroundingcountryside.BlocPL19wasaconcretebunkerlocatedatHallembaye.Itincorporatedthreemachinegunsandanarmouredobservationdome.ItscrewcomprisedfourNCOs,and14soldiers.FacingthestrategicbridgeovertheAlbertCanalatKannewastheemplacementABRI0witha47mmanti-tankgun,amachinegun,asearchlight,andanarmouredobservationdome.IthadacrewofthreeNCOsandninesoldiers.Therewereanadditionalsixobservationposts,althoughthesewereinunprotectedpositions,eachwiththreepersonnel.AlleightoftheseOPswereconnectedbytelephonewiththecommandpostatFortEhenEmael.Therewerealso14foxholesdottedaroundthehighestpointsofthefort,eachwithtwoarmedmenwhoalsoactedasobserversforthefortressitself.Intimesofhighalert,theyweretobeequippedwithfieldtelephonestocommunicatewiththecommandpostincaseofattackorsuspiciousmovement.

Thegarrison

Thefullcomplementofthegarrisonwas1,322menunderthecommandofanartillerymajor.Manyoftheseweresupportandadministrativepersonnelresponsibleforthesmoothrunningofthefortress,includingspecialistarmourers,signallers,andmedicalstaff.Theactualguncrewswereallartillerymenandconsequentlyhadlittleinfantrytraining.DuringWorldWarI,everyforthaditsowncomplementofinfantry,but,duetomanpowershortages,thisprecautionhadlapsedduringtheinter-warperiod.Foradministrativesimplicitytheartillerymenweredividedintotwobatteries-lerBatterieand2eBatterie.ThepersonneloflerBatteriemannedthelong-rangeartillerywhilethe2eBatteriewasresponsiblefortheperimeterdefences.Thegarrisonrotateditspersonnelonaweeklybasissoatanyonetimetherewereapproximately750meninthefortress.However,whatwithleave,courses,illness,etal,thecomplementwasoftenless.Somehalfofthegarrisonwereobligedtosleepinsidethefortscrampedanddankinterior,withtheremainderbilletedinthesurroundingvillages,themajorityatWoncksome4kmaway.

Forthesamereason,apairoflargewoodenbuildingswasconstructedjustoutsidetheentranceatBloc1tohousetheadministrativestaffandthecommandelementinmoreagreeablesurroundings.Intimeofwar,thebuildingsweretobeevacuatedandrazedtothegroundsoasnottoimpedethefieldsoffireofBlocs1and2.

Inall,thereweresome5kmofundergroundgalleriesandtunnelstoservethetotallyself-sufficientgarrison.Onfoot,ittook20minutestoreachBloc01fromtheentranceatBloc1,14minutestoMi-Nord,13minutestoCoupoleNord,seventoCoupoleSud,andnineminutestoreachtheMICAanti-aircraftpositionoverthetopofthefort.Tovisiteverypositiontooksomethreehoursofwalking.Thefortresscomprisedinallsome17powerfulgunemplacementswithtenontopandsevenaroundtheperimeter.AsoneBelgianofficer,ColonelAlbertTorreele,recalledofavisitfromtheEcoleRoyaleMilitairein1938:Anofficerofthegarrisonofthefortledustomanyoftheouterdefencesandshowedwhateachwasintendedfor.Wewenttothewallsandlookedoverthecountlessrowsofbarbedwire.Heledustotheonlydooronthesurfacesetdeepinconcrete.Itappearedliketheheavysteeldoorofabankvault.Fromhere[CoupoleNord]infantryinreservewouldissuetorepelanyenemyfortunateenoughtogetbythetoughgrounddefences.

Hetookusdeepintotheinteriorandwetrudgedmanymilestotheendofthetunnels,visitingthecrewsandthegunsoftheemplacementswehadseenonthesurface.Crewsgaveustheirmissionsanddetailedcharacteristicsoftheirguns.Allwasveryprofessional.Later,weassembledinthecommandpost.Thecommandantgaveadetailedaccountofhowheproposedtodefendthefortintheeventofanattack.Igottheimpressionoftremendouspowerandfirst-rateefficiency.Iwasconvincednothingcouldhappen!BynowFortEbenEmaelhadgainedaformidablereputation,asthefamousAmericanjournalistandhistorianWilliamLShirer,wroteatthetime:Thismodern,strategicallylocatedfortresswasregardedbyboththeAlliesandtheGermansasthemostimpregnablefortificationinEurope,strongerthananythingtheFrenchhadbuiltintheMaginotLineortheGermansintheWestWall.

ChapterIIIBattleforEben-EmaelTheBattleofFortEben-EmaelwasabattlebetweenBelgianandGerman

forcesthattookplacebetween10Mayand11May1940,andwaspartoftheBattleoftheNetherlands,BattleofBelgiumandFallGelb,theGermaninvasionoftheLowCountriesandFrance.AnassaultforceofGermanFallschirmjgerweretaskedwithassaultingandcapturingFortEbenEmael,aBelgianfortresswhoseartillerypiecesdominatedseveralimportantbridgesovertheAlbertCanalwhichGermanforcesintendedtousetoadvanceintoBelgium.AssomeoftheGermanairbornetroopsassaultedthefortressanddisabledthegarrisonandtheartillerypiecesinsideit,otherssimultaneouslycapturedthreebridgesovertheCanal.Havingdisabledthefortress,theairbornetroopswerethenorderedtoprotectthebridgesagainstBelgiancounter-attacksuntiltheylinkedupwithgroundforcesfromtheGerman18thArmy.

