Mauser model 1889 Belgian rifle,
World War I (1914-1918): Germany invaded neutral Belgium in August 1914, leading to a four-year occupation of most of the country. The Belgian army fought alongside the Allies on the Western Front and in the East African campaign.
World War II (1940-1945): Despite returning to a policy of neutrality, Belgium was invaded by Germany again in May 1940. The Belgian government in exile in London continued the fight on the Allied side, and Free Belgian forces served in the Royal Air Force, in the Battle of the Atlantic, and participated in the liberation of Belgium and other European campaigns.
Belgian Congo: The Congo Free State was a private property of King Leopold II until 1908 when it was annexed by Belgium and became the Belgian Congo
During both world wars, the Belgian Congo's Force Publique (public force, the colonial army) supported Allied campaigns in Africa, notably against Italian forces in Italian East Africa during WWII. Following independence in 1960, Belgium was involved in the subsequent Congo Crisis, which included military interventions such as Operation Dragon Rouge in 1964.
NATO: Belgium was one of the twelve original founding members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), signing the North Atlantic Treaty in Washington D.C. on April 4, 1949. NATO headquarters are located in Brussels, Belgium. Additionally, the Belgian Armed Forces were involved in other 20th-century conflicts under UN or NATO mandates, including the Korean War, the Gulf War, the Somali Civil War, the Rwandan Civil War, and the Kosovo War.
World War II (1940-1945): Despite returning to a policy of neutrality, Belgium was invaded by Germany again in May 1940. The Belgian government in exile in London continued the fight on the Allied side, and Free Belgian forces served in the Royal Air Force, in the Battle of the Atlantic, and participated in the liberation of Belgium and other European campaigns.
Belgian Congo: The Congo Free State was a private property of King Leopold II until 1908 when it was annexed by Belgium and became the Belgian Congo
During both world wars, the Belgian Congo's Force Publique (public force, the colonial army) supported Allied campaigns in Africa, notably against Italian forces in Italian East Africa during WWII. Following independence in 1960, Belgium was involved in the subsequent Congo Crisis, which included military interventions such as Operation Dragon Rouge in 1964.
NATO: Belgium was one of the twelve original founding members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), signing the North Atlantic Treaty in Washington D.C. on April 4, 1949. NATO headquarters are located in Brussels, Belgium. Additionally, the Belgian Armed Forces were involved in other 20th-century conflicts under UN or NATO mandates, including the Korean War, the Gulf War, the Somali Civil War, the Rwandan Civil War, and the Kosovo War.
WW1 Era
The Belgian Army during World War I fought a defensive war after the German invasion of August 1914. Its forces were generally under-equipped compared to the major powers but were notable for pioneering the use of
armored cars and effectively using modern artillery. Belgium did not operate tanks during the war.
Weapons
The primary Belgian infantry weapon was a Mauser design produced both domestically and, after the 1914 occupation, in the United States and Britain.
Rifles: The standard rifle was the Mauser Model 1889, a solid bolt-action rifle using the 7.65x53mm Mauser cartridge. As the war progressed, Belgian soldiers also received British and French rifles like the Lee-Enfield and Lebel as emergency measures.
Pistols: Sidearms included the domestically produced FN Model 1900 and FN Model 1910 pistols, designed by John Moses Browning. The older Nagant Model 1878 revolver was also in service.
Machine Guns: The primary heavy machine gun was the Maxim machine gun (in 7.65mm caliber). Lighter machine guns like the French Chauchat M1915 and the British Lewis gun were also used.
Artillery
The Belgian artillery was considered well-trained, but initially lacked indirect fire capabilities and heavy howitzers.
Field Artillery: The primary field gun was the Krupp/Cockerill M1905 75mm Tir Rapide, a quick-firing field gun that proved effective in the mobile phase of the war.
Heavy Artillery: Belgian forts were equipped with various heavy, fixed-position guns. After the initial German bombardment showed the inadequacy of these defenses, the remaining mobile artillery focused on field operations.
