The Fall Of Fort Eben Emael (Part 5/5)

[kgs42]

Pvt. Schultz = Doberman?

[pcaso100]

sieg heil

[BPanther111]

@pcaso100 There is a great novel out about their assault on Eben Emael. Devils with Wings by Harvey Black. Really gritty.

[wollin20]

Amazing tactic victory! Too bad/sad the Nazis did this one...

[jardail]

Static defenses are monuments to man's stupidity in warfare.

[wollin20]

@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.

[aslongasittakesable]

@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.

[stevensw]

it seems the germans could have hit the fort head on and had a similar result, none of the guns were fully operational because of stupidity

[stevensw]

how embarrassing, the belgians are ridiculed by the british for a reason I guess

[jpenna1976]

Ironically, coupola 120 was destroyed with explosives placed into muzzle same time, as guncrew was ordered to open breach and remove shell from the gun. They had no direct way to see outside. No way to control their own fire.

[RenM]

a good video, but hitler didnt create the attack plans. It was von Mansteins idea and later the propaganda said it was Hitlers idea.

Hitler was an amateur who never really understood the principles of warfare.

[dirkv07]

@samgillispwnage thanks for your reaction.

On may 10th the war started for Holland (also for Belgium). On may 14th the German bombed Rotterdam because their advance was held at the Willemsbrug. So the Dutch fought for five days. The French didn't a lot in Holland. A reconnaissance unit reaced Bedra. French tanks were under German-fire at the Moerdijk bridges and the French retreated tot Zeeland. The Dutch fought until may 17th in Zeeland so that the French 7th army can retreated to Dunkirk.

[hellhound2811]

yup but fort eben emael has never heard of the hollow charge and that one plane

noone heard of it it was new so yea they coulndt do anything ....good

[DeHerg]

being drunk during a SpecOps, sitting on Cannons which are still under enemys control, while being constantly attacked?

Wow that take Balls  XD

[QPhilms]

Anyone can do it.

Create a society based on ant-like subservience, with soldier ants and worker ants. The young ants are trained to fit into this structure and brought to believe it is part of a species of super-ants.

Female ants are there to reproduce. Any other teachings are burnt. Naysayers are destroyed.

That is Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan of '33-'45.

There are examples of this through-out history, and yes, they do often sweep all before them.

[dirkv07]

For wannabegabber: you first study the history of ww 2 and then place your comment. Belgium was, like Holland, neutral. Holland fought 5 days while the Germans thought they could occupy Holland in 1 day. The Dutch army was outnumbered and fought with old weapons. And don't forget this: Belgium got help from the French and the British armies, Holland fought alone. But our queen escaped to England to fight further on the war. King Leopold stayed and colloborated with Nazi-Germay. A proud Dutchman.

[samgillispwnage]

@dirkv07 holland fought 3 days then they surrendered belgium fought for 18 days

and yes we got help from france and GB not that it was good help. for example the british left the KW line without telling the belgians so that the germans already passed before they where made aware and the french brought their tanks but didn't brought enough gasoline rendering them useless so in the end we were on our own most of the time (and the dutch also received help from the french)

[herauthon]

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

[the82spartans]

With the German Commander cut off, the Sgt. did get the job done.... even with that drunk, Pvt. Schultz who had the schnapps buzz. lol

I wonder how he could have been in such an elite unit to begin with.

Perhaps a little 'dramatic license' or what the Russians call 'propaganda'?

[jakefree25]

The Belgian's utter incompetence is criminal, guns that wouldn't work, no ammo for machine guns, unmanned mg bunker. No counter attacks from men below. They deserved to lose.

[wannabegabber]

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

[jakefree25]

The Belgians were no worse than the rest of the allies, they were still stuck in WW l. The Belgian Army put up a stiff fight but they were overwhelmed. My beef was with the fortress commander whose utter lack of imagination & leadership was appalling.

The Germans have always had a good offensive spirit & their use of the radio alone, compared to the allies, gave them decisive advantage. Not to mention how they deployed their air power or tanks, where it counted enmasse, in a solid punch.

[wannabegabber]

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 ;)

[dirkv07]

Belgium was also neutral. Our queen went to England to fight the war. King Leopold collaborated with the nazis.

The Dutch did what they can with their outdated weapons, to less soldiers and a lack of military tradition. Holland didn't fought a war for 150 years! The Nazi's thought they conquer Holland in just one day, we resisted for 5 days. Don't forget that Belgium get support from the British and French.

And Rotterdam was bombed.

Know the history before make any silly remarks.

[boebagie]

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?

[jakefree25]

When the defenders outnumbered the attackers 11 to 1 and they were under cover, they hardly put up much of a fight. The defenders should have planned on such a contingency and been ready to repulse a commando attack

[the82spartans]

Hind sight is 20/20 jakefree.

Who at that time would have guessed the glider attack and the new explosive devise to defeat it.

At least Belgium gave them kraut bastards hell later on before they had to capitulate.

Agreed that they seemed flat footed with communications in that old fort.

[josiahn1]

@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.

[perfuzz]

My sympathy goes out to Schmitt. I'd chose a schnapps before an iron-cross any day of the week.

[SoulsOfEvil]

weird fort eben emael was never used

[TrueMarine]

LOL These Air Borne Trrops are suppose to be Elite. He should have been shot on sight! LOL

[chinesecommunist]

3:07 Gnarly airburst

[3202202]

thanks for uploading it rocks xD im going there next week xD

[partya11night20]

Excellent documentry! Thx for uploading!

[xenos60]

Poor Shmidt

[Chubachus]

lol @ thedrunken schmidt

[johnthefive]

2:58

belgium?? realy??

looks like cechoslovakian fort.... for me

[mp40dude]

great video i loved it. yay a video featuring german army, thnx for uploading it :P

[zxwar]

TQ SirOinke for your comment... Some programs have mistake...

[SirOinkie]

Hmmm... the Barrels with Chlorene who made the Belgian soldiers panic were placed & knocked over at Maastricht 1 & not at the main gate! (like said in this movie)

Still great documentairy!

You must visit this fortress. If you need info, contact me.

Great work ZXWAR

[lectocom]

A fascinating video -- thanks for uploading!!

[zxwar]

Urr welcome lectocom!