Discover

The underground military complex is excavated in a marlstone hill on three levels. The ground plan measures 750m by 950m and the fort has a network of corridors of more than 5km. In 1940, the total surface area of the military-owned land extended to 75ha.

On the east side the fort is bordered by the Albert Canal and a near-vertical cliff face with a height of 60m. To the northwest the fort is protected by the river Jeker and by a wet moat which also allowed the land in front of the entrance to the fort to be flooded. On the south side a dry anti-tank moat with 4m tall concrete walls was dug. Barbed wire entanglements and anti-tank obstacles completed the ground defense.

A total of 17 bunkers equipped with the most modern weapons gave this military complex its reputation as amongst the strongest in Europe.

The role of the fort was to guard the bridges over the Meuse and the Albert Canal in the region of Visé, Maastricht and Lanaken and to prevent the German army from entering Belgium via this route.

THE BARRACKS

Level 0 - 45m below the plateau

Behind the tall iron gate, the wooden drawbridge covering a 4m deep hole, and a fully equipped defensive bunker there is a heavy armoured door and a gas decontamination room. Behind this door, a gallery of almost 200m gives access to the power plant, the workshops and the underground barracks, designed to accommodate up to 1200 soldiers.

The power plant, shower block, kitchen, ground water pump, commanding officer's office, the officers' mess, sleeping quarters for officers and non-commissioned officers and enlisted troops are all refurbished and will take you back to the late 1930's. The hospital, complete with an operating theatre and a sterilisation room, prepared the fort operational for all combat situations.

THE GLIDER

Level 0 - 45m below the plateau

Only two DFS 230 (Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Segelflug) assault gliders are still in excistence in museums today. The glider on display at the fort consists mainly of different parts from the wrecks of three original aircraft. The cockpit and instrument panel are completely original and from the same aircraft.

The glider was assembled by former German glider pilots, under the supervision of the constructor, Mr. Hans Jacobs, under whose leadership the glider was built for the German air force in 1936. Thanks to intensive cooperation between German and Belgian veterans and with the support of the Belgian Mistry of Defence, the glider was transferred to the fort in 2008.

11 of these DFS 230 gliders carried out the surprise attack on the fort on 10 May 1940. It was the first glider assault ever in world history.

THE MUSEUM

Level 0 - 45m below the plateau

Housed in the former wards of the fort's hospital, the museum covers the spectacular attack on the fort on 10 May 1940 and the attack on three bridges over the Albert Canal located to the north of the fort.

A smaller museum in a former dormitory introduces visitors to the horrors of German V1 weapons and life in the Jeker valley during the occupation period.

THE GALLERIES

Level 1 - 25m below the plateau

A labyrinth of 5Km of underground galleries connects the barracks with the command post, air filtration rooms, ventilators, ammunition storage rooms and the entrances to the fort's 17 bunkers, all closed off with armoured doors. The rising and falling corridors are connected by stairs and run parallel to the plateau of the fort. Signage was put in place to guide the garrison through this underground tunnel system.

Your guide takes you through a section of the well-lit gallery system. Some of our themed tours and special visits will take you to the more distant and unlit sections of the corridor system.

THE ATTACK

At dawn on 10 May 1940, 10 large transport gliders landed an elite unit of German paratroopers (code name GRANIT) on the plateau of the fort.

There had been no official declaration of war yet.

Immediately after landing , one of the assault teams disabled the anti-aircraft machine guns. By using a new type of explosives, called a shaped charge, most of the observation domes, machine gun bunkers, artillery bunkers and artillery cupolas were neutralised in a very short space of time.

Gliders also landed at three bridges over the Albert Canal to the north of the fort. The two most important bridges were captured intact.

Counterattacks by the gunners of the fort failed due to the lack of automatic weapons and appropriate training. The disadvantageous terrain and regular attackts by the German air force

ensured that the German attackers maintained their superiority.

Artillery bombardments by the forts at Pontisse and Barchon had no result either, because the German soldiers had found shelter in the conquered bunkers.

During the night of 10 to 11 May 1940, German ground troops crossed the Albert Canal and the fort became surrounded.

Shortly before noon on 11 May 1940, only two artillery bunkers were still active. Furthermore. defensive fire had become impossible due to the neutralisation of the observation posts.

The fort surrendered around noon on Saturday 11 May 1940. The situation had become critical. The destructive effect of the new German explosives had done its work. Many soldiers of the garrison were killed, seriously wounded or completely demoralised.

THE HOLLOW CHARGE

The 50Kg or 12.5Kg hollow charge is filled with standard explosives but, unlike a classic charge, the force of the explosion is concentrated in the hollow part in the centre of the device. The 50Kg hollow charge is able to pierce 20 to 25cm of steel and 35cm of concrete. The explosion generates a heat of approximately 2800° Celsius, instantly burning all underlying material.

The principle of the hollow charge was first described in the late 18th century, but its conversion into a useful weapon did not occur until the late 1930s. (Earliest mention in 1792 and first true effect in 1883).

This new type of weapon was used for the first time in the attack on Fort Eben-Emael.

THE PLATEAU

The plateau has an area of 45 hectares which is about the same as 90 football fields.

In the early morning of 10 May 1940 a force of 10 gliders landed on this hill in total silence and with complete surprise.

The plateau is still military land, but can be visited freely provided you stay on the paths and respect the the heritage.

In 1940 there was not much vegetation on the plateau and the slopes.

Some tours include a visit to the plateau. Your guide will tell you about the glider landing, the battle site and the assault on the cupolas and bunkers.

A map of the plateau with a marked walking route and information about the various bunkers is for sale in the fort.

During the walk you can enjoy magnificent views over the Albert Canal, the Lannaye locks and the Meuse valley towards Maastricht.

In collaboration with

Nationale Loterij

Federation Wallonie-Bruxelles

Defensie

Visit Wallonia

365

Herita

Bassenge

ENABLERS