Ammunition Shortages: Due to Belgium's arms industry being under German control, they relied on Allied production, often receiving older or captured foreign weapons and ammunition.
Tanks and Vehicles
Belgium never acquired or deployed traditional heavy tanks during WWI. Instead, they pioneered the use of armored cars.
Armored Cars: The Belgians were innovators in early armored warfare. At the start of the war, they improvised and then standardized the design of the Minerva Armoured Car. These vehicles were effective for reconnaissance and raids during the early mobile phase of the war. A special Belgian armored car unit was even deployed to the Eastern Front to assist Russian forces in 1915.
Tanks: The Belgian Army never possessed tanks during the First World War.
Transport: The army was largely reliant on traditional horse-drawn transport, though the use of motorized transport increased as the war progressed and Allied aid arrived.
armored cars and effectively using modern artillery. Belgium did not operate tanks during the war.
Weapons
The primary Belgian infantry weapon was a Mauser design produced both domestically and, after the 1914 occupation, in the United States and Britain.
Rifles: The standard rifle was the Mauser Model 1889, a solid bolt-action rifle using the 7.65x53mm Mauser cartridge. As the war progressed, Belgian soldiers also received British and French rifles like the Lee-Enfield and Lebel as emergency measures.
Pistols: Sidearms included the domestically produced FN Model 1900 and FN Model 1910 pistols, designed by John Moses Browning. The older Nagant Model 1878 revolver was also in service.
Machine Guns: The primary heavy machine gun was the Maxim machine gun (in 7.65mm caliber). Lighter machine guns like the French Chauchat M1915 and the British Lewis gun were also used.
Artillery
The Belgian artillery was considered well-trained, but initially lacked indirect fire capabilities and heavy howitzers.
Field Artillery: The primary field gun was the Krupp/Cockerill M1905 75mm Tir Rapide, a quick-firing field gun that proved effective in the mobile phase of the war.
Heavy Artillery: Belgian forts were equipped with various heavy, fixed-position guns. After the initial German bombardment showed the inadequacy of these defenses, the remaining mobile artillery focused on field operations.
Ammunition Shortages: Due to Belgium's arms industry being under German control, they relied on Allied production, often receiving older or captured foreign weapons and ammunition.
Tanks and Vehicles
Belgium never acquired or deployed traditional heavy tanks during WWI. Instead, they pioneered the use of armored cars.
Armored Cars: The Belgians were innovators in early armored warfare. At the start of the war, they improvised and then standardized the design of the Minerva Armoured Car. These vehicles were effective for reconnaissance and raids during the early mobile phase of the war. A special Belgian armored car unit was even deployed to the Eastern Front to assist Russian forces in 1915.
Tanks: The Belgian Army never possessed tanks during the First World War.
Transport: The army was largely reliant on traditional horse-drawn transport, though the use of motorized transport increased as the war progressed and Allied aid arrived.
WW2 Era
Artillery:
Belgian artillery consisted of a mix of older and newer designs.
Field Artillery: Included French-designed Schneider 105mm and 155mm howitzers and guns, as well as some domestically produced Cockerill 120mm M32 field guns.
60mm anti-tank gun, but it was a specialized weapon used exclusively in fixed defensive positions.
Anti-Aircraft Guns: Various pieces were used, including the 75 mm FRC M27 and QF 3.7-inch AA guns.
Belgian artillery consisted of a mix of older and newer designs.
Field Artillery: Included French-designed Schneider 105mm and 155mm howitzers and guns, as well as some domestically produced Cockerill 120mm M32 field guns.
60mm anti-tank gun, but it was a specialized weapon used exclusively in fixed defensive positions.
Anti-Aircraft Guns: Various pieces were used, including the 75 mm FRC M27 and QF 3.7-inch AA guns.
Belgian Army 75mm gun.
Fremch 25mm Anti-Tank Gun S.A Mle 34.
Maxim machine gun 1908. MG08 HMG.
