History Hustle
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The Capture of Fort Eben-Emael (1940)
Posted
January 6, 2024
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January 6, 2024
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4.36%
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12:16Now PlayingThe Battle of Fort Eben-Emael took place in May 1940 during World War II when German forces launched an audacious assault on the formidable Fort Eben-Emael in Belgium. The fort was considered one of the strongest defensive positions along the eastern border of Belgium and was equipped with heavy artillery and extensive underground defenses.
The German plan to capture the fort involved a combination of surprise, innovative tactics, and the use of specialized glider-borne troops known as Fallschirmjäger. Under the command of Major Hans-Ulrich Rudel, the Germans aimed to neutralize the fort quickly and secure a crucial crossing point over the Meuse River.
On the morning of May 10, 1940, German gliders silently landed on top of the fort, bypassing its heavily fortified surface defenses. The Fallschirmjäger quickly overwhelmed the garrison by utilizing their training in close-quarters combat and neutralizing the fort's defenders.
The Germans employed several innovative tactics during the assault. They used hollow charges to destroy the fort's cupolas and observation domes, rendering its main armament useless. They also used magnetic mines to disable the fort's retractable steel doors and employed flamethrowers to clear out underground tunnels.
The battle lasted for approximately 30 hours, during which the German forces secured control of the fort and its surrounding area. The fall of Fort Eben-Emael had a significant impact on the defense of Belgium and the Western Front. It allowed the German army to cross the Meuse River relatively unopposed, a vital step in their invasion of France.
History Hustle presents: the Battle of Fort Eben-Emael (1940).
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SOURCES
– The Second World War (Antony Beevor).
– Dunkirk and the Fall of France (Geoffrey Stewart).
– Hitler's Blitzkrieg Enemies 1940. Denmark, Norway, Netherlands & Belgium (Nigel Thomas).
– The Blitzkrieg Legend. The 1940 Campaign in the West (Karl-Heinz Frieser).
– Storming Eagles. German Airborne Forces in World War II (James Lucas).
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VIDEO
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Het Belgisch Leger Waakt 1938/39 (Belgian Army / L'Armée Belge)
1940 Blitzkrieg! Belgium and Fort Eben-Emael
Fallschirmjäger stürmen Fort Eben Emael - Kampfgruppe Granit
German attack on Eben Emael 1940 - Original footage
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