Bunker Belt Bruggenhoofd Gent – Rear Line Bunker B21

Belgian bunker, part of the Ghent Bridgehead. This defensive position was constructed between 1934 and 1938, eight kilometres south of Ghent. Its construction was part of the fortification policy that Belgium pursued after the First World War.
The actual bridgehead consisted of two resistance nests – Betsberg and Muntekouter – and three strong points – Semmerzake, Eke and Astene.
The resistance nests and strong points were connected to each other by a curtain consisting of three defence lines.

There are 6 bunkers on the territory of Melsen, most of them are still visible but sometimes overgrown.

B21 was a rear line bunker between Schelde and Muntekouter. It was located between B20 (310 m) and B22 (125 m). It was placed at an angle with B22 so that together they had a larger field of vision and shooting range.
The bunker looked like an outbuilding at a farm.
The whole was walled with brick and had a saddle roof in red Boomse tiles.
The loophole was camouflaged as a false window, there was another false window on both sides.
The bunker had one room and an airlock.
It was equipped as standard for a Maxim machine gun but could also place a Hotchkiss or Colt machine gun.
The bunker is almost completely overgrown with ivy, there is little to be seen of the original elements. It is located on the Wassemstraat just behind a small electricity cabinet.

Extensive information about this bunker belt can be found on the site Bunkergordel Bruggenhoofd Gent. It also contains photos, plans and technical data of the bunkers. A map shows the locations per municipality.

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Source

• Text: TracesOfWar
• Photos: Marie-Christine Vinck