German invasion of Belgium (1940)

Battle of Belgium
Part of the German invasion of France and the Low Countries in World War II
Belgian soldiers under German guard following the fall of Fort Eben-Emael on 11 May 1940
Date 10–28 May 1940 (2 weeks and 4 days) Location Belgium and Luxembourg Result German victory Belgian surrender Establishment of Belgian government and army in exile Territorial changes German occupation of Belgium German annexation of Eupen-Malmedy
Belligerents
Belgium  France  United Kingdom  Netherlands[a]  Luxembourg	Germany
Commanders and leaders
Leopold III  Hubert Pierlot Maurice Gamelin Maxime Weygand Lord Gort Émile Speller	Adolf Hitler Fedor von Bock
Strength
144 divisions[b] 13,974 guns[c] 3,384 tanks[d] 2,249 aircraft[e]	141 divisions[1] 7,378 guns [1] 2,445 tanks[1] 5,446 aircraft (4,020 operational)[1]
Casualties and losses
222,443+ casualties (200,000 captured)[f] ~900 aircraft[g]	Uncertain (see German casualties)[h]

The invasion of Belgium or Belgian campaign^[2] (10–28 May 1940), often referred to within Belgium as the 18 Days' Campaign (French: Campagne des 18 jours, Dutch: Achttiendaagse Veldtocht), formed part of the larger Battle of France, an offensive campaign by Germany during the Second World War. It took place over 18 days in May 1940 and ended with the German occupation of Belgium following the surrender of the Belgian Army.

On 10 May 1940, Germany invaded Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Belgium under the operational plan Fall Gelb (Case Yellow). The Allied armies attempted to halt the German Army in Belgium, believing it to be the main German thrust. After the French had fully committed the best of the Allied armies to Belgium between 10 and 12 May, the Germans enacted the second phase of their operation, a break-through, or sickle cut, through the Ardennes, and advanced toward the English Channel. The German Army (Heer) reached the Channel after five days, encircling the Allied armies. The Germans gradually reduced the pocket of Allied forces, forcing them back to the sea. The Belgian Army surrendered on 28 May 1940, ending the battle.^[3]

The Battle of Belgium included the first tank battle of the war, the Battle of Hannut.^[4] It was the largest tank battle in history at the time but was later surpassed by the battles of the North African Campaign and the Eastern Front. The battle also included the Battle of Fort Eben-Emael, the first strategic airborne operation using paratroopers ever attempted.

The German official history stated that in the 18 days of bitter fighting, the Belgian Army were tough opponents, and spoke of the "extraordinary bravery" of its soldiers.^[5] The Belgian collapse forced the Allied withdrawal from continental Europe. The British Royal Navy subsequently evacuated Belgian ports during Operation Dynamo, allowing the British Expeditionary Force (BEF), along with many Belgian and French soldiers, to escape capture and continue military operations. France reached its own armistice with Germany in June 1940. Belgium was occupied by the Germans until the autumn of 1944, when it was liberated by the Western Allies.

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