Fort Eben-Emael ( French: Fort d'Ében-Émael, French pronunciation: [fɔʁ debɛn emal]) is an inactive Belgian fortress located between Liège and Maastricht, on the Belgian-Dutch border, near the Albert Canal, outside the village of Ében-Émael. 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 the Low Countries and France.
Fort EbenEmael War Traveller
Fort Eben-Emael, where history comes to life >>> 30-12-2023 open for visiting from 10:00 until 17:00 Last entry at: 14:30 Annual calendar and opening times We are open during the end-of-year period from Wednesday 27/12 until Saturday 30/12 from Wednesday 3 to Sunday 7 January 2024 WINTER CLOSING FROM 8 JANUARI TO 9 FEBRUARI 2024 Belgian Fort Eben Emael was as close to impregnable as modern defense works could be—or so it seemed. The installation was new, for one thing, just completed in 1935. It was the highest refinement of contemporary military architecture, one of a half-circle of eight forts covering the vital Belgian city of Liège. Fort Eben-Emael lay within 15 miles of the German border, south of the Dutch city of Maastricht, and adjacent to the Meuse River, the border between the Netherlands and Belgium. The fort was situated to cover the Vise Gap through which it was anticipated that German forces would pour when they began their invasion of the Netherlands and Belgium. A VIP tour with a personal guide. all-inclusive price for family or small group. all-inclusive price for a small group. pre-booking is mandatory. Fort Eben-Emael A.S.B.L. Enterprise number: 0433.501.512 Bank: BE80 8601 0494 4177. 2024 - Our annual calendar and opening hours. Plan your visit Menu Toggle.
Fort EbenEmael • Museum »
Stories What We Learned from Fort Eben-Emael, 1940 by Anthony Brandt 3/15/2017 According to one source it was Adolf Hitler himself who first floated the idea for an aerial assault on the lynchpin of Belgium's frontline defenses. Fort Eben-Emael, nicknamed the "Giant of all Forts," was once one of the most critical fortifications in Europe. Below the fort is an underground labyrinth in which to immerse yourself in the secret life of the fort. Attractions Fort, citadel and fortification Museum or Interpretation Centre Architectural heritage Back in 1940, the main obstacle facing the northern prong of the German attack on Belgium was the city of Liège, protected by a newly upgraded ring of 12 forts. Thus, Fort Eben-Emael was to be the lynchpin of Belgium's defensive system and the Allied battle plan. The fall of Eben-Emael on 11 May 1940 was decisive because it opened a lethal gap, which the German panzers violently exploited in an operational feint, making possible their attack through the Ardennes in May 1940.
Monument de la Seconde Guerre mondiale à Bassenge Le Fort d'EbenEmael
Tactically, one of Hitler's biggest obstacles was Fort Eben Emael. Looming over Belgium's border with the Netherlands, Eben Emael sat astride the planned invasion route. Its guns protected the city of Maastricht to the north, the roads leading west from Maastricht, and, most important, three bridges over the Albert Canal. Discover Fort Eben-Emael in Bassenge, Belgium: This sprawling Belgian fort was once thought of as impenetrable but now it is simply an abandoned relic.
Belgium's Fort Eben-Emael was the crown jewel of the country's defense from invasion, boasting huge gun emplacements, defensive ditches and canals, and hundreds of artillery troops, all to protect the heartland and capital. And the whole thing fell to 87 German paratroopers after barely a day of fighting from May 10-11, 1940. The defenses, including Fort Eban Emael, that were expected to hold for a week were overrun by German forces within two days. Some of the lessons the soldiers in the 10th AAMDC learned at Sedan.
Le fort d'Eben Emael, le plus grand fort d'Europe
The association A.S.B.L. Fort Eben-Emael was founded in 1986 with the purpose of studying, preserving, restoring, protecting, managing, and operating the tourist infrastructure of Fort Eben-Emael and the site. In addition, the association also safeguards the memory of the soldiers of the fort's garrison and organises a series of remembrance. Fort Eben-Emael was supposed to be the strongest fortress in Europe, and was built in the 1930s to protect Belgium from being invaded from the east. Dug into the side of a hill, it was built with thick walls of steel and concrete that easily stood their ground against the artillery of the time.