Infantry Weapons:
Belgium's arms manufacturer FN Herstal produced much of the army's small arms.
Pistols: The Browning Hi-Power (Pistole Automatique Browning GP 35) was the standard service pistol, noted for its high-capacity magazine.
Rifles: The main service rifle was the Mauser Model 1889, often in a modernized Model 1889/36 version, chambered in 7.65x53mm Mauser. A newer Belgian Mauser Model 1935 was also adopted but never produced in large numbers before the invasion.
Machine Guns: Light Machine Gun: The Fusil-mitrailleur Mle 1930, a Belgian-licensed version of the American Browning M1918 (BAR). Heavy Machine Gun: The Maxim M08 and the Browning M1919.
Mortars: Various models were in use, including the 50mm DBT mortar, 70mm van Deuren mortar, and the 81mm Stokes mortar.
Anti-tank Weapons: The primary anti-tank gun was the 47 mm Model 1931 anti-tank gun, which was potent enough to penetrate the armor of early German tanks.
Vehicles and Tanks
The Belgian Army had a limited number of armored vehicles, mostly light tanks and tank destroyers.
Tanks/Tank Destroyers:
T-13 Tank Destroyer: The most numerous armored vehicle, this was a Carden-Loyd derivative armed with the 47 mm anti-tank gun in a rotating (or shielded rear-facing on the B1 model) turret.
T-15 Light Tank: A version of the British Vickers Carden-Loyd light tank, armed with a 13.2 mm Hotchkiss machine gun and used primarily for reconnaissance.
ACG-1 Tank: These were a small number of French-built Renault AMC 35 tanks, armed with a 47 mm gun and a coaxial machine gun. Only 10 were accepted into Belgian service due to mechanical issues.
Renault FT: Outdated WWI-era tanks (75 in total) were in storage and not used on the front lines in 1940.
Armored Cars and Transport: Vehicles included improvised armored cars like the Minerva, Berliet VUDB, and various trucks and utility tractors, including Ford-Marmon-Herrington models, for moving artillery.
The Belgian Army had a limited number of armored vehicles, mostly light tanks and tank destroyers.
Tanks/Tank Destroyers:
T-13 Tank Destroyer: The most numerous armored vehicle, this was a Carden-Loyd derivative armed with the 47 mm anti-tank gun in a rotating (or shielded rear-facing on the B1 model) turret.
T-15 Light Tank: A version of the British Vickers Carden-Loyd light tank, armed with a 13.2 mm Hotchkiss machine gun and used primarily for reconnaissance.
ACG-1 Tank: These were a small number of French-built Renault AMC 35 tanks, armed with a 47 mm gun and a coaxial machine gun. Only 10 were accepted into Belgian service due to mechanical issues.
Renault FT: Outdated WWI-era tanks (75 in total) were in storage and not used on the front lines in 1940.
Armored Cars and Transport: Vehicles included improvised armored cars like the Minerva, Berliet VUDB, and various trucks and utility tractors, including Ford-Marmon-Herrington models, for moving artillery.
Belgian M26/31 Helmet
The Belgian M1926/31 (often simply called the M31) was the Belgian domestic evolution of the French Adrian helmet design, serving as the standard combat helmet during the 1940 German invasion.
It was intended to replace the French-made M15 helmets that had been in Belgian service since WWI.
While derived from the French M26, the Belgian version was produced locally starting in 1931 with several key differences:
Unlike the French M26, the Belgian M31 has steeper, more flared sides and a larger brim.
The top ridge (comb) was typically made of aluminum rather than steel, which often leads to discoloration or paint loss on that specific part in surviving examples.
It prominently featured the Belgian Lion (Tête de Lion) insignia on the front, which was carried over from the earlier WWI M15 Adrian.
Factory paint was usually a smooth khaki or mustard green, often overpainted with a rougher, dark green camouflage paint during the early 1940s.
