The January 10, 1940, soldiers from a border post near Mechelen, Belgium, see a plane landing near them. It is a Messerschmitt connection, of which two pilot down immediately carry out the burning of documents. The Belgian soldiers capture them, recovering from a fire maps.
Prisoners are Reinberger the commander of the VII Division paratrooper, and Hoenmans commander, pilot of the plane.
Both returned to Cologne after a mission, but the unit has lost its way, and without fuel, were forced to land. The carrying documents, classified as top secret, pormenorizavam German plans for the offensive in the West, who was about to start.
The next day, at Vincennes, a Belgian diplomat delivery to General Gamelin a statement that summarizes the content of the documents seized. With these data, the whole problem of Franco-British intervention in Belgium was changed. This reinforces the Belgian Army and put into motion important works of fortifications in areas planned for the German invasion.
By knowing what happened, Hitler sends detain and interrogate families and Reinberger Hoenmans.
The general aviation Feldmay, commander of the Second Air Fleet, is deposed and even the Goering suffers a reprimand. But Hitler resigns himself and delay his offensive scheduled for January 17, and only come in the spring, May 10, 1940. One incident, however, would not change the fortunes of battle.
The english version of this article will be available soon. In the meanwhile, the text above was the result of a Google translation from portuguese version to english.
