SOUVENIRS HISTORIQUES DU FORT DE PEPINSTER – “Historical Memoirs from Fort Eben-Emael.” A real photo postcard booklet issued by the German Wehrmacht to commemorate the capture of Fort Eben-Emael in Belgium. Includes “before” and “after” photographs of the fort’s conquest. Published with the intent to highlight the collapse of the local defense forces in the face of the German Wehrmacht.
Belgium, 1940.
Pepinster is a town in southeastern Belgium, near the city of Liège. The area was part of the Belgian defense system prior to the German invasion in 1940. The fort was inaugurated in 1937 as part of Belgium’s renewed armament in response to the rise of Nazi Germany. In May 1940, during the German invasion of Belgium (Operation Fall Gelb), the fort was captured. The surrender—photographed and documented in the present booklet—symbolizes the breakdown of local resistance against the German military.
The booklet contains 10 real-photo postcards, divided into two groups: the inauguration of the fort by the Belgians, and its surrender after the German conquest.
Photos 1 to 5 – Inauguration of the Fort, 1937:
A procession to the town hall, arrival of the garrison in front of the town hall, laying of flowers at the foot of the monument to the fallen of World War I, a speech by the fort’s commander, and the flag being raised to the top of the mast.
Photos 6 to 10 – Surrender of the Fort, 1940:
Belgian officers surrendering, soldiers going into captivity, bombarded trenches after the surrender, and destroyed barracks.
Complete booklet – 10 connected postcards in a continuous strip. Minor tears to the cover. Good to very good condition.
