The Belgian Army of World War II (1940)

The Belgian Army of World War II was an army that looked like an army of 1918. The 1940 Belgian Army was defeated during the German invasion of Belgium. The German invasion of Belgium during the Second World War started on May 1940. On that day Germany's attack on the west begun. Belgium was invaded by the German armies and it's most important bulwark of defence - Fort Eben-Emael - was neutralized within a day when German paratroopers (Fallshirmjäger) managed to reach the roof of the fortress via glider planes. The Belgian Army of 1940 barely stood a chance. The main German attack went through the Ardennes. Belgian special forces (the Chasseurs Ardennais) fought back but weren't able to stop the German assault. In this video you will learn about the Battle of Belgium, also known as the 18 Days' Campaign (Campagne des 18 jours / Achttiendaagse Veldtocht).
History Hustle presents: The Belgian Army of the Second World War (1940).
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SOURCES
- Hitler's Blitzkrieg Enemies 1940. Denmark, Norway, Netherlands & Belgium [Men-at-Arms 493] (Nigel Thomas).
- Belgium's Dilemma. The Formation of the Belgian Defense Policy, 1932-1940 (Jonathan A. Epstein) 190-191.
- Dunkirk and the Fall of France (Geoffrey Stewart) [e-book].
- dunkirk1940.org/
IMAGES
Images from commons.wikimedia.org and 18daagseveldtocht.be
VIDEO
Video material from:
• Video
Het Belgisch Leger Waakt 1938/39 (Belgian Army / L'Armée Belge)
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[@HistoryHustle]

Learn about the German invasion of Belgium (1940): kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJaaZnmLqst-jNU

[@tmesisskewomorph7491]

HH have you made a vid about East Prussia ? German organization there and communications with Berlin. What Army was there & how was it prepared before invading Poland ? Poles lived in the Southern half; surely news would have filtered South.

[@HistoryHustle]

@@tmesisskewomorph7491 I did. Use search bar of the channel and you will find several videos.

[@mammuchan8923]

By all accounts the Belgian Congolese were happy to support Belgium with men and resources. Surprising after the atrocities committed against this colony which happened only a few generations prior. Great video as always🇧🇪🇧🇪🇧🇪🇧🇪🇧🇪

[@HistoryHustle]

Yeah indeed, but after WW2 they demanded more autonomy. Eventually Congo became independent in 1960. Unfortunately many troubles started then for the Congolese.

[@MrSamgillis]

great video as always HH Love your work! however here's some fixes: the belgians did have a variety of AA guns (the swedish bofors F.E was one of them) they had few "real" tanks (AMC 35's with a bigger actually practical turret). this is true, but they had quite alot of T13 Tank destroyers(47MM AT GUN) and T15 scout tanks (13.2mm machinegun) the T15 was really fast but had a weak chassis the T13's gun could destroy anything the germans had in 1940 easily. the problem was not that it couldn't throw a punch, the biggest problem was it couldn't really take one (they where very lightly armored)

[@HistoryHustle]

Thank you for sharing this additional information!

[@Rafa-mp6xe]

French 75 mm CA Mle 1917 & QF 3.7-inch AA gun were the heaviest AA guns they had in the May Campaign.

[@nekoqing4397]

despite the lack of equipment, i find it incredibly impressive that little belgium managed to mobilize 600,000 men. That's alot for a country of that size that is relatively sparse compared to their neighbors and has a huge linguistic devide.

[@BartJBols]

There was a massive draft, everyone with a penis who could walk, think and talk was drafted. My dad even talked about his drafting (after the war) saying the idea was that if something happened, to get as many warm bodies to throw at the enemy to delay so other nations could intervene. Equipment and non-discipline training was secondary.

[@nekoqing4397]

@@BartJBols that is tough

[@HistoryHustle]

Quantity doesn't say it all...

[@stormeaglegaming5395]

Thank you for the Information .

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for watching!

