ORDER OF BATTLE // May 12, 1940
Battle of Hannut
Estimated force strength by side, with confidence labels per surviving record.
Forces engaged
2 sides catalogued · combined 46,727 estimated
France
20,800
Medium-confidence figure
Germany
25,927
Medium-confidence figure
Battle context
The Battle of Hannut, fought in Belgium on 12–14 May 1940, was the largest tank battle of the 1940 campaign in the West and, at the time, the largest armored clash in the history of warfare. Occurring within the broader Battle of Belgium, it brought together French forces under René Prioux against a German armored force under Erich Hoepner that outnumbered the French in personnel. French casualties are not recorded in available sources, though German losses reached between 164 and 200. The engagement's scale marked a significant moment in the evolution of armored warfare, demonstrating the scope of mechanized operations that characterized the opening phase of the German offensive in the West.
‹ Full battle dossier