Maison Forte de Saint Menges
Shaking up everything in their path since their general offensive of May 10, 1940, the German forces entered Bouillon the next day and continued their "Blitzkrieg" without stopping, rushing towards the west, that is to say towards the Meuse, in order to to make a success of their strategy of the "Sichelschnitt" (scythe blow) until Dunkirk.
On May 12 at dawn, the three Divisions of the 19th Panzer Corps commanded by General Guderian ford the Semois whose waters are very low, mainly at Mouzaive: the 1st Panzer Division's mission was to quickly reach the Meuse at Floing passing through Saint Menges, the 2nd to head towards Donchery and the 10th to enter Sedan via the Fond de Givonne, the classic route of Germanic invasions, and continue to Balan and Bazeilles.
A few houses built late, on the eve of hostilities, along the Belgian border, to the north of the Sedan country, are strong only in name and can only briefly delay the inexorable advance of this mechanical torrent.
Lieutenant Boulanger and his four men from the 10th Anti-tank Battery of the 78th Artillery Regiment responsible for defending the stronghold of Saint Menges opened fire on the first enemy tanks at the outlet of the forest, sacrificing their lives and resist heroically to the end, as will their 100 comrades from Fort de la Ferté, the last of the Maginot Line to the west, a few weeks later.
In the afternoon, the Panzers entered the courtyard of the Espérance factory in Gaulier, while the 10th Panzer Division invaded the center of Sedan empty of inhabitants.
On May 12 at dawn, the three Divisions of the 19th Panzer Corps commanded by General Guderian ford the Semois whose waters are very low, mainly at Mouzaive: the 1st Panzer Division's mission was to quickly reach the Meuse at Floing passing through Saint Menges, the 2nd to head towards Donchery and the 10th to enter Sedan via the Fond de Givonne, the classic route of Germanic invasions, and continue to Balan and Bazeilles.
A few houses built late, on the eve of hostilities, along the Belgian border, to the north of the Sedan country, are strong only in name and can only briefly delay the inexorable advance of this mechanical torrent.
Lieutenant Boulanger and his four men from the 10th Anti-tank Battery of the 78th Artillery Regiment responsible for defending the stronghold of Saint Menges opened fire on the first enemy tanks at the outlet of the forest, sacrificing their lives and resist heroically to the end, as will their 100 comrades from Fort de la Ferté, the last of the Maginot Line to the west, a few weeks later.
In the afternoon, the Panzers entered the courtyard of the Espérance factory in Gaulier, while the 10th Panzer Division invaded the center of Sedan empty of inhabitants.