[@johnvanstone5336]

Superb video, packed full of little known history, presented well, well constructed in my opinion 🇬🇧✌️❤️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@HistoryHustle]

Glad you found the video interesting.

[@obersot77]

Thank you for this informative video, History Hustle! I very much appreciate your passion and enthusiasm. The Belgians indeed possessed few armoured vehicles (8 ACG-1 tanks of French license production, and a handful of light T-15 tanks), but let us not forget the quite innovative T-13 tank destroyer, carrying the powerful standard 47mm FRC anti-tank gun. Presenting a minuscule target, and an armament able to rip any German tank of the period to shreds, it could have been a powerful defensive asset against a foe with superior materiel. Legend has it that a T-13 pierced at considerable range a Pz.Kpfw IV from the side, destroying it AND an armoured half track (though this was likely a truck as few Hanomags were in service) behind it. The Belgians boasted up to 250 of the machines. An impressive feat for a nation of such size. Courage Le Belges!

[@Voske135]

50 t15 light tanks a handfull?

[@obersot77]

Could not recall the exact figure at the time. 42 is a commonly accepted figure.

[@pablobanados6552]

Excellent video. Great information. Thank you. Greetings from Chile.

[@HistoryHustle]

Many thanks. Actually I will go to Chile this Thursday 🇨🇱

[@nickpapagiorgio5056]

Ready for class with prof Stefan, and what a cool subject for today!!!! Coffee in hand and my eyes and ears are focused for learning! ☺️🤓📚✏️

[@HistoryHustle]

Great 👍

[@ShubhamMishrabro]

Man your presentation has improved so much. I remember telling you to add more photos and videos. Absolutely underrated content

[@HistoryHustle]

🇧🇪👍

[@ww2.militaria]

Great video, a part of WW2 which is often overlooked.👍

[@HistoryHustle]

Glad you found the video interesting.

[@robertm.8653]

As always a great video! Cheers and have a great day.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks!

[@peterlinz2733]

Du machst echt gute Arbeit

[@HistoryHustle]

Danke!

[@albertarthurparsnips5141]

Dear Stefan, at the risk of repeating myself ad nauseam, upon the release of yet another stellar video, all I can add is how absolutely marvelous a piece of work you’ve done….AGAIN ! Congratulations, sir !!!!

[@HistoryHustle]

Many thanks for your praise, Albert!

[@albertarthurparsnips5141]

@@HistoryHustle You are most welcome !

[@Page-Hendryx]

History Hustla = top shelf.

[@HistoryHustle]

👌

[@timetraveltvniles7650]

More videos like this would be fabulous!

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for watching! Hopefully more on that in the future!

[@gibraltersteamboatco888]

Another excellent piece of work. BZ Chasseurs Ardennais the original Green Berets.

[@HistoryHustle]

🇧🇪👍

[@thomasgonzalez7133]

Stefan, are you wearing an authentic Belgium WW2 uniform in the video?

[@HistoryHustle]

I wish! It's a Danish 1970s/1980s uniform I believe. Bought it for a few euros 5 years ago.

[@andreasbaranek6828]

Super Video, because you don't find much about the belgium army of ww2

[@HistoryHustle]

🇧🇪👍

[@luxembourgishempire2826]

🇧🇪🇧🇪🇧🇪. I would ask for an army formation video on OUR army formation that would be EPIC! But I don't think there are enough images on it.

[@HistoryHustle]

If I (or you) manages to visit a military museum in Luxembourg and take some pictures we can make it happen...

[@eleanorkett1129]

Thanks again for a great presentation. I’m a bit surprised though that they were able to get volunteers from the Congo given the recent history of Belgium in that country.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for watching! Actually, also during WW1 Congolese were drafted in the Belgian colonial army.

[@themodernwarfarehistorian825]

What about a video on the structure and organization of a Belgian Division in ww2? Btw, keep it up with the great work mate!

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks. Perhaps in the future one day!

