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The strength of the Belgian Army extended to seven Corps, a Cavalry Corps and several ad hoc units and fortresses. In the following overview, the position of each division at the start of hostilities on May 10, 1940 is given in parentheses. I Corps - Lieutenant-General Alexis Vander Veken
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.
Belgium in World War II: Strength of primary military organizations Military Organization Period Total personnel over time 1940 Army May - June 1940 600,000 - 650,000 Free Belgian Forces: 1940–1944 ca. 8,000 Belgian Army 1944–1945 June 1944 – May 1945 ca. 100,000 SS volunteers April 1941 – May 1945 ca. 15,000
The Free Belgian forces (French: Forces belges libres, Dutch: Vrije Belgische Strijdkrachten) were soldiers from Belgium and its colonies who fought as part of the Allied armies during World War II, after the official Belgian surrender to Nazi Germany.
The Belgian army's chief of staff, Lieutenant General Oscar Michiels, recommended that a representative be sent to the Germans to negotiate a ceasefire. [13] At 17:00, Leopold decided to send the army's deputy chief of staff, Major General Olivier Derousseaux, to the headquarters of the German 18th Army. Two French Army divisions were withdrawn ...
Museum display of the uniform and equipment of the Frontier Cyclists at the time of the German invasion of Belgium in May 1940. The Frontier Cyclists (French: Cyclistes-frontière; Dutch: Grenswielrijders, officially abbreviated as CyFr) were bicycle infantry who served as part of the Belgian Army from 1934 to 1940.
German cavalry parade past the Royal Palace in Brussels shortly after the invasion, May 1940. The German occupation of Belgium (French: Occupation allemande, Dutch: Duitse bezetting) during World War II began on 28 May 1940, when the Belgian army surrendered to German forces, and lasted until Belgium's liberation by the Western Allies between September 1944 and February 1945.
During the first days of the conflict, the 12th's units saw elements of the French 7th army pass through its positions on their way to the Netherlands. When these units were defeated they hurriedly passed the Belgian line again, along with units of the 18th Belgian division which fought delaying actions in the Turnhout area.