Bunker Belt Bruggenhoofd Gent – Rear Line Bunker B22

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.

B22 was a rear line bunker between Schelde and Muntekouter between B21 (125 m) and B23 (700 m). It was positioned at an angle with B21 to have a larger field of vision and shooting range together.
The bunker looked like a small house on the edge of a field, partly hidden behind a hedge and surrounded by plants.
The whole was walled with brick and it had a saddle roof in red Boomse tiles.
The loophole was camouflaged as a false window and was hidden behind 2 wooden shutters, there was another false window on both sides.
The bunker consisted of one room and an airlock. It was only intended for the installation of a Maxim machine gun.
B22 is clearly visible in the Wassemstraat, a few dozen meters away in the field along a field. In addition to graffiti, there are still some remains of camouflage here and there.

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