Attack to Fort Eben Emael - The Matrix Games version of West Front

German Fallschirmjäger Assault on Fort Eben Emael. Fort Eben Emael was built to better defend Belgium from potential invaders. It had a commanding position over the Albert Canal, and covered 3 important bridges in the area. The Fort was considered impregnable by many but it was a steppingstone into Belgium and had to be taken. The German 6th Army's (Commander von Reichenau) task was to depart from the line Aachen (D)-Venlo (NL) to rapidly cross the river Meuse and to break through the Belgian defence-lines as soon as possible. The intention was to bind the allied armies in Mid-Belgium as a tactical condition for the big break-through of the Sedan (F)-Abbeville (F) offensive. The plans for the area around Eben-Emael were made by Hitler himself. May 10th, 1940 Began: 5:20 am. A force of 78 men landed silently on the fort; The defenders were totally taken by surprise. Sappers with 2.5 tonnes of explosives ran to their targets. Hollow charges were used to destroy gun emplacements and explosives were thrown through gun slits and barrels. The defenders were almost immediately pushed back into the depths of the compound followed by showers of grenades and explosives. Calls for help from the fort were heard, but the available infantry was continually hampered by Stukas, and could not be called in. The next day, the fort was nearly obliterated. Explosives were now being used to drive the Belgian garrison out of the inner fort. The garrison of 1100 men surrendered to 72 Fallshirmjäger at 1:00 pm. Fort Eben Emael was destroyed, the road onwards into Belgium was open. A small force of German paratroopers captured fifteen times their number of Belgian troops in an impregnable fortress in one night. An incredible victory with the loss of only 6 men in return.