The Siege of the Belgian Fortress of Aubin-Neufchateau: A Day-by-Day Account

Fortress Overview

Relive day by day the siege of the Belgian fortress of Aubin-Neufchateau as recorded in the commander’s log.

BI = B1 or Bloc 1. Armed with a twin 75mm gun turret and two machine gun cupolas.

BII = B2 or Bloc 2. Armed with a twin 75mm gun turret and two machine gun cupolas.

BIII = B3 or Bloc 3. Peacetime entrance. Armed with 3 machine gun cupolas and a machine gun in casemate.

BO = Bloc O. Air intake and observation bloc.

BM = Mortar Bloc. Armed with three 81mm mortars and an observation cupola.

BP = Bloc P. Wartime entrance and auxiliary air intake. Two observation cupolas and a machine gun casemate.

CI = C1 or Coffer 1. Protects the moat. Armed with a 47mm AT gun and a machine gun.

CII = C2 or Coffer 2. Protects the moat. Armed with two 47mm AT guns and two machine guns.

CIII = C3, Coffer 3 or Anti-Tank Bloc. Armed with two 47mm AT guns in cupolas.

Day 7: Thursday the 16th of May 1940

00.00 to 6.00: Mortars and gun turrets fire at random around the Glacis to deter any German movements in the close proximity of the fort.

06.00: B2 signals the blinds on the 3 chimneys farm are all closed… They were opened yesterday evening. Suddenly, Bloc B2 is fired upon by a 37mm Pak near said farm. The gun turret fires 10 rounds on the farm and around it. The German gun is silenced.

10.15: Bunker / Observation post NV5 is surrounded and has run out of ammunition. They call to announce they are surrendering. The commander congratulates them for the job well done: They have provided the fort with invaluable information on the whereabouts of German troops in very difficult conditions.

Fort reports to HQ 6658 rounds of artillery have been fired since the 10th of May (That’s 6658 shells over a 6-day period).

German Attempts to Negotiate Surrender

11.00: Colonel Modart (Area commander/HQ) calls all the forts and encourages them to keep on resisting.

11.44: BP Calls: They have 3 Germans bearing a white flag coming toward the bloc’s entrance. They have what looks like 3 hostages with them. The commandant accepts to see them only if they release the 3 hostages, which the Germans do straight away. The fort’s doctor leaves the fort and comes back with a German Colonel and a Captain. The German Colonel tells the fort’s commandant: “Captain D’Ardenne, you have fulfilled your duty, but show some humanity toward your men and cease the combat and surrender your fort. Your efforts are as magnificent as they are futile”. “You have one hour to reflect on this. Hoist a white flag on the fort should you wish to surrender”.

Captain D’Ardenne’s answer was as follows: “You are like me, an officer. You know officers must honour their pledge. I pledged to defend this fort until the end. My answer to your request is no.” Upon this, the German Colonel shakes hands with the fort’s commandant and says “I understand”.

As the German officers departed, the fort’s officers expected the fort to be shelled or bombed as they had refused to surrender. Both gun turrets subsequently received the order to stay “Eclipsed” (retracted). Order was given to all troops to remain in the lower level of their combat blocs with only sentries allowed to remain in their positions in casemates and cupolas.

Afternoon Engagements

13.25: Message sent to HQ relating the encounter with the two German officers. Reply received: “Well done”!

14.20: B1 relates that 7 planes have just released bombs on the fort. No visible damage.

15.30: 50 rounds of 75mm fired on Moudrerie crossroad and 50 rounds of 81mm mortar bombs fired on Fouron crossroad.

16.14: B3 calls in: A lot of horses detected near the Moudrerie farm. 25 rounds fired on the objective. Several planes are spotted flying over the fort.

Infantrymen and two horsemen (officers) seen travelling on Warsage crossroad. Gun turrets and mortar bloc ordered to engage with 25 rounds.

17.45: BP spots infantry near Bombaye, the Germans are immediately engaged with 25 rounds of 75mm

18.12: BO spots another plane overflying the fort. BP reports a lot of infantry within the village of Bombaye. Gun turrets ordered to fire 100 rounds on the village.

19.10: German infantry trying to evacuate Bombaye are shot at by the fort’s gun turrets. Message to HQ: Everything under control. 7854 rounds of all caliber fired so far (In 7 days).

BP spots another 10 planes flying over the fort.

20.05: Scheur Farm engaged with 25 rounds after some activity was detected.

21.30: 50 rounds sent to Mouland crossroad and 50 on Witthuis crossroad to prevent any German traffic. BM fires 75 bombs on the Glacis to secure the fort’s perimeter.

23.00: 50 rounds of 75mm fired at random on various crossroads and strategic points in the region to disrupt German traffic.

The Fall of Boncelles and Flemalle Forts

The old refurbished fort of Boncelles fell today. Seeing that there was no way of carrying the fight after most of its means of defence were destroyed by heavy shelling, the fort’s commandant authorized his crew to slip out of the structure through the hidden emergency exit and stayed behind with a handful of volunteers. He died alongside his number two during the final German assault on his fort. Meanwhile, The old Flemalle fort surrendered after having been bombed to oblivion by the Luftwaffe.

There are now 9 forts out of 12 still holding the line.

Day 8 tomorrow.

-RBM