Bunker A - Advanced Position Stavelot

This is bunker A of the Position Avancée at Stavelot.

The bunker is located in the floodplain of the Amblève near Stavelot and had to prevent the enemy from crossing the Amblève at this point. The sector consisted of 7 bunkers of which only bunkers A, B, C and G still exist. Bunkers D, E and F were located in the center of Stavelot, but have since been demolished.

The bunker belongs to La Position Fortifiée de Liège (PFL)and therein to the forward position Stavelot, It is the southernmost bunker of the PLF, which starts at the village of Kanne north of Liège.

These small bunkers are of 60 cm thick concrete. The roof is of 50 cm thick concrete and only the rear is of 40 cm thick concrete, because no attack was expected from that side. These bunkers could withstand 77 mm shells. These bunker were standardly equipped with steel hatch and door. When the bunkers lost their strategic importance after the war, they were sold. The iron door and hatch were sold as scrap metal.

There were several forward positions (including Hombourg, Grunhaut, Henri-Chapelle, Dolhain) that provided small shelters. These bunkers could accommodate 4 soldiers with machine guns. These positions did not belong to a specific sector of any of the 4 lines of defense for the city of Liège, la Position Fortifiée de Liège. As a sector, they had an independent position.

The line of forward bunkers totaled 65 bunkers.

Do you have more information about this location? Inform us!

Source

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