[@thebelgianfights]

It took a Dutchman to teach an ex Belgian soldier about the WW2 Belgian army haha. Thanks Stefan!

[@HistoryHustle]

👍👍👍

[@tubarao1143]

I am interested about the congo army. never heard of it!

[@HistoryHustle]

The Force Publique! Hopefully more on that in the future.

[@caslinden1373]

Weer een heel interessante video man 👍👍

[@HistoryHustle]

Dank voor het kijken.

[@mindme7628]

Oh I didn't realise you were doing our army. I only saw our flag and assumed you were FINALLY doing the Walloon Legion. I guess this will do for now. Thanks! 🇧🇪

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your reply. Walloon Legion will have to wait.

[@zanzao-1ps318]

Please talk about the Force Publique, and what operations did they carry out (if they did) in the two world wars

[@HistoryHustle]

Hopefully in the future one day.

[@elazarsan]

Interesting!

[@HistoryHustle]

👍

[@privatepatato8227]

A video on the 13th SS (1st Croatian) pherhaps?

[@HistoryHustle]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/en26dZulj7Zjnrs

[@ikke640424153]

Will there be an episode about Luxembourg in the second world war?

[@HistoryHustle]

There already is: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pH2ui4iEor2Arac

[@williamgorham7339]

Sabaton wrote a song called “Resist and Bite” about these light infantry bad asses!

[@HistoryHustle]

Ok!

[@MathTheBelgian]

Love the video! just to say , Belgium could have been more stronger if it had at-least 120 tanks like the French AMC who were a bit faster then the Belgian T13

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for replying!

[@MathTheBelgian]

@@HistoryHustle Love you're video's man!

[@spartacusgladiator]

Would have enjoyed meeting you when I lived in the Netherlands where I taught History at the NATO (AFNORTH) school in Brunssum.

[@HistoryHustle]

Cool!

[@mariyanadobreva8724]

So much information in this video ! It looks like Belgium still had a well equipped army for such a small country, but did not have a chance against the Nazi war machine. It trusted too much neutrality...I didn't know it used colonial forces. Do you have more information about that? Merci !

[@mariyanadobreva8724]

@@HistoryHustle Great !

[@CZ350tuner]

The Belgians described the FN 47mm. L.33 as a light infantry gun, not an anti-tank gun, though it had some limited anti-tank capability, due to its low velocity. German evaluation range tests, on captured examples, recorded a performances of up to 60mm. @ 0 degrees @ 100 metres with PzGr.(b) APC.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for sharing this additional information.

[@andrewsteele7663]

Good morning, I love the uniform, but just wanted some clarification. Do you really think that the French were really keen to support the Belgian's. I know the Brits were keen for the French to get involved as it would have made Herr Hitler stop and waste time killing the French. Great content, love the channel. Cheers from Oz.

[@HistoryHustle]

Good question, have to research the French side of things for that. Therefore I don't have the answer now.

[@lukesshootingfun9193]

In 1935 the FN GP was adopted. Also knowed as the Browning Hi power . Not every officier was issued the side-arm yet. The germans also used the GP when they caputered FN . Mainly the SS . Nice video! Groeten uit Belgie .

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for sharing! In case you're interested, here is my video about Flemish Waffen-SS volunteers: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rXKYf5WfeZKqjLM

[@lukesshootingfun9193]

@@HistoryHustle heb ik al gezien 👍

[@HistoryHustle]

Top 👍

[@user-lg4mm3mf8i]

