Memorial Bunker 45 Dilsen-Stokkem

This memorial stone commemorates the battle that took place around bunker 45 during the invasion of the German Army during World War II.
The memorial bears the following text:
This bunker is a typical embankment bunker for two Maxim machine guns. It was part of the Belgian fortification system in May 1940 and was part of the Frontier or forward position. The mission for the crew of this bunker was to hold back the enemy for two days so that the more inland troops could be brought into readiness. The soldiers who defended this bunker and its surroundings on May 10, 1940 belonged to the 1st Jagers on horseback wielrijdersescadron of the 1st Division. When the Germans were able to cross the canal at Eijsden, the pressure increased toward this bunker. At dusk, the situation of the defenders became impossible Lieutenant Degroux decided to assemble the wounded at the bicycle shed of the bunker. The able-bodied men were ordered, as planned, to seek their own lines behind the Albert Canal. Degroux, himself badly wounded, also remained on the spot He was taken to a hospital in Sittard and survived the war. Due to combat conditions, this bunker was only actually used for one day. The fighting around this position meant the death of the following soldiers:
Marcel Provoost from Ath
Jean Lesnino from Watermael-Bosvoorde
Jan Lenaerts from Leopoldsburg
Michel Serruys from Sint Lambrechts-Woluwe

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Source

• Text: Joost Verheijden
• Photos: Joost Verheijden (1, 2), Fedor de Vries (3, 4)
• Geschied- en Heemkundige Kring De Vreedsel

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