The Strategic Deception Behind Germany’s Western Offensive

When German forces launched their western offensive on May 10, 1940, they executed one of history’s most brilliant military deceptions. As Army Group B’s 18th Army plunged into Holland, its 6th Army simultaneously advanced into Belgium – all part of Hitler’s masterstroke to divert Allied attention from the Ardennes, his true main thrust point. The Allies, convinced the primary attack would mirror 1914’s route through Liège toward Brussels, took the bait completely. This feint drew British and French forces northward into Belgium, leaving Army Group A free to concentrate its forces for the decisive Ardennes breakthrough that would outflank the Allied armies.

The strategic context made this deception particularly potent. Following World War I, Western European nations had constructed formidable defensive lines along their German borders: the Grebbe-Peel Line in Holland, Albert Canal defenses in Belgium, and France’s Maginot Line. These interconnected fortifications stretched hundreds of kilometers. Belgium’s defenses centered on 22 divisions (only 6 being regulars) with no tanks and minimal anti-aircraft capability. Their deployment reflected uncertainty – 4 divisions on the Dutch border, 6 guarding the Antwerp-Namur “KW Line,” and 12 holding the Albert Canal. The Belgians had deliberately avoided finalizing defensive plans, intending to adjust based on German attack patterns, but this flexibility would prove disastrous against Germany’s unprecedented tactics.

Fort Eben-Emael: Belgium’s “Impregnable” Gateway

The linchpin of Belgium’s defense was Fort Eben-Emael, considered Europe’s strongest fortress. Situated between Maastricht and Visé, this granite-mounted complex dominated the Albert Canal and Meuse River crossings with artillery capable of hitting targets 16 kilometers away. Its design was revolutionary – a pentagonal network of disappearing gun turrets, anti-tank positions, and machine gun nests connected by 4.5 kilometers of underground tunnels. The fort’s 60mm anti-tank guns, 75mm artillery pieces, and 37 machine guns were so effectively placed that its 1,200-man garrison under Major Jottrand could hold a 19-kilometer front.

Belgian engineers had constructed what they believed was an impregnable fortress, overlooking one critical vulnerability: airborne assault. The fort’s vertical cliffs (40 meters high) and water obstacles made ground attack suicidal, but its flat top – covered in grass to conceal positions – ironically created perfect landing zones for gliders. This fatal oversight would be exploited by Germany’s most innovative military minds.

Hitler’s Secret Weapon: The Birth of Airborne Assault Tactics

The solution to cracking Eben-Emael came from an unlikely source – famed female test pilot Hanna Reitsch. During a conversation with Hitler about the fortress’s challenges, she suggested silent assault via gliders. This inspired the Führer to assemble a team including Hermann Göring and Luftwaffe General Kurt Student, who assigned 29-year-old Captain Walter Koch to lead the mission.

German preparations were exhaustive. Since 1938, intelligence had gathered detailed fortress plans. Engineers built full-scale replicas at Grafenwöhr training ground and Hildesheim airbase. Koch’s assault force trained in absolute secrecy – no leaves, censored mail, and death penalties for leaks. They mastered specialized techniques: using 50kg shaped charges to penetrate concrete, landing DFS-230 gliders (which could carry 10 troops) within 20 meters of targets, and operating in autonomous teams where every soldier trained for multiple roles.

The final plan involved 700 men in two waves. The first wave’s 400 troops would land via 41 gliders in four groups:
– “Granite” (85 men): Neutralize fortress surface defenses
– “Concrete,” “Steel,” and “Iron” (315 men): Seize three key Albert Canal bridges

Dawn Over Eben-Emael: A New Era of Warfare Begins

At 4:30 AM on May 10, 1940, 41 Junkers Ju-52s towed gliders from Cologne airports. The operation nearly faltered immediately – two gliders (including “Granite” commander Lieutenant Witzig’s) aborted. The remaining nine gliders, buffeted by unexpected tailwinds, arrived early. As they silently released over Holland, Dutch anti-aircraft fire erupted but missed all aircraft.

At Eben-Emael, Major Jottrand had placed his garrison on alert after a 3:10 AM warning, but two uneventful hours passed. Then, as dawn approached, Belgian sentries saw ghostly shapes emerge from the northeast – gliders landing directly on the fortress roof. Within minutes, German engineers placed explosive charges on gun turrets and casemates. The shaped charges proved devastating, penetrating three meters of concrete. Belgian defenders underground heard explosions above but couldn’t respond effectively.

Simultaneously, other glider teams captured two of three Albert Canal bridges intact (the third was blown by Belgians). German paratroopers reinforced the initial assault at 7:00 AM, while dummy parachutists sown across a 40-kilometer area confused Belgian reinforcements. Stuka dive bombers suppressed artillery positions trying to target the fortress.

The Fortress Falls: Tactical Innovation Triumphs

By afternoon, German ground forces reached the Albert Canal. Though one stubborn Belgian casemate held out until nightfall, engineers crossed by rubber boat and silenced it. On May 11, after continuous underground assaults with flamethrowers and explosives, Major Jottrand surrendered at 1:15 PM. The cost was astonishingly lopsided: 6 Germans dead versus 110 Belgians, with 1,000 prisoners taken.

This victory opened Belgium’s heartland. German forces entered Brussels on May 17, and Belgium capitulated on May 28. The operation revolutionized warfare, proving that:
1. Airborne forces could neutralize even the strongest fortifications
2. Precision vertical envelopment could unhinge entire defensive systems
3. Combined arms coordination (gliders, paratroopers, Stukas, and ground forces) created unstoppable synergy

Legacy: The Paradigm Shift in Modern Warfare

Eben-Emael’s fall demonstrated that static defenses – no matter how formidable – were obsolete against innovative combined-arms tactics. The operation directly influenced:
– Allied development of airborne units (like the U.S. 82nd Airborne)
– Modern special operations forces tactics
– Vertical envelopment doctrine that persists in today’s helicopter assaults

Historians regard it as the first true special forces operation, showcasing how small, well-trained units could achieve disproportionate strategic impact. The fortress itself stands today as a museum – a monument to military ingenuity and a warning against overreliance on fixed defenses in an era of mobility and surprise. As one commentator noted after the battle: “No fortress is safe from airborne assault.” This lesson echoes through military academies worldwide, reminding planners that in warfare, imagination and audacity often triumph over concrete and steel.