ThebattlewasadecisivevictoryfortheGermanforces,withtheairbornetroopslandingontopofthefortressviatheuseofglidersandusingexplosivesandflamethrowerstodisabletheouterdefencesofthefortress.TheFallschirmjgerthenenteredthefortress,killinganumberofdefendersandcontainingtherestinthelowersectionsofthefortress.Simultaneously,therestoftheGermanassaultforcehadlandednearthethreebridges

overtheCanal,destroyedanumberofpillboxesanddefensivepositionsanddefeatedtheBelgianforcesguardingthebridges,capturingthemandbringingthemunderGermancontrol.Theairbornetroopssufferedheavycasualtiesduringtheoperation,butsucceededinholdingthebridgesuntilthearrivalofGermangroundforces,whothenaidedtheairbornetroopsinassaultingthefortressasecondtimeandforcingthesurrenderoftheremainingmembersofthegarrison.GermanforceswerethenabletoutilizetwobridgesovertheCanaltobypassanumberofBelgiandefensivepositionsandadvanceintoBelgiumtoaidintheinvasionofthecountry.ThebridgeatKannewasdestroyed.

On10May1940GermanylaunchedFallGelb,aninvasionoftheLowCountries.ByattackingthroughtheNetherlands,LuxembourgandBelgium,theGermanOberkommandoderWehrmachtbelievedthatGermanforcescouldoutflanktheMaginotLineandthenadvancethroughsouthernBelgiumandintonorthernFrance,cuttingofftheBritishExpeditionaryForceandalargenumberofFrenchforcesandforcingtheFrenchgovernmenttosurrender.TogainaccesstonorthernFrance,GermanforceswouldhavetodefeatthearmedforcesoftheLowCountriesandeitherbypassorneutralizeanumberofdefensivepositions,primarilyinBelgiumandtheNetherlands.Someofthesedefensivepositionswereonlylightlydefendedandintendedmoreasdelayingpositionsthantruedefensivelinesdesignedtostopanenemyattack.However,anumberofthemwereofamorepermanentdesign,possessingconsiderablefortificationsandgarrisonedbysignificantnumbersoftroops.TheGrebbe-PeelLineintheNetherlands,whichstretchedfromthesouthernshoreoftheZuiderZeetotheBelgianbordernearWeert,hadalargenumberoffortificationscombinedwithnaturalobstacles,suchasmarsh-landsandtheGeldValley,whichcouldeasilybefloodedtoimpedeanattack.TheBelgiandefencesconsistedofonedelayingpositionrunningalongtheAlbertCanal,andthenamaindefensivelinerunningalongtheRiverDyle,whichprotectedtheportofAntwerpandtheBelgiancapital,Brussels.

Thisdelayingpositionwasprotectedbyanumberofforwardpositionsmannedbytroops,exceptinasingleareawherethecanalranclosetotheDutchborder,whichwasknownastheMaastrichtAppendixduetotheproximityofthecityofMaastricht.TheBelgianmilitarycouldnotbuildforwardpositionsduetotheproximityoftheborder,andthereforeassignedaninfantrydivisiontoguardthethreebridgesoverthecanalinthearea,abrigadebeingassignedtoeachbridge.Thebridgesweredefendedbyblockhousesequippedwithmachine-guns,andartillerysupportwasprovidedbyFortEbenEmael,whoseartillerypiecescoveredeachofthetwobridges.HavingbecomeawareoftheBelgiandefensiveplan,whichcalledforBelgianforcestobrieflyholdthedelayingpositionsalongtheAlbertCanalandthenretreattolinkupwithBritishandFrenchforcesatthemaindefensivepositionsontheRiverDyle,theGermanHighCommandmadeitsownplanstodisruptthisandseizeandsecurethesethreebridges,aswellasanumberofotherbridgesinBelgiumandtheNetherlands,toallowtheirownforcestobreachthedefensivepositionsandadvanceintotheNetherlands.

BelgianPreparationTheBelgian7thInfantryDivisionwasassignedtoguardthethreebridges

overthecanal,supplementingthetroopswhogarrisonedFortEbenEmaelatthetimeofthebattle.Thebridgedefencesconsistedoffourlargeconcretepillboxesonthewestern

sideofthecanalperbridge,threeequippedwithmachine-gunsandafourthwithananti-tankgun;thebunkercontainingtheanti-tankgunwaspositionedclosetotheroadleadingfromthebridge,withonemachine-gunequippedbunkerimmediatelybehindthebridgeandtwoothersflankingthebridgeashortdistanceeitherside.Acompanypositionexistedonthewesternbankofthecanalbyeachofthebridges,withasmallobservationpostontheeasternsidewhichcouldbequicklyrecalled,andallthreebridgescouldbedestroyedwithdemolitionchargessetintotheirstructures,triggeredbyafiringmechanismsituatedintheanti-tankbunkers.FortEbenEmael,whichmeasured200by400yards(180by370m)hadbeenbuiltduringthe1930s,andcompletedby1935,byblastingtherequiredspaceoutofmarlandpossessedwallsandroofscomposedof5feet(1.5m)thickreinforcedconcrete,aswellasfourretractablecasematesandsixty-fourstrongpoints.

