Bruggenhoofd Gent - Observation Bunker A42

Belgian bunker, erected as part of the Ghent Bridge Head. This defensive position was constructed between 1934 and 1938 eight kilometers south of Ghent. Its construction was part of the fortification policy that Belgium pursued after the First World War.

The actual bridgehead was made up of two resistance nests – Betsberg and Muntekouter – and three support points – Semmerzake, Eke and Astene.
The resistance nests and support points were connected to each other via a curtain, consisting of three lines of defense. Bunker A42 was a bunker on the A-line (first line of defense) northeast of the Betsberg resistance nest.

The bunker consists of an L-shaped entrance hall and two bunker rooms, each with a stepped firing opening on the eastern side. The observation dome could be reached via crampons. The entrance gate was reached via some concrete steps. The bunker was equipped with a machine gun of the Maxim, Hotchkiss or Colt type.

The bunker was camouflaged as a small building belonging to a farm. It was completely cemented with the motif of so-called 'ash stones' (stones made from blast furnace cement).
It has now been painted white and the observation dome has been removed. Some projectile impacts can be seen on the outside walls, probably from the fighting in May 1940.

Detailed information about this bunker belt can be found on the Bunkergordel Bruggenhoofd Gent site.

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Source

• Text: TracesOfWar
• Photos: Marie-Christine Vinck