the protagonists
Journey of two military chiefs
Abel DEVOS, W, A, G, Captain,
Commander of the Fort de Tancrémont
Born in GISTEL, July 5, 1904.
On 21 October 1925, he was admitted to the Royal Military Academy and appointed Sergeant on 28 November 1925.
On December 25, 1927, he was appointed to the rank of Second Lieutenant and was sworn in on January 4, 1928.
He was admitted to the Artillery and appointed to the rank of 1st Lieutenant on 26 January 1930.
He married on April 13, 1934.
From 1931 to 1938, he joined the 1st Artillery Regiment.
On 19 July 1938, he was assigned to Fort Tancrémont and on 26 December 1939, he was appointed Captain.
On 29 May at 11:00 a.m., with the fort isolated and unable to communicate with headquarters, Captain DEVOS requested a meeting with Lieutenant-General SPANG, Commander-in-Chief of the Lower Rhine fortifications. The exchange went badly, as General SPANG believed that the Belgians had no claims to make!
While it is 11:00, the exchange is going badly, because for General SPANG, the Belgian has nothing to claim! He then declares to her: » I swear on my honour as a German general officer that the King of the Belgians surrendered unconditionally and ordered the entire army to cease hostilities.’.
Back at the fort, Captain DEVOS, in consultation with his Defence Council, had no choice but to comply with the Royal Order of Surrender.
At 3 p.m., some 20 German officers honoured the entire garrison before it departed for captivity.
Captain DEVOS was a prisoner of war on 29 May 1940 at Ollag XVIII B. He would pass through Ollag III B, Oflag II A until his repatriation due to illness on 1 July 1942.
He was treated in Belgium until the end of July 1942.
He was assigned to the O.R.A.F. (Ministry of Finance) of West Flanders from 1 November 1942 until his release.
Contacted by the resistance, he entered theSecret Army (disambiguation) from 31 October 42 to 14 October 1944.
Born in MERGENTHEIM, January 22, 1886.
On 21 August 1905, he joined the WURTEMBERG Army as a flag-bearer for the 49 Artillery Regiment.
He returned to the War School in METZ and left as Lieutenant on 27 January 1907.
During the First World War, he held command positions within the General Staff of Units of the III Corps.
At the end of the war, he successively became commander of several artillery regiments and was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Lower Rhine fortifications on 27 October.
On 29 May, during the interview, Captain DEVOS did not allow himself to be intimidated. He looked the General straight in the eye and replied: " I don't have to believe you, your threats don't scare me. The fort is intact, the garrison will be able to defend itself“.
Astonished, General SPANG replied: » Iit is no longer possible to obtain an order from the Headquarters. There is only one authority in Belgium, Germany! ‘ .
On 31 May 1940, he became Chief of the Reserves and served on the staff of the 6th Army Corps until 15 November 1940. During this time he was assigned to the organisation of the establishment of the Demarcation Line in FRANCE.
After two years on the Eastern Front, he was appointed Commander of the newly formed 266th Infantry Division on 28 May 43, to be deployed to BRETAGNE at the end of July 43.
On August 8, 44, he was taken prisoner by the Americans at BREST.
He was released on 16 May 1947.
He died on 29 August 1979 in Ellwangen.
Karl SPANG, A, Lieutenant-General,
Commander-in-Chief of the fortifications of the Lower Rhine
Dead for the Homeland
Died in the Line of Duty (Personnel of the Casemate VESDRE)
HUYSMANS Pierre, Soldier, killed on 15 May 40
MONVILLE Clément, Soldier, died on 22 May 40 as a result of his injuries.
Shot at the citadel of LIEGE
ZABEAU René , Sergeant, 21 May 41.
Resistant
LAGUESSE Adrien, Soldier, 3 Engineer Regiment, Resistant, killed at THEUX on 11 September 44.
Deceased in captivity
CRITS Jean-Baptiste, 15 February 45 in STREHLEN.
DROUVEN Leonard – UNKNOWN
GROSJEAN Albert, on 20 March 45 in SANKT-PÖLTEN.
HEROUFOSSE F – UNKNOWN.
LECRENIER Louis, on 10 February 45 in WIAZOW (WANZEN).