Bunker 51 Border Defence Zuid-Willemsvaart

Bunker 51 Border Defence Zuid-Willemsvaart

Built in 1935 by contractor Lecharlier Octave in Liège
This is one of the two bunkers that have the standard layout as a dug-in bank bunker with two Maxim machine guns, but then on the towpath. The bunker therefore has no entrance stairs. The other is bunker 3f. This bunker fell under the deployment of the Cie. Grenswielers Lanaken. (bunkers 48 to 55, BN11 to BN2)

The bunker is part of the forward position that was built during the interbellum along the Limburg canals. This Grensstelling consists of the Zuid-Willemsvaart, the Bocholt-Herentals canal section and the Briegden-Neerharen connecting canal. This starts at Mol, after which it goes east along Lommel, Neerpelt via Bocholt, Bree, Neeroeteren, Maasmechelen to Lanaken west of Maastricht. There were a total of 72 bunkers for defence; of which 44 flanking bank bunkers, 11 gun bunkers, 7 heavy bunkers and 10 machine gun bunkers.

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Source

• Text: Geert-Jan van Glabbeek
• Photos: Joost Verheijden