The invasion of Belgium or Belgian campaign, formed part of the larger Battle of France, an offensive campaign by Germany during the Second World War. It took place over 18 days in May 1940 and ended
Belgian soldiers under German guard following the fall of Fort Eben-Emael on 11 May 1940
A pacifist rally in Heysel, near Brussels, in 1936
King Leopold III, Belgian head of state, an advocate of the policy of neutrality
Leopold III, Belgium's monarch from 1934, reviewing Belgian troops in early 1940 and walking alongside a T-15 tank
Battle of Fort Ében-Émael
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The Battle of Fort Ében-Émael was a battle between Belgian and German forces that took place between 10 May and 11 May 1940, and was part of the Battle of Belgium and Fall Gelb, the German invasion of
German invasion of Belgium (1940)
…battle in history at the time but was later surpassed by the battles of the North African Campaign and the Eastern Front. The battle also included the Battle of Fort Eben-Emael, the first strategic airborne operation using paratroopers ever attempted. The German official history stated that in the 18 days of bitter fighting…
A retractable gun turret at Fort Ében-Émael
German DFS 230 troop-carrying glider
The Albert Canal as seen from a Fort Ében-Émael machine gun position, 23 May 1940
Belgian soldiers surrender to German troops at the bridge at Veldwezelt, 11 May 1940.