The defences of Belgium that had proved easy prey to the German siege artillery of World War I were augmented in the post-war years by a massive fortress, constructed between 1932 and 1935, along the western bank of the Albert Canal - Fort Eben Emael. The fortress was considered to be the strongest in the world on completion yet its conquest took less than 48 hours to complete after a glorious coup de main by German glider-borne assault troops. This title considers the design, development and construction of this formidable bastion as well as covering the assault and the failure of the fort to offer any meaningful obstacle to the German invaders.

Illustrated by: Hugh Johnson