After the fall of the fort d'Ében-Émael , the fort d'Aubin-Neufchâteau aided by the forts of Battice and Barchon , blocked the German troops for 11 days, at the cost of seven killed and 20 wounded. The enemy left more than 2,000 men outside its walls. The fort underwent 23 infantry assaults preceded by artillery and air bombardments. German troops will admit that, after Fort de Loncin (Ans in 1914), they underwent the toughest artillery battle on the Western Front in front of this fort. The fort resisted to the point of exhaustion. Turrets destroyed, no more ammunition for its close-in defenses, the entrance block is taken by force after the last grenade is thrown by the defenders. The commandant d'Ardenne and some officers want to continue fighting in the galleries, which is refused by the defense committee. The entrance block is partly occupied by the enemy. After twice refusing to surrender to the parliamentarians, the commander had to give up what remained of the work, as the ammunition had run out. The garrison is allowed to go out armed, between a German guard of honor. Everything of use to the enemy had been destroyed.
Photos : Tom Penay
Text: wikipedia
After the fall of the fort d'Ében-Émael , the fort d'Aubin-Neufchâteau aided by the forts of Battice and Barchon , blocked the German troops for 11 days, at the cost of seven killed and 20 wounded. The enemy left more than 2,000 men outside its walls. The fort underwent 23 infantry assaults preceded by artillery and air bombardments. German troops will admit that, after Fort de Loncin (Ans in 1914), they underwent the toughest artillery battle on the Western Front in front of this fort. The fort resisted to the point of exhaustion. Turrets destroyed, no more ammunition for its close-in defenses, the entrance block is taken by force after the last grenade is thrown by the defenders. The commandant d'Ardenne and some officers want to continue fighting in the galleries, which is refused by the defense committee. The entrance block is partly occupied by the enemy. After twice refusing to surrender to the parliamentarians, the commander had to give up what remained of the work, as the ammunition had run out. The garrison is allowed to go out armed, between a German guard of honor. Everything of use to the enemy had been destroyed. Photos : Tom PenayText: wikipedia
