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Second World War History > Invasion of the Low Countries Timeline

Invasion of the Low Countries Timeline

Holland and Belgium fall in less than one month, paving the road to the inevitable Invasion of France.

Authored By Staff Writer

The Low Countries ended up a speed bump on Hitler's road to European conquest. The Reich put to good use their well-trained and well-armed airborne troops to capture key bridges and routes ahead of the main land army. While the Allies were busy building their defenses, assuming the Ardennes to be an "impassable" natural barrier, the Germans thought otherwise and made their way through within time.


The end result would be a chain of battlefield losses for the Allies as the German war machine cut holes through the Allied wall, forcing pockets to retreat or surrender. The remaining French and British troops but to retreat while Belgian military forces held out for as long as they could. Holland was the first to fall to the Germans while Belgium fought for a short 18 days before capitulating.


The road to the German invasion of France was now wide open.

Text ©2006-2012 www.SecondWorldWarhistory.com • All Rights Reserved • No Reproduction Permitted
Total Invasion of the Low Countries Events: 14

1940
Friday
May 10th

German airborne elements land across Belgium and Holland in advance of ground forces, capturing key bridges and routes.

1940
Friday
May 10th

German paratroopers land in The Hague and Rotterdam.

1940
Friday
May 10th

89 German paratroopers land and take the Belgium fortress of Eben Emael with its garrison of 2,000 soldiers.

1940
Saturday
May 11th

British and French army forces begin defensive preparations in Belgium in an effort to stave off the German advance. A long line of strategic defenses is contructed.

1940
Tuesday
May 14th

Facing light opposition, German Panzer Corps XV, XLI and XIX are free to set up three key bridge-heads covering Dinant, Montherme and Sedan.

1940
Tuesday
May 14th

Panzer Corps XV and XIX break through the Allied defenses at Sedan, allowing German forces to completely bypass the formidable defenses at the French Maginot Line.

1940
Wednesday
May 15th

German Panzer Corps cross into the north of France.

1940
Wednesday
May 15th

After periods of heavy bombing all across Rotterdam, the Dutch surrender to the Germans.

1940
Friday
May 17th - May 18th

Antwerp falls to the German Army.

1940
Friday
May 17th - May 18th

Brussels falls to the German Army.

1940
Friday
May 17th - May 18th

Allied forces are in full retreat of the Germans, making their way towards the French coastline.

1940
Tuesday
May 21st

An Allied counterattack against the German Army near Arras ends in failure as the attack is itself countered by another advancing German land force.

1940
Tuesday
May 28th

King Leopold of Belgium orders his army to surrender to the Germans. By this time, his government has already relocated to Paris, France.

1940
Tuesday
May 28th

With Belgium out of the way, German Army elements begin making their way towards the French coastline in an attempt to completely eliminate Allied forces for good.
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