Genk Lock Bunker G4

This is bunker G4 and is located north of the Albert Canal as part of a defence bridgehead set up to provide additional support at the canals locks .The recently built Albert Canal with positions on the south and west banks of the canal from Antwerp to Liege formed the Belgian Army's principal line of resistance in 1940.

The bunkers here were constructed in the period between the war being declared in September 1939 and early 1940 using similar techniques as those employed on other bunkers built on the K-W line and at Gent. When the Germans captured the bridges over the Albert Canal at Veldwezelt and Vroenhoven unleashing the 3rd and 4th Panzer Divisions ,the Belgian rear was threatened ,and so the troops along this part of the canal withdrew.

The prefix letter G denotes the bunker's location, and originally there was five bunkers, four of which lay within Genk lock bridgehead north of the canal.G4 is now the last one remaining. G3, which was located 250m north of the canal along the railway line was demolished between the spring of 2021 and 2022 during the reconstruction of a new higher railway bridge over the Albert Canal and the connecting railway embankments .G1 and G2 were located between G3 and the old Genk coal harbour.

There was also anti-tank defences made up Cointet elements and tetrahedra incorporated into the Genk lock bridgehead.

Bunker G4 is the most easterly of the four bunkers on the north bank, situated not far from where the old coal harbour meets the Albert Canal.

Both the loopholes and the entrance door (located on the south side according to the plan, with the emergency door to its left) have been bricked up, but you can still see the metal frames of the loopholes and their hinges for the shutters. Two still have viewing slots. The bunker has four shooting sides, and if you follow the the images clicking to the right (going clockwise round the bunker) from the view of the southern side (with sign 3794) there are embrasures facing west and north west, then north ,and then to the east (with the cooling towers from Langerlo-Genk, the last coal power station in Belgium to shut in the background).
You can also see the metal hooks on the roof ,where camouflage nets could have been attached.

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Source

• Text: Ian Paterson
• Photos: Ian Paterson