Unternehmen Danzig, Sturmgruppe Stahl, Part 2

About this episode

This episode reconstructs the battle for Veldwezelt, detailing the German airborne assault and the ensuing conflict with Belgian forces.

On May 10th, 1940, at 05:20, ten German DFS 230 gliders descend over the Albert Canal in Belgium. Their objective: seize the steel bridge at Veldwezelt before Belgian engineers can detonate the demolition charges. Within minutes, Fallschirmjäger of Sturmabteilung Koch are landing directly on the positions of the 2e Régiment de Carabiniers. Bunker N is assaulted. Trench systems north and south of the bridge erupt in close-quarters fighting. Demolition cables are cut. Communications fail. Conflicting reports paralyse Belgian command. Throughout the morning and afternoon, Belgian forces launch counter-attacks from the Kip van Hees and from positions west of the canal. German parachute reinforcements attempt hazardous drops under fire. Luftwaffe dive-bombers intervene repeatedly. Infantry of II. Bataillon, Schützen-Regiment 33 advance to consolidate the bridgehead. This episode reconstructs the battle for Veldwezelt sector by sector, minute by minute, one of the earliest precision airborne bridge seizures of the war, carried out four years before Pegasus Bridge. 🌍 More research, maps, and documents at www.worldwar2-sof.com #WW2 #WorldWar2 #Fallschirmjäger #AlbertCanal #Airborne…

Topics covered

• World War 2
• airborne operations
• military history
• German forces
• Belgian resistance
• battle reconstruction

Keywords

• Fallschirmjäger
• Albert Canal
• Veldwezelt
• May 10th, 1940
• airborne bridge seizure
• military tactics
• World War 2 history

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Fallschirmjäger, II. Bataillon, Schützen-Regiment 33, Luftwaffe, Sturmabteilung Koch

Places: Albert Canal, Belgium, Veldwezelt, Kip van Hees, Fort Eben-Emael

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