TheFortwasequippedwithsix120mmartillerypieceswitharangeoftenmiles,twoofwhichcouldtraverse360degrees;sixteen75mmartillerypieces;twelve60mmhigh-velocityanti-tankguns;twenty-fivetwinmountedmachine-guns;andanumberofanti-aircraftguns.Onesideofthefortfacedthecanal,whilsttheotherthreefacedlandandweredefendedbyminefields;deepditches;a20feet(6.1m)highwall;concretepillboxesfittedwithmachine-guns;fifteensearchlightsemplacedontopoftheFort;and60mmanti-tankguns.AlargenumberoftunnelsranbeneaththeFort,connectingindividualturretstothecommandcentreoftheFortandtheammunitionstores.TheFortalsopossesseditsownhospitalandanumberoflivingquartersforthegarrison,aswellasapowerstationthatprovidedelectricitytopowertheguns,provideinternalandexternalillumination,andtopowerthewirelessnetworkandair-purifyingsystemusedbythegarrison.Belgianplansdidnotcallforthegarrisonofthefortandtheattacheddefendingforcestofightasustainedbattleagainstanattackingforce;itwasassumedthatsufficientwarningofanattackwouldbegivensothatthedetachmentontheeasternsideofthecanalcouldbewithdrawn,thebridgesdestroyedandthegarrisonreadytofightadelayingaction.ThedefendingforcewouldthenretiretothemaindefensivepositionsalongtheRiverDyle,wheretheywouldlinkupwithotherAlliedforces.

GermanPreparation

TheairborneassaultonFortEbenEmaelandthethreebridgesithelpedprotectwaspartofamuchlargerGermanairborneoperationwhichinvolvedthe7thAirDivisionandthe22ndAirlandingDivision.The7thAirDivision,comprisingthreeparachuteregimentsandoneinfantryregiment,wastaskedwithcapturinganumberofriverandcanalbridgesthatledtotheDutchdefensivepositionscenteredaroundRotterdam,aswellasanairfieldatWaalhaven.The22ndAirlandingDivision,whichwascomposedoftwoinfantryregimentsandareinforcedparachutebattalion,wastaskedwithcapturinganumberofairfieldsinthevicinityofTheHagueatValkenburg,OckenburgandYpenburg.Oncetheseairfieldshadbeensecuredbytheparachutebattalion,therestofthedivisionwouldlandwiththeaimofoccupyingtheDutchcapitalandcapturingtheentireDutchgovernment,theRoyalFamilyandhigh-rankingmembersoftheDutchmilitary.ThedivisionwouldalsointerdictallroadsandrailwaylinesintheareatoimpedethemovementofDutchforces.TheintentionoftheGermanOKWwastousethetwoairbornedivisionstocreateacorridor,alongwhichthe18thArmycouldadvanceintotheNetherlandswithoutbeingimpededbydestroyedbridges.GeneralKurtStudent,whoproposedthedeploymentofthetwoairbornedivisions,arguedthattheirpresencewouldholdopenthesouthern

approachestoRotterdam,preventthemovementofDutchreservesbasedinnorth-westHollandandanyFrenchforcessenttoaidtheDutchdefenders,anddenytheuseofairfieldstoAlliedaircraft,allofwhichwouldaidarapidadvancebythe18thArmy.400JunkersJu52transportaircraftwouldbeusedtodeploytheparachuteelementsoftheairbornetroops,aswellastransporttheelementsofthetwoairbornedivisionsnotlandingbyparachuteorglider.

TheforcetaskedwithassaultingtheFortandcapturingthethreebridgeswasformedfromelementsofthe7thAirDivisionandthe22ndAirlandingDivision,andwasnamedSturmabteilungKoch(AssaultDetachmentKoch)aftertheleaderoftheforce,HauptmannWalterKoch.TheforcehadbeenassembledinNovember1939andwasprimarilycomposedofparachutistsfromthe1stParachuteRegimentandengineersfromthe7thAirDivision,aswellasasmallgroupofLuftwaffepilots.Althoughtheforcewascomposedprimarilyofparachutists,itwasdecidedthatthefirstlandingsbytheforceshouldbebyglider.AdolfHitler,whohadtakenapersonalinterestinthearrangementsfortheassaultforce,hadorderedthatglidersbeusedafterbeingtoldbyhispersonalpilot,HannaReitsch,thatglidersinflightwerenearlysilent;itwasbelievedthat,sinceBelgiananti-aircraftdefencesusedsound-locationarraysandnotradar,itwouldbepossibletotowglidersneartotheDutchborderandthenreleasethem,achievingasurpriseattackastheBelgiandefenderswouldnotbeabletodetectthem.FiftyDFS230transportglidersweresuppliedforusebytheassaultforce,andthenaperiodofintensivetrainingbegan.AdetailedstudyoftheFort,thebridgesandthelocalareawasmade,andareplicaoftheareawasconstructedfortheairbornetroopstotrainin.

Jointexercisesbetweentheparachutistsandthegliderpilotswerecarriedoutintheearlyspringof1940,andanumberofrefinementsmadetotheequipmentandtacticstobeused,suchasbarbedwirebeingaddedtothenose-skidsofthegliderstoreducetheirlandingrun,andtheairbornetroopstrainedwithflamethrowersandspecializedexplosives,thelatterofwhichweresosecretthattheywereonlyusedonfortificationsinGermanyandnotonfortificationsinCzechoslovakiasimilartoFortEbenEmael.

Secrecywasalsomaintainedinanumberofotherways.Whenexerciseswerecompletedglidersandequipmentwouldbebrokendownandtakenawayinfurniturevans,thesub-unitsoftheforcewerefrequentlyrenamedandmovedfromonelocationtoanother,unitbadgesandinsigniawereremoved,andtheairbornetroopswerenotpermittedtoleavetheirbarracksortotakeleave.

HauptmannKochdividedhisforceintofourassaultgroups.GroupGranite,under

OberleutnantRudolfWitzig,composedofeighty-fivemeninelevengliderswhosetaskwouldbetoassaultandcaptureFortEbenEmael;GroupSteel,commandedbyOberleutnantGustavAltmann,andformedofninety-twomenandninegliders,wouldcapturetheVeldwezeltbridge;GroupConcrete,commandedbyLeutnantGerhardSchachtandcomposedofninety-sixmeninelevengliders,wouldcapturetheVroenhovenbridge;andGroupIron,underLeutnantMartinSchchter,composedofninetymenintengliders,whowouldcapturetheCannesbridge.

