Hollandstellung - Personnel Bunker Eksaarde

Hollandstellung
The Hollandstellung, also known as the "Holland Line", was a German defence line constructed during the First World War, stretching over a distance of approximately 65.5 kilometres, from the Belgian coast at Knokke to Vrasene, and further connected to fortified positions around Antwerp (Stellung Antwerpen) and the Turnhoutkanalstellung on the east side. The line was mainly built between 1916 and 1918 and was intended to provide protection against an expected Allied invasion from neutral Netherlands. This area was seen by the German army leadership as a vulnerable flank.

The Hollandstellung was built by the German navy (Marinekorps Flandern) and army (Etappen-Inspektion 4 / Gruppe Gent). The navy sector was located between the Zwin (Knokke) and Leeskensburggen. The army sector started from Moerhuize (Maldegem). The area around Strobrugge formed a transitional area. The naval bunkers were generally made of reinforced concrete, while the army bunkers were mainly made of prefabricated concrete blocks.

The line was divided into a Vorstellung and a Hauptstellung. The Vorstellung had the task of holding off the enemy for as long as possible. The Hauptstellung formed the backbone of the Hollandstellung and consisted of strong fortifications. Various areas were designated as Sumpfgebiete; areas that could be made marshy.

Despite the extensive fortifications, the Hollandstellung saw limited action during the First World War, because the main front lines were further south and east. By the end of the First World War, a total of 411 bunkers had been built. The most westerly bunkers and those in the Maldegem sector were added to the Atlantic Wall during the Second World War. In October 1944, the Allies launched Operation Switchback. The former Hollandstellung bunkers in the Maldegem sector were located in an area where heavy fighting took place.

Today, many of the remains of the Hollandstellung can still be found in the landscape. The Hollandstellung is included in its entirety in the list of immovable heritage of Flanders. Many bunkers have been demolished in the past. The website bunkergordel.be inventories these disappeared bunkers.

Personnel Bunker
The main task of a personnel bunker was to provide protection for a group of soldiers. The personnel bunkers of the Hollandstellung were armed with one or more machine guns that were positioned in the open air, usually shielded by a concrete wall or parapet. These bunkers could also be used for observation purposes. Many of these bunkers were camouflaged. In post-war Belgian inventories, the bunkers were classified with letter codes. Although most bunkers show similarities with the original construction plans, there are still many variations. We have grouped these variations under one and the same type.

This rectangular bunker was built by the German army from prefabricated concrete blocks and consists of one room and has two L-shaped (bent) entrances. The corridor leads to the central room. There are usually niches inside the bunker. The open battle position on the roof is protected by a U-shaped parapet. The shape and location of this parapet varies per bunker. Most have a parapet along the four edges of the roof. In other bunkers, the parapet is only on a certain side or in a smaller form in the middle of the roof. The roof was reached by climbing irons, a concrete staircase or a combination. The shape of the staircase varies per bunker. There are single and double staircases that are external and usually perpendicular to the bunker. The surface of this type of bunker varies from 58m² to 671m².

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Source

• Text: TracesofWar
• Photos: Wikimedia Commons
• bunkergordel.be
  
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