1940 German Invasion Of Belgium: 1940 German conquest of Belgium during World War II
The Battle of Belgium or Belgian Campaign was part of the greater Battle of France.
This was an offensive campaign by Germany during the Second World War. It took place over 18 days in May 1940. It ended with the German occupation of Belgium following the surrender of the Belgian Army.
| Battle of Belgium | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Western Front of World War II | |||||||||
 German soldiers pictured with a Vickers Utility Tractor (VUT) of the Belgian Army, and a pile of Belgian rifles and helmets the day after the Belgian surrender, 29 May 1940 | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Belgium   France United Kingdom Netherlands |  Germany | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Maurice Gamelin Maxime Weygand Lord Gort Leopold III H.G. Winkelman | Gerd von Rundstedt Fedor von Bock | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| 144 divisions 13,974 guns 3,384 tanks 2,249 aircraft | 141 Divisions 7,378 guns 2,445 tanks 5,446 aircraft (4,020 operational) | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| 222,443+ casualties (200,000 captured) ~900 aircraft | Unknown (see German casualties) but at least 43 paratroopers were killed and a further 100 wounded. | ||||||||
The Allied Armies tried to stop the German Army in Belgium. They thought it was the main German attack. After the French had fully committed the best of the Allied Armies to Belgium between 10 and 12 May, the Germans went towards the English Channel. The German Army reached the Channel after five days. They encircling the Allied Armies. The Germans forced the Allies back to the sea. The Belgian Army surrendered on 28 May 1940, ending the battle.
The Battle of Belgium included the first tank battle of the war. It was the largest tank battle in history up to that date. The battle also included the Battle of Fort Eben-Emael, the first strategic airborne operation using paratroopers.
Belgium was occupied by the Germans until the winter of 1944–1945. It was freed by the Western Alliance.
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