Thecrucialelementfortheassaultforce,andparticularlyGroupGranite,wastime.Itwasbelievedthatthecombinationofanoiselessapproachbytheglidersusedbytheassaultforce,andthelackofadeclarationofwarbytheGermangovernment,wouldgivetheattackerstheelementofsurprise.However,Germanestimatesbelievedthatthiswouldlast,atthemost,forsixtyminutes,afterwhichthesuperiornumbersoftheBelgianforcesdefendingtheFortandthebridges,aswellasanyreinforcementssenttothearea,wouldbegintocometobearagainsttherelativelysmallnumberoflightlyarmedairbornetroops.

TheGermanplan,therefore,wastoeliminatewithinthosesixtyminutesasmanyanti-aircraftpositionsandindividualcupolasandcasematesaswaspossible,andatallcoststoputoutofactionthelong-rangeartillerypieceswhichcoveredthethreebridges.Thedestructionofthesegunswasexpectedtobecompletedwithintenminutes;withinthistimetheairbornetroopswouldhavetobreakoutoftheirgliders,coverthedistancetotheguns,fixtheexplosivechargestothebarrelsofthegunsanddetonatethem,allwhileunderenemyfire.

ThefinalizedplanfortheassaultcalledforbetweennineandelevengliderstolandonthewesternbankoftheAlbertCanalbyeachofthethreebridgesjustpriorto05:30on10May,thetimescheduledforFallGelbtobegin.ThegroupsassignedtoassaultthethreebridgeswouldoverwhelmthedefendingBelgiantroops,removeanydemolitionchargesandthenpreparetodefendthebridgesagainstanexpectedcounter-attack.Fortyminuteslater,threeJu-52transportaircraftwouldflyovereachposition,droppingafurthertwenty-fourairbornetroopsasreinforcementsaswellasmachine-gunsandsignificantamountsofammunition.

Simultaneously,theforceassignedtoassaultFortEbenEmaelwastolandontopoftheFortinelevengliders,eliminateanydefendersattemptingtorepelthem,cripplewhatartillerytheycouldwithexplosivecharges,andthenpreventtheGarrisonfromdislodgingthem.Havingachievedtheirinitialobjectivesofseizingthebridgesandeliminatethelong-rangeartillerypiecespossessedbytheFort,theairbornetroopswouldthendefendtheirpositionsuntilthearrivalofGermangroundforces.

BattleForreasonsofsecurity,SturmabteilungKochwasdispersedaroundsev

erallocationsintheRhinelanduntilitreceivedordersfortheoperationagainstFortEben-Emaelandthethreebridgestobegin.Preliminaryorderswerereceivedon9May,orderingtheseparateddetachmentstomovetoapre-arrangedconcentrationarea,andshortlyafterwardsasecondorderarrived,informingtheassaultforcethatFallGelbwastobeginat05:25on10May.At04:30,forty-twogliderscarryingthe493airbornetroopsthatformedtheassaultforcewereliftedofffromtwoairfieldsinCologne,thearmadaof

glidersandtransportaircraftturningsouthtowardstheirobjectives.Theaircraftmaintainedstrictradiosilence,forcingthepilotstorelyonachainofsignalfiresthatpointedtowardsBelgium;theradiosilencealsoensuredthatseniorcommandersoftheassaultforcecouldnotbeinformedthatthetow-ropesononeoftheglidershadsnapped,forcingtheglidertolandinsideGermany.Anotherpilotofasecondgliderreleasedhistow-ropeprematurely,andwasunabletolandnearitsobjective.BothgliderswerecarryingtroopsassignedtoGroupGraniteandweredestinedtoassaultFortEbenEmael,therebyleavingtheGroupunderstrength;italsoleftitunderthecommandofOberleutnantWitzigssecond-in-command,asWitzigwasinoneoftheglidersforcedtoland.

Theremaininggliderswerereleasedfromtheirtow-ropestwentymilesawayfromtheirobjectivesatanaltitudeof7,000feet(2,100m),whichwasdeemedhighenoughforthegliderstolandbythethreebridgesandontopoftheFort,andalsomaintainasteepdiveangletofurtherensuretheylandedcorrectly.AftertheJu-52sreleasedtheglidersandbeganturningaway,Belgiananti-aircraftartillerypositionsdetectedthemandopenedfire.Thisalertedthedefencesintheareatothepresenceofthegliders.

Bridges

AllninegliderscarryingthetroopsassignedtoGroupSteellandednexttothebridgeatVeldwezeltat05:20,thebarbed-wirewrappedaroundthelandingskidsofthegliderssucceedinginrapidlybringingthegliderstoahalt.ThegliderbelongingtoLeutnantAltmannhadlandedsomedistancefromthebridge,andasecondhadlandeddirectlyinfrontofaBelgianpillbox,whichbeganengagingbothgroupsofairbornetroopswithsmallarmsfire.Thenon-commissionedofficerinchargeofthetroopsfromthesecondgliderhurledgrenadesatthepillboxwhilstanotherofhismenlaidanexplosivechargeatthedoortothepillboxanddetonatedit,allowingthebunkertobeassaultedandremovedasanobstacle.Simultaneously,AltmanngatheredhistroopsandledthemalongaditchrunningparalleltotheBridgeuntiltwomenwereabletoreachthecanalbankandclimbontothegirdersofthebridgeanddisconnectthedemolitionchargesplacedtherebytheBelgiangarrison.ThustheairbornetroopspreventedtheBelgiansfromdestroyingthebridge,thoughtheystillfacedtherestoftheBelgiandefenders.Thedefendersheldonuntiltheaplatoonofreinforcementsarrivedandforcedthemtoretiretoanearbyvillage.

