The Boar against The Eagle.

Hello and Welcome. If you are interested in history, especially Belgian history, you probably know the great amount of Belgian war stories that exist. For example the Belgian Armoured Car Corps that fought on the Eastern Front. The story of today’s blog is a less know one, the story of the Chasseurs Ardennais. Their story is commemorated in the song “Resist and Bite”.

The story takes place during the Second World War, still know as the “Phoney war” in 1940. The place of action are the Ardennes Forests. The Ardennes were considered by most as impassable for armoured units such as tanks. History and the German Army would prove that wrong with the Ardennes Offensive that signaled the fall of Belgium and France. One thing that history tends to overlook is the stand of the Chasseurs Ardennais.

The Chasseurs are a light infantry formation, their primary object is to be a trip-wire defense. They are not meant to engage in open combat, but rather delay and buy time for as long as possible. That is what the Chasseurs did, at least most of them. The Belgian High Command soon after the German invasion of 1940 ordered all Chasseurs to disengage, one group of them never got that order.

The 5th Company of the Chasseurs under the command of Maurice Bricart held their position at Bodange against the German onslaught. Their communication wires were cut by German paratroopers so they followed their last received order, “Hold the Border”.

The Motto of the Chasseurs Ardennais is “Résiste et Mords!“, Resist and Bite! That is exactly what Major Bricart’s company did. Armed with only rifles, light machine guns and rifle grenades they held the line against the enemy, making them pay dearly for every attack. It took the introduction of 88 mm artillery guns and fierce close-quarters combat for the Belgians to finally surrender.

The Stand at Bodange hit the German army where it hurt, time. The strategy of General von Manstein was all about a quick breakthrough in the French and Belgian lines. The village of Bodange taking 6 precious hours from this plan was far from ideal.

The irony in this story is that it would have never accured had the german paratroopers not cut Bricart’s communication. “Resist and Bite” reminds us of the heroism and dedicating of men such as the Chasseurs Ardennais. Men that held the border to the best of their abillity.