Fall of Antwerp

German heavy artillery, including the massive 42cm 'Big Bertha' howitzers, systematically reduced the Belgian fortress city of Antwerp, forcing its surrender. The fall secured Germany's northern flank and gave them control of Belgium's largest port. Winston Churchill, then First Lord of the Admiralty, had personally travelled to Antwerp to bolster defenses but failed to prevent the city's fall. Over 30,000 Belgian troops escaped to continue fighting.