Bloc Waucomont Battice

This is Bloc Waucomont. At war-time this was the entrance to the fort of Battice. This fort was located about one kilometer to the north. The bloc was equipped with 3 machine guns.

Because it served as an entrance, a decontamination room was also set up at this entrance. Soldiers from the fort who were on duty in nearby bunkers and had to retreat to the fort could be decontaminated immediately if they had come into contact with battle gases.

The Bloc has two turrets and two air-intakes of which one is extended (photograph 4). The two other Fort Battice air intakes are located at the fort itself.

One of the turrets serves as an observation post. It was heavyly taken under fire at the first days of the second world war. The ricochets of machinegunfire and shells of German PAK 36 (Panzerabwehrkanone) are well visible. The PAK 36 was an anti-tank fieldartillary piece which was very common in use in the German Army. The traces of shell impact are even after more then 80 years still visible and a silent witness. Photograph 3 shows a threetime attempt to shoot straight in one of the observationholes ! The periscope, here in the extended position, also took a full hit, disabling it. A silent testimony.

The bunker is located in a deep pit so that the soldiers had safe and unseen access. Only the turrets and part of the bunker protrude above ground level.

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Source

• Text: Ed Lewandowski
• Photos: Ed Lewandowski
• La Position Fortifiée de Liège, Coenen & Vernier
• https://18daagseveldtocht.be

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