However,theassaultingforcecouldnotovercometwofield-gunslocatedfivehundredmetresfromthebridgebysmall-armsfire,thusforcingAltmanntocallforairsupport.SeveralJunkersJu87Stukasrespondedandknockedouttheguns.GroupSteelwastoberelievedby14:30,butBelgianresistancedelayedtheirarrivalinstrengthuntil21:30.Duringthefighting,theattackingforcelosteightairbornetroopsdeadandthirtywounded.

TenoftheelevengliderstransportingGroupConcretelandednexttotheVroenhovenbridgeat05:15,theeleventhgliderhavingbeenhitbyantiaircraftfireen-routetothebridgeandbeingforcedtolandprematurelyinsideDutchterritory.Thegliderswereengagedbyheavyanti-aircraftfireastheylanded,causingoneofthegliderstostallinmid-air.Theresultingcrashseverelywoundedthreeairbornetroops.Therestofthegliderslandedwithoutdamage.Oneofthegliderslandedneartothefortificationhousingthebridgedetonators.Thisallowedtheairbornetroopstorapidlyassaulttheposition.Theykilledtheoccupantsandtoreoutthewiresconnectingtheexplosivestothedetonatorset,ensuringthebridgecouldnotbedestroyed.TheremainingBelgiandefendersresisted

fiercelybymountingseveralcounter-attacksinanattempttorecapturethebridge.Theywererepelledwiththeaidofseveralmachine-gunsdroppedbyparachutetotheairbornetroopsat06:15.ConstantBelgianattacksmeantthatGroupConcretewerenotwithdrawnandrelievedbyaninfantrybattalionuntil21:40.Theysufferedlossesofsevendeadandtwenty-fourwounded.

AllbutoneofthetengliderscarryingtheairbornetroopsassignedtoGroupIronwereabletolandnexttotheirobjective,thebridgeatCanne.Duetoanavigationerrorbythepilotsofthetransportaircrafttowingthegliders,oneofthegliderswasdroppedinthewrongarea.Theothernineglidersweretowedthroughheavyanti-aircraftfireandreleasedat05:35.Astheglidersbegantodescendtowardstheirobjective,thebridgewasdestroyedbyseveraldemolitionexplosionssetoffbytheBelgiangarrison.Unlikethegarrisonsoftheothertwobridges,theBelgiandefendersatCannehadbeenforewarned,astheGermanmechanizedcolumnheadingforthebridgetoreinforceGroupIronarrivedtwentyminutesaheadofschedule.Itsappearanceruinedanychanceofasurpriseassaultandgavethedefenderssufficienttimetodestroythebridge.Asthegliderscameintoland,onewashitbyanti-aircraftfireandcrashedintothegroundkillingmostoftheoccupants.Theremainingeightlandedsuccessfully,andtheairbornetroopsstormedtheBelgianpositionsandeliminatedthedefenders.

By05:50theairbornetroopshadsecuredtheareaaswellasthenearbyvillageofCanne,buttheywerethensubjectedtoastrongcounter-attackwhichwasonlyrepulsedwiththeaidofairsupportfromStukadivebombers.Thedefenderslaunchedseveralmorecounter-attacksduringthenight,ensuringthattheairbornetroopscouldnotberelieveduntilthemorningof11May.GroupIronsufferedtheheaviestcasualtiesofallthreeassaultgroupsassignedtocapturethebridgeswithtwenty-twodeadandtwenty-sixwounded.OneoftheairbornetroopsassignedtotheGroupwastakenprisonerbytheBelgians.HewaslaterfreedbyGermanforcesataBritishPrisonerofWarcampatDunkirk.

FortEben-Emael

ThenineremaininggliderstransportingtheairbornetroopsassignedtoGroupGranitesuccessfullylandedontheroofofFortEben-Emael,utilizingarrester-parachutestoslowtheirdescentandrapidlybringthemtoahalt.TheairbornetroopsrapidlyemergedfromtheglidersandbeganattachingexplosivechargestothoseemplacementsonthetopoftheFortwhichhousedtheartillerypiecesthatcouldtargetthethreecapturedbridges.InthesouthernpartoftheFort,ObjectiveNo.18,anartilleryobservationcasematehousingthree75mmartillerypieceswasdamagedwithalightdemolitionchargeandthenpermanentlydestroyedwithaheaviercharge,whichcollapsedthecasematesobservationdomeandpartoftheroofoftheFortitself.

ObjectiveNo.12,atraversingturretholdingtwomoreartillerypieceswasalsodestroyedbyairbornetroops,whothenmovedtoObjectiveNo.26,aturretholdinganotherthree75mmweapons;althoughexplosivesweredetonatedagainstthisandtheairbornetroopsassignedtodestroyitmovedoff,thisprovedtobeprematureasoneofthegunswasrapidlybroughttobearagainsttheattackers,whowereforcedtoassaultitforasecondtimetodestroyit.Anotherpairof75mmgunsinacupolaweredisabled,aswasabarracksknowntohouseBelgiantroops.However,attemptstodestroyObjectiveNo.24provedtobelesssuccessful;theobjective,twinturretswithheavy-calibregunsmountedonarotatingcupola,wastoolargeforairbornetroopsfromasingleglidertodestroyontheirown,forcingtroopsfromtwogliderstobeused.Shapedchargeswereaffixedtothe

turretsanddetonated,butwhilsttheyshooktheturretstheydidnotdestroythem,andotherairbornetroopswereforcedtoclimbtheturretsandsmashthegunbarrels.

