Erwin carefully observed the fortress defenses, noting that it was a multi-layered defense system combining various firepower.
The fort's artillery could ensure that they remained invincible in artillery battles: the fort could easily destroy German artillery, while the Germans could only make small dents on the fortress in return.
Using "Big Bertha" again would easily be destroyed by Shire's fighters.
So this was a deadlock, unless the German Army could maintain absolute air superiority, but that was impossible.
On this basis, the fortress defenses also included barbed wire, anti-tank ditches, minefields, and then the "Saint-Chamond" tanks and fortress artillery... it was impregnable.
Therefore, Colonel Erwin decisively changed the attack plan, from a direct assault on Antwerp to piercing through the British lines, encircling Antwerp while advancing towards the key Belgian town of Ghent.
...
Dunkirk, British Expeditionary Force Command.