By the time of the 1940 invasion, many Belgian soldiers were still wearing the older M15 helmets because production of the M31 had not yet fully equipped the entire army, the M31 is considered relatively scarce today because many were lost during the rapid 18-day campaign or scrapped after the war. The Belgian M31 refined the silhouette of its predecessor (the M15) but stayed loyal to the French-style "Adrian" aesthetic.
It was intended to replace the French-made M15 helmets that had been in Belgian service since WWI.
While derived from the French M26, the Belgian version was produced locally starting in 1931 with several key differences:
Unlike the French M26, the Belgian M31 has steeper, more flared sides and a larger brim.
The top ridge (comb) was typically made of aluminum rather than steel, which often leads to discoloration or paint loss on that specific part in surviving examples.
It prominently featured the Belgian Lion (Tête de Lion) insignia on the front, which was carried over from the earlier WWI M15 Adrian.
Factory paint was usually a smooth khaki or mustard green, often overpainted with a rougher, dark green camouflage paint during the early 1940s.
By the time of the 1940 invasion, many Belgian soldiers were still wearing the older M15 helmets because production of the M31 had not yet fully equipped the entire army, the M31 is considered relatively scarce today because many were lost during the rapid 18-day campaign or scrapped after the war. The Belgian M31 refined the silhouette of its predecessor (the M15) but stayed loyal to the French-style "Adrian" aesthetic.
M26-31 Belgian Helmet (Civil Defense). While many black M31 helmets are indeed post-war reissues for the Rijkswacht/Gendarmerie, the Civil Defense (Passive Defense) also used them during the war. Unlike the military khaki or mustard green, Civil Defense helmets were often painted black (for Gendarmerie/Police) or sometimes white/grey for specific civil protection units.
These helmets frequently lack the "Lion's Head" badge found on army models. In many cases, the two holes for the badge are present but empty, or the badge was never issued.
Many surviving Civil Defense M31s are post-WWII refurbishments. Original army helmets were often repainted black for use by police or civil services in the late 1940s and 1950s.
These helmets frequently lack the "Lion's Head" badge found on army models. In many cases, the two holes for the badge are present but empty, or the badge was never issued.
Many surviving Civil Defense M31s are post-WWII refurbishments. Original army helmets were often repainted black for use by police or civil services in the late 1940s and 1950s.
M1 Belgian Helmet NATO
The Belgian military designated their version of the American M1 helmet the M1951 (or M51). They officially adopted the design after World War II as a standard NATO helmet, phasing out the older M31 Adrian-style helmets.
It is a direct "clone" or licensed copy of the iconic U.S. M1 "steel pot" helmet, which was used by American forces from WWII through Vietnam. Like the American original, the M51 consists of two parts: an outer, heavy steel shell and a separate, removable inner liner.
The outer shell was made of non-magnetic manganese steel. The inner liner was made of plastic (thermoplastic) or fiber material, rather than the fiberglass used in most U.S. models. It featured an adjustable suspension system for fit.
The Belgian M51 is identifiable by a small Belgian flag decal (black, yellow, and red vertical stripes) located on the left side of both the steel shell and the plastic liner. It features swivel chin-strap bales and a friction buckle chinstrap mechanism, similar to Vietnam-era U.S. M1s.
The M51 remained in active service with the Belgian Army from around 1951 until approximately the mid-1990s, when it was replaced by a modern Kevlar helmet.
It is a direct "clone" or licensed copy of the iconic U.S. M1 "steel pot" helmet, which was used by American forces from WWII through Vietnam. Like the American original, the M51 consists of two parts: an outer, heavy steel shell and a separate, removable inner liner.
The outer shell was made of non-magnetic manganese steel. The inner liner was made of plastic (thermoplastic) or fiber material, rather than the fiberglass used in most U.S. models. It featured an adjustable suspension system for fit.
The Belgian M51 is identifiable by a small Belgian flag decal (black, yellow, and red vertical stripes) located on the left side of both the steel shell and the plastic liner. It features swivel chin-strap bales and a friction buckle chinstrap mechanism, similar to Vietnam-era U.S. M1s.
