Fort Eben-Emael Bloc IV

Bunker bloc IV was located in the south of the fort between turret Sud and Nord.

This bunker had an observation turret and was equipped with two 60 mm antitank guns. These were located on the first floor. In addition, on the 1st floor, two machine guns and searchlights.

Bloc IV was partly responsible for the defense of the anti-tank ditch at bloc V, and the Albert Canal.

What stands out about this bunker is the typical trench that should facilitate visibility from the observation turret. Also notable is the relatively large damage to the turret. This too was attacked with a 50-kg hollow charge, where as this is a smaller observation turret, the damage is also more significant. The turret even shows cracks from the impact of the explosion. In this explosion, Private Furnelle (age 19 !) was killed. He is commemorated on the monument in Houtain-Saint-Siméon and is buried in the cemetery there.

This damage was also camouflaged by the hollow charge after the capture. From the looks of it, the hole that the hollow charge hit was sealed with concrete. The camouflage served to conceal the Germans' new secret weapon.

See also the damage done by a hollow charge of 50 kg on the cupola of bunker MN29 at Charneux ore bunker MN 18. At this turret, the damage has not been repaired and you can see very clearly what the concentrated explosion of nearly 3,000 degrees Celsius does to the turret of 36 cm thick steel. It burns completely through the steel and destroys everything on its way that it encounters. In the case of this cupola, the damage was not subsequently concealed with cement.

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Source

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