I have noticed there are quite a lot of mistakes in this video. So here are some corrections: 1) Belgium did have anti-aircraft guns. 12 x 94mm, 124 x 75mm and 106 x 40mm guns. Belgium did not have light 20mm guns but used ex-German WW1 Maxim MG-08/15 machineguns for that. They had a lot of those, perhaps as much as 2000. So Belgium did have AAA but not enough to cover everything. The Belgian Army Airforce had about 250 aircraft total, about 164 of those were combat aircraft. Alas most of these were older models. New types were ordered abroad and in production locally but did make it in time in sufficient quantity. The proximity of German airfields and size of the Luftwaffe made contesting the sky difficult. 2) Belgium had 8 operational ACG-1 tanks, 42 T.15 light tanks and at least 237 T.13 tank destroyers in use. The T.13 B3 was still in production so there might have been more than that. 300 AFV's for a country of 8 million is pretty good. The ACG-1 and the T.13 were armed with a good 47mm gun. Armour protection was rather light though. 3) The standard rifle was either the new built FN Mauser 1935 or the FN Mauser 1936. This last one reused some parts of older FN Mauser 1989 rifles like the wooden stock and the magazine. In terms of performance, they were identical. The unmodified FN Mauser was only used by some 2nd reserve units and the territorial troops. 4) The standard pistol was the FN Browning modèle 1935 Grande Puissance, the 9mm Browning High Power. One of the best pistols of its day. Only some reserve units had olders FN Browning 1922 pistols, which were still decent. 5) Like all countries at the time, Belgium relied partially on static fortifications ie the fortresses of Liège and Namur. At the same time the Belgian Cavalry had fully switched to motorised transport between 1935 and 1935. The Belgian Army did not have any horse cavalry left in May 1940 unlike Germany, France, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Norway, USSR, etc. The Chasseurs Ardennais and the Cyclistes Frontières / Border Cyclists also had a high degree of mobility. The infantry had bikes and the heavy weapons were motorised. As mentioned before, Belgium had a lot of selfpropelled antitankguns, the T.13. Secondly nearly all towed C.47 antitankguns were pulled by armoured Ford Marmon Herrington 4x4 tractors (Cavalry) or Vickers Utility B tracked armoured tractors. Only a few small units used softskin trucks. As far as I am aware this was something unique for the time as the antitankartillery of Belgium was nearly entirely mechanised or selfpropelled. 6) The Belgian Army was especially large compared to the size of the population. Estimates differ but 600.000 is on the low end. It might be as much as 650.000. 7) The standard infantry division had 4 artillery battalions. 3 x 12 cannons of 75mm and 1 x 12 howitsers of 105mm 8) Some authors keep repeating the same incorrect stuff. The Belgian Army of 1940 was very large and reasonably well equipped. Roughly on par with the French and Germans. Although all had some strenghts and weaknesses. Compared to other small and medium sized European countries of the time, Belgium had actually a pretty decent Army. The Czechoslovakian Army is one of the few smaller countries that I would rate above it.

[@HistoryHustle]

I refer to my sources. Don't believe all the stuff you mention are mistakes in my video. But thanks for sharing.

[@user-lg4mm3mf8i]

@@HistoryHustle The best sources are Belgian, or more precisely Walloon, authors like Roger Lothaire, Laurent Halleux, Franck Vernier, Georges E. Mazy and Eric Simon. These have direct access to the Belgian archives. The problem is that these only publish in French and their books are hard to get. UK and US authors usually rehash the same incorrect stuff. But they reach a larger audience due to the English language, larger publishers and e-books.

[@bulldogge2002]

A point after capitulation of Belgium was a loot of FN psitols for the Wehrmacht. Like the Radom and Czech pistols a bigger amount was taken from Begium from the army and police and often given to officers, Waffen-SS and Para Troops. A lot of german soldiers and officers took such pistols as a souvenier. The anti-tank guns, mortars and other equipm,ent from Belgium also was given to non-germanic Waffen-SS troops or other volunteer legions. A lot of depots and such Forts also be used by Wehrmacht. The belgian Mausers and personal equipment also be transfered to the axis forces of other countries, even Finnland became such weapons in his fight against russian forces in 1941. Such like others. Such Mauser rifles was also used by occupation troops all over europe, such like the czech VZ 24 were used by SS-troops. Mortars and machine guns also were transfered to Wehrmacht. Here is a list of belgium equipment be transfered to the Wehrmacht as a "Beute Waffe": Pistols: Browning Hi-Power, FN Model 1910, FN Model 1922, FN Model 1900, FN Model 1903, FN Model 1905, FN Baby Browning, Colt M1903 Pocket Hammerless, Ruby M1915, Nagant M1895, MAS Modele 1892, Smith & Wesson No . 3, Webley Bulldog, Pieper M1893 Automatic pistols and submachine guns: MP 28 (Pieper Bayard mle 1934), STEN Mk II rifles: Mauser Model 1889, Belgian Mauser Model 1935, Mauser Model 1893, Lebel M1886