The M51 remained in active service with the Belgian Army from around 1951 until approximately the mid-1990s, when it was replaced by a modern Kevlar helmet.
Congo Crisis 1960 - 1965
It was a complex and violent period of political instability, civil war, and international intervention immediately following the Republic of the Congo's independence from Belgium. It was a defining moment of African decolonization and a significant proxy conflict of the Cold War, eventually culminating in the long dictatorship of Joseph-Désiré Mobutu.
Belgium granted independence in June 1960 with minimal preparation, leaving the new government without an experienced civil service or a reliable officer corps for the army.
Days after independence, Congolese soldiers (Force Publique) mutinied against their white Belgian commanders demanding better pay and promotion opportunities. Belgium responded by unilaterally deploying troops to protect its citizens, escalating tensions. The mineral-rich provinces of Katanga and South Kasai declared independence, supported by Belgian business interests and mercenaries.
Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba's turn to the Soviet Union for help after being refused aid by the United Nations and the United States turned the crisis into a Cold War proxy conflict, leading the U.S. and Belgium to back rival factions.
The Republic of the Congo gained independence on June 30, 1960, with Patrice Lumumba as Prime Minister and Joseph Kasa-Vubu as President.
Secession of Katanga and South Kasai.
In July and August 1960, Moïse Tshombe declared Katanga's independence, followed by Albert Kalonji in South Kasai.
UN Intervention (ONUC).
The UN deployed the United Nations Operation in the Congo (ONUC) peacekeeping force. Initially, UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld refused to use UN troops to end the secessions, frustrating Lumumba.
Political Crisis and Coup.
The Soviet involvement created an impasse between Lumumba and Kasa-Vubu. Army Chief of Staff Joseph-Désiré Mobutu, with U.S. backing, launched a coup in September 1960, placing Lumumba under house arrest.
Assassination of Lumumba
In January 1961, Lumumba was transferred to Katanga, where he was tortured and executed by Katangese forces. His death caused international outrage.
End of Secessions: A more aggressive UN mandate after Hammarskjöld's death in a plane crash led to military operations that ended the South Kasai and Katanga secessions by early 1963.
Simba Rebellion: From 1963 to 1965, Maoist-inspired militants known as the "Simbas" rose up in the east. The rebellion was eventually put down with the help of Belgian and U.S. forces.
The crisis ended in November 1965 when Mobutu Sese Seko mounted a second coup d'état, taking total control of the country. Mobutu established an authoritarian, one-party dictatorship that would rule the Congo (renamed Zaire in 1971) until 1997, bringing a semblance of unity and stability while entrenching corruption and a kleptocratic regime.
Belgium granted independence in June 1960 with minimal preparation, leaving the new government without an experienced civil service or a reliable officer corps for the army.
Days after independence, Congolese soldiers (Force Publique) mutinied against their white Belgian commanders demanding better pay and promotion opportunities. Belgium responded by unilaterally deploying troops to protect its citizens, escalating tensions. The mineral-rich provinces of Katanga and South Kasai declared independence, supported by Belgian business interests and mercenaries.
Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba's turn to the Soviet Union for help after being refused aid by the United Nations and the United States turned the crisis into a Cold War proxy conflict, leading the U.S. and Belgium to back rival factions.
The Republic of the Congo gained independence on June 30, 1960, with Patrice Lumumba as Prime Minister and Joseph Kasa-Vubu as President.
Secession of Katanga and South Kasai.
In July and August 1960, Moïse Tshombe declared Katanga's independence, followed by Albert Kalonji in South Kasai.
UN Intervention (ONUC).
The UN deployed the United Nations Operation in the Congo (ONUC) peacekeeping force. Initially, UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld refused to use UN troops to end the secessions, frustrating Lumumba.
Political Crisis and Coup.
The Soviet involvement created an impasse between Lumumba and Kasa-Vubu. Army Chief of Staff Joseph-Désiré Mobutu, with U.S. backing, launched a coup in September 1960, placing Lumumba under house arrest.
