The Need for Organisational Resilience - Chapter 3

The Story: May 10 – May 12 1940

At 03:00 on 10 th May the German government issued a ‘Memorandum’ informing the Dutch

and Belgian governments of the imminent arrival of the Wehrmacht. At 05:35, the Germans

crossed the Dutch, Belgian and Luxembourg border in force.

In the south – apart from a few forward units – four French armies remain static in their

lines of fortifications. As planned, the bulk of the French and British forces moved towards

the Dyle/Breda line, to link up with Dutch and Belgian armies, behind a protective curtain of

Belgian forts.

Paul Baudouin remarked that day:

Since four o’clock this morning I have been kept informed by telephone of the way

the German attack is developing. At 07:30 I was with the Prime Minister at 5 Place

du Palais Bourbon, and while he finished dressing he read me the appeals for help

from Holland and Belgium, giving me such details as were in his possession. He

went on, “Gamelin is saved. Now he has the battle he waited for, and for which he

never ceased to prepare and hope. I know our troops have advanced, and

Giraud’s army is to enter Holland”. (Baudouin 1948)

In the north, Giraud’s 7th Army tried to support the beleaguered Dutch forces, but with

little success. It soon became clear that the main thrust was through the area of Liège. At

12:30, the massive fort − Fort d'Ében-Émael – protecting the Albert Canal surrendered.

General Georges addressed the British Air Force in France the same day:

In view of the seizure by German detachments of the bridges over the Albert Canal

south-east of Maastricht, I demand instant intervention by the British and French

air forces to slow down the progress of the German columns which might use the

crossing points in order to effect a breach in the Belgian line. This operation must

be kept going as long as the threat continues. (Benoist-Méchin, 1956, p. 78)

The Belgian effort to destroy captured bridges over the Albert Canal was in vain, though.

Their bombers were met by fierce anti-aircraft fire and most were shot down during their first

approach or damaged beyond repair. Requests for massive allied air-attacks on those

crossings were made, but only a few dozen planes were mustered. The Germans started

ferrying substantial forces across the Albert Canal at Vroenhoven, largely unopposed. The

Belgian front was broken, the Dutch cornered against the sea, the French 7th Army was

retreating. The 1st French Army was thrown into the gap, and took the brunt of the attack.

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