[@geertbus4644]

Ik heb binnenkort weer een compleet Belgisch uniform dus zou keer uitleg kunnen geven.

[@HistoryHustle]

Tof. Met corona is dat helaas op het moment niet mogelijk :(

[@istoppedcaring6209]

an interesting notion I just pondered maybe Leopold III had no choice when it came to staying with the troops, same as Albert II in ww1 simply put Belgium is really two nations in a trenchcoat that can never see eye to eye, the only thing that could keep them fighting would have been if the one thing that (sort of) united them, the king (and turns out that the king was more popular in Flanders at that time and after the war) would stay with his troops rather than fleeing, I mean would you happily die for Belgium if you spoke Flemish and all your higher officers only spoke French and you were still regarded second class whilst the cities in your region were steadily frenchified (brussels only becoming majority french speaking in 1930) no, you wouldn't, certainly not as a Fleming but this was the time in which Wallonia was richer and in their mind they didn't need the Flemish, they actually threw a fit when "officially" Dutch was recognised as one of the official languages, (not implemented though, you could just perform minor functions in dutch now, nothing to serious ofcourse)

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for sharing. Soon I'll cover more on Leopold III during the Battle of the Lys (1940).

[@mikehydropneumatic2583]

In Brussels and Bastogne seem to be two nice museums.

[@HistoryHustle]

Have to check that out!

[@soyboyhunter2022]

@@HistoryHustle it's worth it trust me

[@user-os7re3cs9g]

Kan u Belgische tanks doen van ww2 pls.

[@HistoryHustle]

Nee helaas. Tanks interesseren mij niet veel. Daar zijn andere kanalen voor.

[@66kbm]

Any information why Luxembourg managed to stay neutral in both Wars?

[@HistoryHustle]

Luxembourg didn't...

[@craigclemens986]

They got overrun in a few days. Both wars.

[@dancarson1479]

Great Belgian Content

[@HistoryHustle]

🇧🇪👍

[@grandcommander1140]

Yes yes very good my old chaparoni

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for watching!

[@grandcommander1140]

@@HistoryHustle no problemo my Friendo

[@redhutsgaming3067]

De Belgen gebruikten ook de fn model d en de fn browning hi-power

[@HistoryHustle]

Dank voor het laten weten. Ik heb niet alles kunnen coveren. Zelf zo'n klein leger heeft nog zoveel dingen om over te vertellen.

[@thomasmusso1147]

'Neutralty' .. in the School Yard, not many pick a fight with the big tough kid .. even if he does mind his own business and not take sides. Politicians could learn from this.

[@HistoryHustle]

👍

[@markbilyeu6326]

I have a rare Model 1935 Mauser variant that was captured by the Germans at the FN plant. It lack the inspection markings. It was most likely brought back to the US by a American GI or perhaps a German family that moved here. A very rare Mauser variant. Some germans liked it better than their K98 Mauser.

[@HistoryHustle]

Interesting to read. Thanks for sharing.

[@billd.iniowa2263]

Poor Belgium. Wrong place, wrong time.

[@HistoryHustle]

True.

[@PROGAMER-st3bl]

Me too

[@HistoryHustle]

?

[@stevebrindle1724]

It appears the Belgium army was an easier route to France than the Maginot line. I know General Hindsight is the greatest officer there has ever been but the German attack through Belgium seems such an obvious strategy I cannot understand why it was not expected and planned against?

