Invasion of
Low Countries
11. Meanwhile the British and French forces, pivoted upon Sedan at the northern end of the Maginot Line, wheeled" into Belgium, advancing as far as Brussels to the assistance of the hard-pressed Belgian Army, and leaving their prepared positions behind them. The great fortresses of Liege and Namur, responsible for holding up the Kaiser’s army for many valuable days, were by-passed and fell rapidly. British, French and Belgians were faced by German forces numerous and powerful enough to contain their utmost efforts. Meanwhile the main German thrust was being made elsewhere, at the pivot of the wheeling movement. Sedan was the point chosen. It lies opposite the frontier of southern Belgium, protected by the diflicult wooded hills of the Ardennes forest, which proved unable, however, to hold up the progress of modem armoured formations. The blow struck at the French forces at Sedan was delivered with formidable power, and it succeeded. The break-through was complete and the French attempts to re-establish their line failed completely.