Assassination of Lumumba
In January 1961, Lumumba was transferred to Katanga, where he was tortured and executed by Katangese forces. His death caused international outrage.
End of Secessions: A more aggressive UN mandate after Hammarskjöld's death in a plane crash led to military operations that ended the South Kasai and Katanga secessions by early 1963.
Simba Rebellion: From 1963 to 1965, Maoist-inspired militants known as the "Simbas" rose up in the east. The rebellion was eventually put down with the help of Belgian and U.S. forces.
The crisis ended in November 1965 when Mobutu Sese Seko mounted a second coup d'état, taking total control of the country. Mobutu established an authoritarian, one-party dictatorship that would rule the Congo (renamed Zaire in 1971) until 1997, bringing a semblance of unity and stability while entrenching corruption and a kleptocratic regime.
During the Congo Crisis (1960-1965), Belgian forces primarily used light arms and vehicles, with limited armored assets. The Belgian Army did not deploy heavy tanks during this period; instead, they used light armored cars and vehicles, as the conflict was largely an internal security and counter-insurgency operation.
Weapons
Rifles: The primary service rifle was the FN FAL (Fusil Automatique Léger).
Pistols: The standard sidearm was the FN GP-35 (also known as the Browning Hi-Power).
Machine Guns:
FN MAG (Mitrailleuse d'Appui Général) general-purpose machine gun.
Browning M2 (.50 caliber) heavy machine gun, often vehicle-mounted.
Mortars: Various infantry mortars, including interwar-era 60mm and 81mm models.
Recoilless Guns: Old American recoilless guns were also in use.
Vehicles
The Belgian forces relied heavily on mobility provided by light vehicles and airborne insertion capabilities.
Armored Vehicles: The main "armored" assets were M8 Greyhound armored cars, which were WWII-vintage but effective for patrols and security duties in the Congo context. They were armed with a 37mm main gun and machine guns.
Transport Vehicles: A variety of soft-skin trucks and utility vehicles were used for logistics and transport, likely including Ford-Marmon-Herrington models inherited from the colonial era.
Aircraft:
H-19 Choctaw and H-21 Workhorse helicopters were used for transport and evacuation missions.
DHC-2 Beaver and DHC-3 Otter STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) airplanes were used for connecting remote bush airfields.
Artillery and Tanks
Artillery: Due to the nature of the conflict and terrain, heavy artillery was limited. The Force Publique (the pre-independence colonial army) had used French-made 75mm and 47mm anti-tank guns from the WWI era, but these were largely phased out or used sparingly during the crisis.
Tanks: The Belgian Army did not deploy main battle tanks (such as the M47 Patton which they began receiving in the late 1950s/early 1960s in Europe) to the Congo during the 1960s crisis. Their armored presence was limited to the M8 Greyhound armored cars.
Weapons
Rifles: The primary service rifle was the FN FAL (Fusil Automatique Léger).
Pistols: The standard sidearm was the FN GP-35 (also known as the Browning Hi-Power).
Machine Guns:
FN MAG (Mitrailleuse d'Appui Général) general-purpose machine gun.
Browning M2 (.50 caliber) heavy machine gun, often vehicle-mounted.
Mortars: Various infantry mortars, including interwar-era 60mm and 81mm models.
Recoilless Guns: Old American recoilless guns were also in use.
Vehicles
The Belgian forces relied heavily on mobility provided by light vehicles and airborne insertion capabilities.
Armored Vehicles: The main "armored" assets were M8 Greyhound armored cars, which were WWII-vintage but effective for patrols and security duties in the Congo context. They were armed with a 37mm main gun and machine guns.
Transport Vehicles: A variety of soft-skin trucks and utility vehicles were used for logistics and transport, likely including Ford-Marmon-Herrington models inherited from the colonial era.
Aircraft:
H-19 Choctaw and H-21 Workhorse helicopters were used for transport and evacuation missions.
