been at the fort last year, it's size is truly insane! you could even see where they breached the walls, and how they tried to destroy the turrets. And the guns, oh my goodness, the guns are huuuuuge
The extra shaped charges were ordered destroyed. Instead a Lt used them for the armored door. The back blast bounced off the wall and pushed in the other door in addition to destroying the elevator and stairs. About 500m of tunnel behind the door was scorched and upset the lime cleaning supplies. The Lt was the other member not to be honored. Also when the negotiators left the entrance, they left the door open. The Germans rushed in and negotiations became a complete and immediate surrender.
@jardail Well, they used to work! Medieval castles and WW1 trenches were truely efficient. Reinterpreting the past with knowledge of the daring step forwards is a mistake, IMO. The amazing victory of Nazi Germany's Blitzkriegs against Poland, Scandinavia, Belgium, Luxemburg and France, the Balkans and the USSR until december 1941 should not let us forget that it was all a very risky gamble made by a totalitarian nation absolutely devoted to war, contrarily to most of the nations it attacked.
The fort was build because the belgium command expected an next war - not just for local panorama improvement- but the techniques and concept of thinking was pinnen on landattacks- not airattacks- furthermore the militaire cultural structure - chain of command was complexified due to language and class differences. Its not easy to maintain moral in an idling bunker for a long periode of time
When they blew that steel door at 4:00 , Belgium Fell and they couldn't defend their country anymore. This is a reminder how important a good steel door is.
Quite easy saying that today. Germany took eben-emael just as japanese attacked pearl harbor. Both were unprepared. That's why they call it a surprise attack...does that make you think they deserved to lose?
@wollin20 Couldn’t have said it better myself. And of course this was the beginning of the war, Germany was at the height of its strength. I believe that if Eben Emael had been operated properly, it would have changed the course of the war profoundly. It was indeed pure stupidity of us Belgians.
Eben Emael... I didnt watch all of this and cant remember the book that I read about it but the part where they landed I remember a little. After this FORT was knocked out. They RUSHED in? There were German units on standby I think (did he say that?) waiting to go in. They were ready for the BLITZKRIEG.
true but why do u think that the allies and such were still stuck on WW I ? Cause they thougth there wouldn't be a WW II or not even that soon yet after the first one! But yea ur right on the rest ;)
@jakefree25 hmmm, thats kinda what warfare is. In iraq, my USMC infantry company had about a dozen HMGs and Mk-19s, of which we had maybe 4 functioning .50 cals and a single operational Mk-19. Our M-16s were not much better. If i held mine by the handle and shook it, it would fall apart. Every army has significant flaws, the victor is chosen by having less.
I'm belgian and now i saw the whole piece i must admit that it was really sucky But we did something, something u can't say about HOLLAND! They were neutral and just let them through
Russia would have invaded a bit later and so it would have been the same. But the thing that most super duper documentaries leave out is why hitler invaded russia.. most people think is because he was a mad killer and all the nasty things you can think of but it really was because of OIL.They had few oil. Germany knew that if they can't sustain the war of movement they will lose because in a static war usually the one that wins is the one with the great numbers in cannon fodder(in our case russia) Hitler lost when he could not capture the oil from Caucasus. (why is a long story but in a short phrase .. because he listened to his generals. More and more books from historians come and say this lately in the light of new evidence end etc) So when Hitler said " i should have never listened to my generals" .. on the eastern front .. he was right.
Life Lesson learned in this? Dont fuck with Fallshirmjagers. Watch usa bring up something stupid about 101st or something. Im sorry but Im on the side with Great Britain. Either way its part of Europe so whatever.