Inthenorthernsectionofthefort,similaractionsweretakingplace,astheairbornetroopsracedtodestroyorotherwisedisablethefortificationshousingartillerypieces.ObjectiveNo.13wasacasematehousingmultiplemachine-gunswhosearcsoffirecoveredthewesternsideoftheFort;todestroythecasemate,theairbornetroopsusedaflamethrowertoforcetheBelgiansoldiersmanningtheweaponstoretreat,andthendetonatedshapedchargesagainstthefortificationtodisableit.Anotherobservationcupolafittedwithmachine-guns,ObjectiveNo.19,wasdestroyed,buttwofurtherobjectives,Nos.15and16werefoundtobedummyinstallations.UnexpectedcomplicationscamefromObjectiveNo.23,aretractablecupolahousingtwo75mmartillerypieces.Ithadbeenassumedthattheweaponsinthisfortificationcouldnotstoptheairborneassault,butthisassumptionwasfoundtobefalsewhentheweaponsopenedfire,forcingtheairbornetroopsintheareatogotocover.Therapidfireoftheweaponsledtoairsupportbeingsummoned,andaStukasquadronbombedthecupola.Althoughthebombsdidnotdestroythecupola,theexplosionsdidforcetheBelgianstoretractitthroughouttherestofthefighting.AnyexteriorentrancesandexitslocatedbytheairbornetroopsweredestroyedwithexplosivestosealthegarrisoninsidetheFort,givingthegarrisonfewopportunitiestoattemptacounter-attack.Theairbornetroopshadachievedtheirinitialobjectiveofdestroyingordisablingtheartillerypiecesthatthefortcouldhaveusedtobombardthecapturedbridges,buttheystillfacedanumberofsmallcupolasandemplacementsthathadtobedisabled.Anumberoftheseincludedanti-aircraftweaponsandmachine-guns.

Asthesesecondaryobjectiveswereattacked,asinglegliderlandedontopoftheFort,fromwhichemergedOberleutnantRudolfWitzig.OncegliderhadlandedinGermanterritory,hehadradioedforanothertug,anditlandedinthefieldwithareplacementglider.Oncetheairbornetroopswithhadbrokendownfencesandhedgesobstructingtheaircraft,theyhadboardedthenewgliderandweretowedthroughanti-aircraftfiretothe

fort.Havingachievedtheirprimaryobjectivesofdisablingtheartillerypiecespossessedbythefort,theairbornetroopsthenhelditagainstBelgiancounter-attacks,whichbeganalmostimmediately.Thesecounter-attacksweremadebyBelgianinfantryformationswithoutartillerysupportandwereuncoordinated.Thisallowedtheairbornetroopstorepelthemwithmachine-gunfire.ArtilleryfromseveralsmallerFortsnearbyandBelgianfieldartilleryunitsalsotargetedtheairbornetroops,butthistoowasuncoordinatedandachievednothingandoftenaidedtheairbornetroopsinrepellingcounter-attacksbyBelgianinfantryunits.Patrolswerealsousedtoensurethatthegarrisonstayedintheinteriorofthefortanddidnotattempttoemergeandmountanattempttoretakethefort.Anyattemptbythegarrisontolaunchacounter-attackwouldhavebeenstymiedbythefactthattheonlypossiblerouteforsuchanattackwasupasingle,spiralstaircase,andanyembrasureslookingoutontotheForthadeitherbeencapturedordisabled.TheplanfortheassaulthadcalledforGroupGranitetoberelievedby51stEngineerBattalionwithinafewhoursofseizingtheFort,buttheGroupwasnotactuallyrelieveduntil7:00onMay11.HeavyBelgianresistance,aswellasseveraldemolishedbridgesovertheRiverMeuse,hadforcedthebattaliontolaydownnewbridges,delayingitsignificantly.Oncetheairbornetroopshadbeenrelieved,thebattalion,inconjunctionwithaninfantryregimentthatarrivedshortlyaftertheengineers,mountedanattackonthemainentrancetothefort.Facedwiththisattack,thegarrisonsurrenderedat12:30,sufferingsixtymenkilledandfortywounded.TheGermanstookmorethanathousandBelgiansoldiersintocaptivity.GroupGranitesufferedsixkilledandnineteenwounded.

AftermathTheairborneassaultonthethreebridgesandFortEben-EmaelhadbeenanoverallsuccessfortheFallschirmjgerofSturmabteilungKoch;theartillerypiecespossessedbyFortEben-Emaelhadbeendisabled,andtwoofthethreebridgesdesignatedtobecapturedbythesub-unitsofSturmabteilungKochhadbeencapturedbeforetheycouldbedestroyed.Thecaptureofthebridges,andtheneutralizationoftheartillerypiecesintheFortallowedinfantryandarmourfromthe18thArmytobypassotherBelgiandefencesandentertheheartofBelgium.Inapost-warpublication,GeneralKurtStudentwroteoftheoperation,andtheeffortsofGroupGraniteinparticular,thatItwasadeedofexemplarydaringanddecisivesignificance[]Ihavestudiedthehistoryofthelastwarandthebattlesonallfronts.ButIhavenotbeenabletofindanythingamongthehostofbrilliantactionsundertakenbyfriendorfoethatcouldbesaidtocomparewiththesuccessachievedbyKochsAssaultGroup.Anumberofofficersandnon-commissionedofficerswereawardedtheKnightsCrossoftheIronCrossfortheirparticipationintheoperation,includingLieutenantRudolfWitzigwholedtheassaultonFortEben-EmaelintheabsenceofKoch.SturmabteilungKochwasexpandedaftertheendofFallGelbtobecome1stBattalionofthenewlyformed1stAirlandingAssaultRegiment,whichitselfconsistedoffourbattalionsofFallschirmjaegertrainedasagliderborneassaultforce.HauptmannKochwaspromotedtotherankofMajorforhispartintheoperationandassumedcommandofthe1stBattalion.

