| Operation Dynamo (The evacuation from Dunkirk) began on 27th May and the signal "BEF evacuated" was sent at 11.30 on 2nd June so it is not true to say that the Belgian Forces held out for two further weeks.
It should also not be forgotten that a considerable length of the beaches used for the Dynamo were in Belgium and the BEF maintained an HQ in De (La) Panne until the last moment.
The Belgians did hold out just long enough to enable the BEF to plug the gap and fall back on Nieuwpoort. The huge numbers of surrendering troops also caused problems for and delayed the German advance.
Individual units of the Belgian Army fought well and hard but they never really recovered from the early loss of their Airforce (destroyed on the ground before war was declared) or the initial losses of the bridges over the Albert Canal, again due to a surprise attack on a neutral country without declaration of war.
The initial invasion came on 10th May and the battle is known in Belgium as the 18 day campaign. |