Battle of Belgium
| Battle of Belgium | |||||||||
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| Part of the German invasion of France and the Low Countries in World War II | |||||||||
 Belgian soldiers under German guard following the fall of Fort Eben-Emael on 11 May 1940. |
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
 United Kingdom Netherlands
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 Germany |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
 King Leopold III (POW) Hubert Pierlot Maurice Gamelin Maxime Weygand Lord Gort
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Gerd von Rundstedt Fedor von Bock
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| Strength | |||||||||
| 144 divisions 13,974 guns 3,384 tanks 2,249 aircraft |
141 divisions 7,378 guns 2,445 tanks 5,446 aircraft (4,020 operational) |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| 222,443+ casualties (200,000 captured) ~900 aircraft |
Uncertain (see German casualties) | ||||||||
Decisive German victory
The Battle of Belgium or Belgian Campaign, often referred to within Belgium as the 18 Days' Campaign (French: Campagne des 18 jours, Dutch: Achttiendaagse Veldtocht), formed part of the greater Battle of France, an offensive campaign by Germany during the Second World War. It took place over 18 days in May 1940 and ended with the German occupation of Belgium following the surrender of the Belgian Army.
On 10 May 1940, Germany invaded Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Belgium under the operational plan Fall Gelb (Case Yellow). The Allied armies attempted to halt the German Army in Belgium, believing it to be the main German thrust. After the French had fully committed the best of the Allied armies to Belgium between 10 and 12 May, the Germans enacted the second phase of their operation, a break-through, or sickle cut, through the Ardennes, and advanced toward the English Channel. The German Army (Heer) reached the Channel after five days, encircling the Allied armies. The Germans gradually reduced the pocket of Allied forces, forcing them back to the sea. The Belgian Army surrendered on 28 May 1940, ending the battle.
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