La Position fortifiée de Namur (P.F.N.) en mai 1940
(2012)
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Details
- Authors
- Supervisors
- Dumoulin, Michel
- Abstract
- (en) In 1930, barely sixteen years after 1914, the Ministry of Belgian National Defense edited a voluminous book on the "Defense of the fortified position of Namur in August 1914." But at the start of this research, 56 years after the 18 days campaign of May 1940, the role of Namur had not led to any global historical study. Only testimonies of veterans in local journals, brief monographs by forts associations and well documented articles in the Namur’s press had been published. For the first time, based on the systematic analysis of Belgian, French and German public archives, on previously unpublished private and iconographic sources (the archives of the General Deffontaine), and on over 300 oral testimonies, this thesis describes in detail the defense of the fortified position of Namur in 1940. At the end of the Great War, the Belgian defense system inherited from Brialmont having proved its ineffectiveness; the demilitarization of the Meuse‘s forts is planned (FNP being abolished in 1924). But remedying 1914’s defects, and under the leadership of General Galet, military authorities agree to restore old forts. Necessary appropriations approved by the parliament in 1931, the forts are upgraded according to some principles: new weaponry and cuirassiers’ reinforcement, improved ventilation and transmissions, observation posts’ increase. Southern lock position intended to break the enemy offensive in the center of Belgium, FNP will have an important garrison in 1939 by the constitution of the 7th Army Corps commanded by Lieutenant-General Deffontaine, former No. 2 of the General Staff (fortress of Namur Regiment, 8th Infantry Division and 2nd division of Ardennes Hunters). Having clarified the defensive organization of FNP, the thesis deals with the officers and soldiers’ training in the infantry companies schools and artillery school-battery of Suarlée, every day life on the infantry troops and forts gunners’ ground during the "phoney war" punctuated by successive alerts: inside the fort and cantonment, at the staff, among the inhabitants, in the shelters, the D system, military work, the morale of "those who watch", cultural and sports activities, the vagaries of weather, Christmas 1939 holidays, ceremonies, acute snooping... The major steps that lead to the explosion of 1940 are reviewed: the maneuvers of FNP in 1937, P.P.R. 1938 (strengthened peace footing), the establishment of progressive war of FNP in April-May 1940. During mobilization, FNP will take the appearance of an armed camp surrounded by trenches, barbed wire, and pillboxes. The special character of "Silent Night" from 9 to May 10 1940 is analyzed: the restoration of permissions (thinning before the storm), the general alarm (real alert or exercise?), the reaction of the 7th Army Corps, battle’s stations... On May 10, the Reich invaded Belgium. Namur witnesses the arrival of French elements within the Dyle maneuver: the 1st Blanchard Army in North and Prioux Cavalry Corps 2nd Light mechanical Division, South 9th Corap Army. In 1940, the defense of FNP is divided into two phases of unequal length: from 10 to May 15, she awaits the shock of the enemy; from May 15, following the retirement of the infantry, the forts, left to themselves, are ordered to resist utmost. May 12 is a milestone symbolized by many events: the aerial bombardment of Namur, the mass exodus of the population, burning forts barracks, the Ardennes Hunters fatal rally in Temploux, the departure of Governor Bovesse for Florennes, the passage of the 7th Belgian Army Corps under the authority of the French General Altmayer. On May 13, the Germans crossed the Meuse at Houx eventually causing the collapse of the 9th Army forcing French troops to leave the FPN on May 15 and move to Flanders. At the same time, the German divisions "test" the periphery of FPN. The first forts to endure the fire of the 269th Infantry-Division will be those of FPN North, namely Marchovelette and Suarlée. About the forts of the South and the Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse, they will face the General Renner’s 211th Infantry-Division. During those battles, solidarity plays as much as possible between the forts of Namur. Gradually dismantled by bombing aviation and artillery, gradually deprived of their means of defense, short of ammunition, immersed in an unbreathable atmosphere because of the ventilation system’s failur, the forts will resign themselves to lay down their arms. Fort Dave will last until May 24, the first cease-fire being Marchovelette on May 18. The garrison forts then take the direction of Stalags and Oflags. The conclusions are the following: What was until now the place reserved for the FPN and forts resistance in the historiography of the 18 days campaign? On May 10 1940, how was ordered alert? Was FPN ready? What were the French-Belgian military relations in Namur from 10 to May 15 1940? Are there similarities or differences between August 1914 and May 1940? What were the consequences of the retirement of May 15? How was the forts’fall effect? Why and how the governor Bovesse left Namur May 12, 1940? What was the mentality of Namur‘s Belgian soldier in 1939-1940? Did FPN resisted utmost in the light of the conclusions of the Commission of forts of 1946-1947?
- Affiliations
Citations
Vandenbroucke, J. (2012). La Position fortifiée de Namur (P.F.N.) en mai 1940. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/91072