ChapterIVANewMethodofAttack:The1940GermanassaultonEbenEmael

didourhigh-techequipmentreallywork?BeyondourwildestexpectationsGeneralNormanSchwartzkopf,ItDoesntTakeaHero(Bantam,1992)

On10May1940,GermanforcesattackedintoBelgiumandHolland.BlockingtheirwaywastheBelgianfortofEbenEmael,acceptedasoneofthemostpowerfulsinglefortificationsinEuropewithagarrisonof1,200men.ItwasrenderedinoperativeinlessthantwohoursbyaGermanforceofonly56menarmedwithman-portableweapons.

HowwasthisAchieved?Theacceptedwisdomatthetime,andstillprevalent,isthattheelementofsurprisegainedbytheuseofgliders,andtheuseofemergingtechnology,intheshapeofthehollow-charge,werethereasonsforsuccess.TheCommanderofthisLilliputiandetachment,LieutenantRudolfWitzig,supportedthisviewinhisownaccountoftheraid.

Hohlladungwaffehollow-chargeexplosive:Theshapedorhollow-chargeexplosiveprinciplewasdiscoveredin1888byanAmerican,CharlesEdwardMunroeandithasbecomeknownastheMunroeEffect.In1910,itwasimprovedbyaGermanscientistnamedEgonNeumann.ASwisschemicalengineer,HenryMohaupt,furtherrefinedtheideainthelate1930sandofferedittotheFrencharmy,whichwasduetoacceptahollow-chargeanti-tankweapononexactlythesamedaythattheGermansfirstusedtheirownversioninanger,10May1940.Thelargest50kgHohlladungwaffecameintwopartsforeasierhandlingbytwomen.The50kgchargewasdelicateandanydamagecouldresultinalesserexplosiveeffect,whichwasonereasonwhytheyweredeliveredbygliderratherthanparachute.Alsoanydamagetothesealbetweenthetwohalvesdiminishedthepenetrativeforcesignificantly.

Nevertheless,theHohlladungwaffenprovedhighlyeffectiveonthedaybothmilitarilyandpsychologically.Theprioritytargetswerethearmouredobservationdomesonthevariousgunemplacements.Althoughnonewasfullypenetratedbythedetonations,theblastandspallingfromfragmentsbeingdetachedfromtheinteriorsurfaceofthedomesweresufficienttokillandinjuretheBelgianobserversandrenderthepositionsuseless.Thespallingeffectandblastoverpressureareshowntogoodeffectintheartwork.ThechargeswerealsousedtogainentryintothereinforcedconcretegunemplacementsbytheassaultpioneersofSturmgruppeGranit.Thereafter,theremainingchargeswereusedagainsttargetsofopportunitythatfurtherdemoralisedtheBelgiangarrisonwiththeirawesomedestructivepower.

InMarch1991,IwastakingapartyofsoldiersinaguidedtourovertheBelgianfortofEbenEmael,withthehelpoftheBelgianFriendsofEbenEmael(FEE)anassociationofveteransandlocalhistorians.

Atonepointduringthetourontheoutsideofthefort,thepartywasgroupedaroundoneofthesteelcupolasthatformedthebasisofthefortsarmament.Standingonthecupola,toaddressthegroupmoreeasily,IgaveashortexplanationonthetheoryofthehollowchargesusedbytheGermansintheirattack,andpointedtothecharacteristicmarksleftonthearmourplatefromtheiroperation.Oneofthesoldiersthenaskedwhatsortofeffectthechargehadonthemenworkinginside.Iindicatedtheveteranstandingtooneside,andsaidWhydontyouaskhim?Hewasinsideoneoftheseturretsduringtheattack.Thesoldierdidso;buttheveteranmerelyshruggedexpansivelyandsaidIsupposeitmadememorereligiousHethenpointedoutthatthehollowchargehadnotinfactknockedouttheturret,butmerelytemporarilyjammedthetraversingmechanism.Theknockoutblowcamefromanumberofsmallerconventionalchargesthrowndownthe

barrelsoftheguns.

Thisaccountwasasurpriseandappearedtobequiteoppositetotheacceptedview.Itwasnot,however,thefirsttimethatithascometolight.Ithasbeenmentioned,anddismissedasapocryphal,inotheraccountsoftheattackontheFort.Butifthisveteransaccountdidturnouttobetrue,itraisesanumberofinterestingquestions.Whyhastherebeenthistendencytoexaggeratethevalueoftechnology?

IfitwasnottheuseofsomesecretweaponthatcontributedmosttothedefeatoftheFortin1940,thenwasitsomethingelse?

PlanningandTrainingIn1939theGermanArmyGroupBwasgiventhetaskofplanningthebreakthroughoftheBelgiandefencesbetweenVenloandAacheninalightningoperation,anddestroyingtheBelgianforcesbeforetheycouldoccupythedefensivelineconstructedacrossthecentreofBelgium.WhentheArmyCommander,GeneralvonReichenaupresentedhisoperationalplantoHitlerandtheSupremeArmyCommand(OKH),inOctober1939,theFuhrerwasnotsatisfiedwiththeideaoftakingthebridgesovertheMeuseandAlbertCanalbytheadvanceguardofthe6thArmy.Hewasconcernedthatthedefenderswouldhaveenoughtimetoblowthebridges.Thiswouldslowdownthemechanisedunits,allowingtheBelgianstimetowithdrawastheyhadin1914andextendtheenemyfrontasfarasthecoast.ThewholeoperationalconcepthingedonthedestructionofFortEbenEmaelandthecaptureoftheAlbertCanalbridges,attheverybeginningofthecampaign.