[@craigclemens986]

Politics.

[@HistoryHustle]

General Hindsight, good one!

[@robertm.8653]

As a great man once said: Gloria Fortis Mile ! The Wehrmacht Closing In! Adversor Et Amortus! The Boar Against The Eagle!

[@HistoryHustle]

ok.

[@robertm.8653]

@@HistoryHustle do you listen to Sabaton by any chance?

[@michaelthomas7178]

Only ten tanks against all of the kraut tanks. Static defense a waste of resources. Vicksburg of US civil war was good example. A offensive strike force should always be the major component of a defense.

[@HistoryHustle]

Yeah, they should've known better...

[@Adrian-ju7cm]

Were the Belgian army helmets the same as the French?

[@NathanDudani]

He said they were

[@HistoryHustle]

Relations between Belgians and French military leaders caused this I think.

[@Adrian-ju7cm]

@@HistoryHustle yes and I think you spoke a fair bit about the fornications the Belgians were counting on to save them. Very interesting video and thanks

[@RedVelvetBlackleather]

True hero’s to try to muster just enough strength to fight back!

[@HistoryHustle]

Belgium!

[@66kbm]

Did i hear that correct.....only 10 Tanks?

[@HistoryHustle]

Yes.

[@peterpysik7636]

@@HistoryHustle 10 tanks?what about the 42 T15 and round about 250 self propelled 4,7cm anti-tank guns T13?

[@xvsj5833]

💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪👍👍👍❤️

[@HistoryHustle]

💪🇧🇪

[@ronaldonmg]

maybe you can somehow have a human make the subtitles?

[@HistoryHustle]

Still have to look into it.

[@tubarao1143]

What about the soviet army???

[@HistoryHustle]

What about it?

[@tubarao1143]

@@HistoryHustle Sorry, I meant "What about the soviets"?

[@julianshepherd2038]

Panzer 3 V Bicycle

[@HistoryHustle]

Thank you!

[@nerozero8266]

👍

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for watching!

[@craigclemens986]

Belgium fell quickly in 1940 because the UK and France failed to commit troops into Belgium.

[@HistoryHustle]

Please watch this video on that topic: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJaaZnmLqst-jNU

[@BHuang92]

Can't wait for the Belgian Resistance!

[@xys7536]

Good luck

[@HistoryHustle]

Hope to cover it in the future some day. Cannot tell when.

[@mikha4424]

Hi!

[@HistoryHustle]

Hello!

[@peterpysik7636]

10 tanks?what about the 42 T15 and round about 250 self propelled 4,7cm anti-tank guns T13?

[@fergar9264]

more belgians died fighting alongside the nazis in Russia than protecting their country from germany

[@HistoryHustle]

I doubt that.

[@fergar9264]

@@HistoryHustle I am not, two division of about 40k men were formed anyway I like your chanell , no matter I am not agree in some things , the chanell is good

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks. I believe lees Belgians fought for the SS. Since the Netherlands had the biggest group of SS volunteers with 25,000. Do notice the 1940 Belgian army counted for 350,000 men. Of course, these not all fought in the 1940 German invasion.

[@fergar9264]

@@HistoryHustle the Europeans should think over about what we did in ww2, Why the Germans enter in paris Parading , the help to the germans to deport 50k Jews 0,7 million vollunteer fighting along the nacis, but I suppose that is easier to look to the east and blame others.

[@HistoryHustle]

Think it's more nuanced than you present. First the numbers are true but the story of why so.many Dutch Jews were deported is complicated because it had several factors involved. More on that later. Second, the fact that these sides of the war are ignored isn't true. At least not for my country: looking at Dutch school books and TV shows. And look at my content.

[@aimz2086]

I Dont know . Its like a local police unit trying to take on the united states military. would make a nice woke movie though.

[@HistoryHustle]

Woke movie?