Bunker BV Vesdre

Bunker Vesdre is part of the first line of defence for the city of Liège, 'la Position Fortifiée de Liège', PFL 1, sector Becco-Vesdre, and belongs to the fort of Tancrémont .

It's hard to get to this bunker because it is located on a steap ridge next to the river Vesdre.

On the left the bunker has partly collapsed. This damage is caused by the German occupying forces. They tried to demolish the cast iron turret for other purposes. (like reinstalling them in other bunker of the new lines of defence, ore melting the iron for other use). The turret is still in its original place and is a so-called 'guet' turret. (weight 6.700 kg and a height of 150 cm. The armer is 20 cm on all sides.)

The right side shows the bullet impacts of the attack on May 15th, 1940 by German troops on this bunker. In this attack, Private Huysmans was killed and Private Monville was badly wounded. He later died of his wounds. They are commemorated with a monument close to the bunker.

The bunker was built in two floors. The first floor would hold the standard 47mm anti-tank cannon. The second floor the searchlight (frontside) and the machine gun (right side).

Special for this bunker is that it still has its gun carriage. The carriage could be moved for- and backwards on a rail.The square shaped hole on te backside was the ventilator. This would be hand operated with a crank. The outher unit is gone, but the inside is well visible.

The bunker was to guard the road and railway to the town of Pepinster.

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Source

• Text: Ed Lewandowski
• Photos: Ed Lewandowski
• La Position Fortifiée de Liège, Coenen & Vernier.