On27October1939,GeneralKurtStudent,Commanderof7FligerDivisionwasorderedtovisittheFuhrer,aloneandwithoutdelay.Onarrival,thethoroughlypuzzledGeneralwasimmediatelyledintoseeHitler.Atthefarendofthelongwalnutpanelledroom,theFuhrerraisedhiseyesandbeckonedtheGeneraltolookatthemaponhisdesk.ForthewarintheWestHitlerpaused,seemingtoconsiderhowtobegin,Iknowyouhavemadesometestswithgliders.YouhavesomeinyourDivision.IhaveajobforyouandIwanttoknowifyoucandoit.TheBelgianshaveaforthereThetopislikeagrassymeadow.Theyhaveheavyartilleryincupolasandcasemates.Ithinksomeofoursilentgliderscouldlandontopofthefortandyourmenstormtheworks.Isthatpossible?

ToStudenttheideasoundedbothincredibleandsimple.Hesaidthathewasnotsureandwouldhavetogoawayandthinkaboutit.Hereturnedthenextday,stillnotsure.HesaidtoHitler,Itmaybepossibleunderveryspecialcircumstances:thelandingmustbemadeindaylight,oratleastmorningtwilightandnotbefore;andIamuncertainabouttheamountandtypeofexplosivesneededtobeusedagainstthefortifications.

HitlerthenrevealedthatGermanmunitionsexpertshaddevelopedanewandfantasticexplosivecharge,theHohlladungorHollowCharge.Itwascapableofblowingaholeinanyknownmilitaryarmament,beitsteelorconcrete.Theproblemwasthatitweighed50kgandcouldnotbefiredfromagun,buthadtobeemplaced,fusedandexploded,bytwoorthreemen.Ifitcouldbeplacedlikethis,nothingcouldwithstandit.

Studenthadbeenconsideringhowafewgliderloadsofmencouldreallycapturesuchavastfortificationwithconventionalexplosives.Withthehollowchargethewholeoperationtookonanewmeaningandchanceofsuccess.Thecombinationofglidersandhollowchargesseemedunbeatabletohim.HitlerthensaidIorderyoutotakeFortEben-

Emael.

Allaspectsoftheoperationmustremainabsolutelysecret.ThecodenameforthisoperationwillbeGRANIT(Granite).LaterStudentwastosaythatthiswasperhapsthemostoriginalideaofthisrichin-brain-wavesman.

Nowthatthedecisionhadbeenmade,thepreparationsfortheattackwentahead.GeneralStudentcarefullyscreenedhisairborneforcesandselectedHauptmannS.A.Koch,ahighlytalentedofficer,renownedforhisincredibleideasandschemes,toleadtheattack.On3November1939,KochStormDetachmentwasformedinHildesheim,composedofanumberofunits.Thesewereformedintogroups,includingGRANITwhoconsistedof11gliders,twoOfficersand88men.

TheGRANITforcewasformedfromtheEngineerDetachmentoftheDivision,underthecommandofLt.Witzig.Thiswastheonlyparachuteunitcomposedentirelyofsappers.Manyofthesehadlongrecordsofdisciplinaryinfractions,buttheywereallindividualistswithareputationforfearlessness.Amongstthemweresomeofthebestpre-waramateurgliderpilots.

Thisdetachmentwasconstantlymovedaroundunderabewilderingarrayofcodenames.GliderpracticeintheHildesheimareawascarriedoutononlythesmallestscale.Whennecessary,theglidersweredismantledandmovedaboutinfurniturevans.Despitetheirextensivesportexperience,mostofthepilotshadneverseentheDFS230before,andtheyenteredintoanintensivetrainingprogramme.

ByMarch1940theycouldtakeoffatnight,towedbyaJU-52aircraft,andcastofftolandwithin20mofthetarget.TheyusedapieceofterraininStolbergthatwassimilartotheplateauatEben-Emael.

Eachsection,oneglider,wasgiventwoemplacementstodestroy,withplanstotakeoveranothersectionstask,shoulditfailtoarrive.Thegliderpilotswerealsofullyintegratedintothesections.

PracticeassaultsandtrialdemolitionswerecarriedoutonPolishfortificationsnearGleiwitz.Secrecywasofparamountimportance.FromNovember1939untilMay1940,forsixmonths,themenoftheoperationwerevirtualprisoners.Nomail,noleave,nocontactwithotherunitsandallparachuteinsigniawasremovedfromtheiruniforms.Twomen,founddiscussingtheoperationwithmenofanotherunit,weresentencedtobeshot,butwerereprievedtotakepartonthedayoftheoperation.Eventually,trainsmovedtheplanesbynighttotwoairfieldsnearCologne.Thehangarswerecontinuouslyguardedandsurroundedbybarbedwire.Eventhebasecommanderswerenottoldwhatwasgoingoninthehangars.

Theoperationwasscheduledtostartat0300hrson10May1940.TwoLuftwaffepersonnelwhowerecurious,andwerefoundwanderinginthevicinityofthehangarstheeveningbefore,werearrestedandhelduntiltheoperationwasover.By0335hrson10May1940allofWitzigsglidershadtakenoffandtheirtowplanescircledtogainheightbeforefollowingtheroutemarkedbysearchlightsandsignalbeacons.

TheFort

BeforeWorldWarI,theBelgianfortdesignerHenriAlexisBrialmonthadidentifiedtheGapofViseasbeingofvitalstrategicimportance,andstatedthatthedecisionnottoconstructafortinthislocalitywasoneoverwhichtheBelgiannationwouldweeptearsofblood.Theeventsof1914provedhimright.

Later,duringtheconstructionoftheAlbertCanal(1927-29)acuttingwasdriventhroughahillinthearea,knownastheKaster,over80metresdeep.Thisfeatofengineering,e