As part of the security policy and military history training, members of the Niederrhein district group, initiated by the responsible FwRes in Mönchengladbach, Sergeant V. Osterburg, took a trip to Fort Eben-Emael in Belgium.
When they arrived at the fortress, the visiting troop was greeted by two guides who were very well versed in the subject and military history, so that the troop of over 30 men could be divided into two groups. In a tour lasting more than four hours through the casemates of the almost 65 hectare site, which is located underground, the participants were able to learn a lot of interesting facts about the stories of the 85 German parachute pioneers who landed on May 10, 1940 by glider. The total strength of the troops involved was 353 men. It was particularly interesting that the planes (JU52 with the gliders had taken off in Cologne, at the Butzweiler Hof and in Ostheim. The capture was to be an important part of the Western campaign, the German invasion in die Benelux countries and France become.
While the very summery temperatures in the outdoor area made the participants sweat, inside the fortress of freshness they could cool off at a constant 10-11 degrees.
Background:
On May 10, 1940, Fort Eben-Emael became historically famous. The powerful fortress with its garrison of around 1,000 men was put out of action within just two days. The decisive weapon was the 50 kg shaped charge, which was used here for the first time.
Eben-Emael was built in the years 1932-1935 in the style of the works of the Maginot Line. The Albert Canal, which lies 6 km south of Maastricht, was used for its construction. The fortress was blasted into the natural rock of the part of this hill on the west bank of the canal, the highest point of which is about 65 m above the water level of the canal.
The fortifications were protected by the Albert Canal, a moat that could be flooded by the Geer river flowing further north. There were also dry anti-tank ditches, reinforced by anti-tank walls and infantry obstacles. From the top of the hill, the entire area in front could be seen far beyond the Meuse. All underground facilities: gun rooms, crew quarters, ammunition and storage rooms, machine rooms, etc. were connected by galleries that were intended to allow the fort to have its own life, independent of the outside world. It was believed that Eben-Emael could withstand a long period of time.