Thursday 9 May 1940
21.00: the units of the Wehrmacht receive the order of movement – 22.00: GQG began to be warned by the Border Units of German movements near the border – 11:35 p.m.: Order is given to the Belgian Army to occupy the combat sites...” This time, is it the right time or is it an exercise? »...
10 May, 02:00
General alert!
All the equipment is back, everything is controlled...
05:00: a first enemy aircraft passes over the Fort... without consequence.
08.30: order is given to burn the barracks in peacetime.
12.00: ...we are ready! ‘
2:23 p.m.: The first real shot of 75 is a set-up shot at a known point: LES COMBLES.
Order of folds of the elements of the 1st Lancers (1L) and the 1st Bn Cyclistes Frontières (1RCyFr/I) behind THE MEUSE... The Fort is isolated.
11 May, 01:00
The Fort Commanders were ordered to send reinforcements to the Field Army.
03.15: 1 Officer, 1 Sub-Officer and 68 soldiers are designated and depart for LIERS.
10.10 a.m.: First shot of cupolas II and IV on a German column in MARTEAU, in the SPA region and in LA REID. The fire will only stop around 8.30 p.m.
In the afternoon the Germans are in JUSLENVILLE!
Prohibition fire is carried out on road knots throughout the night.
12...Pentecost Day
At 10.45, the fort underwent its first German artillery bombardment.
5 minutes later, the room is spotted and destroyed!
Around 7.15 p.m., the ‘P’ building underwent heavy fire, a blast blew the shutter shutter of the turret, the fire from the explosion entered the well: Sergeant DEFRAIGNE and Private GRIGNARD are badly burned.
15 May, 10 a.m.
Following a major German attack on the ‘VESDRE’ shelter, an external action turned into a tragedy: Marshal of the Logis HUYSMANS is killed, Soldier MONVILLE is seriously wounded, he dies on May 22.
At 4.30 p.m., no longer having any communication, no longer knowing how to defend themselves, the staff put the armaments out of service and left the shelter.
20 May, 06:00
Shelter BV7, JEUVEUMONT-THEUX has been subjected to heavy fire... no more communication, it is abandoned.
Marshal of Logis REUL, Brigadier HENQUINET and Soldiers DELFOSSE and DOGNEZ performed their duty brilliantly.
– The War Cross will be awarded to them.
21 May, 02:10
The ‘MONT’ casemate no longer has any communication ... despite everything, a flare is fired: I am under attack. Since May 17, the Germans have been harassing the casemate tirelessly.
On 20 May, Soldier HOUYON was wounded by 37mm shrapnel passing through the observation bell shutter.
At 08:00, for lack of sustenance, the white flag is raised...
22 May, 3 p.m.
The 11 forts of LIEGE have fallen, the Fort of TANCRÉMONT remains the only one to hold.
Second visit by German parliamentarians:
...the German Commander-in-Chief wishes to speak to the Commander of the fort...
1Lt WEIMERSKIRCH (photo) states:
...the Fort Commander does not see the need for this interview and declines it. He informed the German Commander-in-Chief that the work would be defended to the end, that there was therefore no need to present himself again, that the Commander himself would possibly take the initiative of parliament and that he would indicate it himself by a white flag raised in the middle of the central massif! ‘
On May 28, 11:00...
To H.Q., May 28, 1940.
OFFICIERS, NCO, PRIVATES,
Unpredictably precipitated in a war of unprecedented violence, you fought courageously to defend the national territory on foot.
Exhausted by an uninterrupted struggle against an enemy far superior in number and material, we find ourselves forced to surrender.
History will say that the Army has done its duty. Our honor is safe.
These rough fights and sleepless nights cannot have been in vain. I recommend that you not be discouraged, but behave with dignity. May your attitude and discipline continue to deserve the esteem of the foreigner.
I do not leave you in the misfortune that overwhelms us and I want to watch over your fate and that of your families. Tomorrow, we will set to work with the firm will to lift the Fatherland from its ruins. LEOPOLD »
Wednesday 29 May, 15h15
After the heated interview between Captain DEVOS and General SPANG, the surrender of the fort is inevitable.
"Death in the soul, we had to surrender..." GERADON Raymond, Soldier Electrician.
..will continue to depart in captivity at WOLFSBERG: OFLAG XVIII B – for Officers and GÖRLITZ – STALAG VIII A – for the Troop.
After the departure of the garrison, only 10 electrician soldiers from the Fort will remain for the operation of the facilities. The fort remained in the hands of the German troops in transit until mid-August 1940.
At the end of this period, Belgian soldiers will be placed on leave and will return to their homes.
But the fight is not over!