Hi I have visted the fort on two separate occasions,
was this the only fortress in Belgium in ww11.
I hear their maybe some others 3 ? situated near by Eben - Emael.
also was fort, Eben - Emael the largest at that time ?
any help would be very much appreciated, thanks members.

welcome to the forum george,I'm sure you'll find answer from one of the members here,ray..

here are some pics,if they help.

http://www.kaleidoscope.pl/thumbnails.php?album=228

There were many more: one instance fortress Breendonk near Antwerp

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Welcome

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“The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his.” Patton

Thanks Ray; George

Thanks ray for the pictures of the fortress.
Does anybody know how long the fortress lasted untill its surrender ?

In World War II, daring assault 10 May 1940 by German glider troops to capture a Belgian fort. Eben Emael was strategically placed at the junction of the Albert Canal and Maas River, north of Liège, to guard a vital crossing-point and was considered to be impregnable as any assault would have to be made across either the river or the canal.

It was attacked by a squad of 85 German glider troops who landed on top of the fort and used special explosive charges to put the gun turrets out of action, but were unable to get into the fort itself as they were pinned down by crossfire from neighbouring forts. The following day German troops crossed the canal by boat to relieve the glider force, who had suffered relatively low casualties (6 dead and 15 wounded), and the fort surrendered. The gliders were quickly removed so for several years it was believed that the assault had been made across the canal.

Thanks Ray;
for your time and trouble.
cheers Big George [ Marshall ]

that's why were all here here george,a pleasure to assist,ray

Thanks Ray; Big George [ Marshall ]

The attack on that fortress is considered a classic in special operations. The Germans dominated the battle by the 30th minute. Surprise was so complete, it was said, that when the glider troops hurled shaped charges into the turrets and the elevator shafts most garrison soldiers had not got into position to fire on them but were pinned down in the lower levels of the fort. This made Kurt Student's career.

I didn't check the exact date for Breedonk, but I suppose it would be around May 13th-14th when the surroundings of the Antwerp defense collapsed.

just so you know, Breedonk was used by the germans to torture and deport Jews and other victims of Nazism and is a Memorial place.

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http://www.fortweb.net/photos/liege/index.htm

http://www.fortweb.net/photos/antwerp/index.htm

and other various fortress locations that may be of help..

following on from skippers info..


Fortress Breendonk is one of the 32 fortifications belonging to the 95 Km. long outer defending girdle around Antwerp.
Build in 1909 along with 10 new fortresses and 12 redoubts as a new defense line to prevent that Antwerp could be bombed by cannons with larger firing range.
Construction was finished in 1914, only it was already inferior to the German fire power.
WW I the fortress was pounded heavily by the artillery of the Germans, the order to evacuate was given and the Belgian army withdrew behind the river Ijzer.
1919 the fortress is used as army barracks.
During the inter-war years in the fortress is rebuild as headquarters.
WW II, the fortress is used as headquarters until it is siege by the Germans.
1940 the Germans uses the fortress as political prison camp.
1941 the prison turned into a transit prison camp, prisoners stay for 3 months before transferred to the concentration camps.
1942 the human unworthy conditions turned the prison into a concentration camp.
1945 the fortress is used as a internment center.
1947 fortress Breendonk is declared national monument and memorial.
2003 renovation of the exhibition.
BREENDONK - MEMORIAL

Fortress of Breendonk

The fortress has played an important part during both World Wars. This ancient monument is now open to the public. sounds as though It is certainly worthwhile to visit.

THANKS MEMBERS;
From Big George [ Marashall ]

what if the germans hadnt used glidders !

without gliders it would have taken the Germans a few days more and more lives would have been lost , but on the whole it would not have changed much.

Note in Sniper's answer that he mentionned a total of 32 Fortresses.

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thanks for your help.

Dear Members; many thanks for your input. Big George [ Marshall ]

Thanks for all your help; will keep in touch

This must refer to the fortress Eban Emael, which had its artillery nuetralized by a detachment of engineers landing on the fortress roof with gliders. The twin 120mm guns in turrets and nine 75mm guns in casements covred the three highway bridges crossing the Albert Cannal between Masstricht and the interior of Belgium. A set of MG in casements covered the small automobile bridge directly adjacent to the fortress.

Had the German engineer detachment not destroyed the guns with explosive charges any German attempt to cross the Albert Cannal and three bridges would have struck by accurate and high volume fire from the fortress. Counter battery fire by artillery or air the Germans would have been ineffective vs the fortress.

The first major German combat unit to cross the Albert cannal by these bridge was the 4th Panzer Divsion. Its long columns of halftracks and trucks would have been devaatated by the guns of Eban Emal. over half the tanks of the division were lightly armored MkI & MkII tanks. Those would be vulnerable to the 120mm guns. As Skipper wrote there would have been more casualties.

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Correct Carl, I also have the date of the assault that took place on May 11th 1940. The fall of the fortress resulted into panic and a massive exode that threw many Belgians on the roads . Many fled to France thinking they would be safe there. The French fearing the "fifth collumn", lost many hours blocking these guys at the border, adding to a chaos that would increase until the fatal days of June 1940. To this extend the assault of the Fortress was an important strategic move.
But why am I still feeding this thread , wasn't George discharged?

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