DHC-2 Beaver and DHC-3 Otter STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) airplanes were used for connecting remote bush airfields.
Artillery and Tanks
Artillery: Due to the nature of the conflict and terrain, heavy artillery was limited. The Force Publique (the pre-independence colonial army) had used French-made 75mm and 47mm anti-tank guns from the WWI era, but these were largely phased out or used sparingly during the crisis.
Tanks: The Belgian Army did not deploy main battle tanks (such as the M47 Patton which they began receiving in the late 1950s/early 1960s in Europe) to the Congo during the 1960s crisis. Their armored presence was limited to the M8 Greyhound armored cars.
Belgian M31 Helmet (Adrian)
Belgian M31 and French M26:
May 1940 Battle of Fort Ében-Émael -
Belgian FRC C 75 artillery casemate gun. The fortresses were also armed with Canon antichar de 60 mm FRC mle. 36 (Anti-Tank fortress gun) and Maxim machine guns in casemates.
The primary Belgian formation responsible for the defence of the Albert Canal line, including Fort Eben-Emael and the nearby bridges, was the 7th Infantry Division. This division was deployed with specific regiments along the canal:
The 2nd Carabiniers in the northern sector.
The 18th Line Regiment in the central sector.
The 2nd Grenadiers in the south, within the border of Fort Eben-Emael.
The garrison within Fort Eben-Emael itself comprised approximately 1,200 (Most of them were artillery) troops under the command of Major Jottrand,
The 2nd Carabiniers in the northern sector.
The 18th Line Regiment in the central sector.
The 2nd Grenadiers in the south, within the border of Fort Eben-Emael.
The garrison within Fort Eben-Emael itself comprised approximately 1,200 (Most of them were artillery) troops under the command of Major Jottrand,
The Fallschirmjäger (Glider assault) operation to capture Fort Eben-Emael in 1940 was codenamed Operation Granite (Fall Granit), a key part of the larger invasion of Belgium (Fall Gelb, or Case Yellow). Led by the glider-borne assault force Sturmgruppe Granit, the surprise attack on May 10, 1940, used gliders and shaped charges to neutralize the fortress and its bridge defenses, enabling the German advance into Belgium
On 10 May 1940, Germany launched Fall Gelb ("Plan Yellow"), the invasion of the Low Countries and France. By attacking through the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Belgium, the German Oberkommando der Wehrmacht planned to outflank the Maginot Line, and advance through southern Belgium and into northern France, cutting off the British Expeditionary Force and a large part of the French forces and forcing the French government to surrender.
On 10 May 1940, Germany launched Fall Gelb ("Plan Yellow"), the invasion of the Low Countries and France. By attacking through the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Belgium, the German Oberkommando der Wehrmacht planned to outflank the Maginot Line, and advance through southern Belgium and into northern France, cutting off the British Expeditionary Force and a large part of the French forces and forcing the French government to surrender.
The Fallschirmjäger glider assault on Fort Eben-Emael and the bridges over the Albert Canal involved a special-purpose unit called Sturmabteilung Koch (Assault Detachment Koch), which was further subdivided into four assault groups, each with a specific codename and objective:
Granite: Fort Eben-Emael
Beton (Concrete): The bridge at Vroenhoven
Stahl (Steel): The bridge at Veldwezelt
Eisen (Iron): The bridge at Kanne
Granite: Fort Eben-Emael
Beton (Concrete): The bridge at Vroenhoven
Stahl (Steel): The bridge at Veldwezelt
Eisen (Iron): The bridge at Kanne
German MG gunner with 1935 HP FN Browning 9mm parabelllum pistol. The Germans designated the pistol the "9mm Pistole 640(b)" (with the "b" standing for belgisch, or "Belgian". After Germany occupied Belgium in May 1940, the FN factory in Herstal was captured largely intact. German authorities quickly took over operations and ordered production of the Hi-Power to continue for the Wehrmacht.
