Former Batterie Deutschland

Situated between Bredene, Vosseslag and Klemskerke you can find where Batterie Deutschland was located during World War 1. Today, all that remains is a pool filled with water where one of the four cannons stood while still some ruins and shelters can be seen across the street. It is forbidden to enter this zone, the property is fully fenced and today the natural area d'Heye.

Here was the heaviest of all the coastal batteries of the Marine Corps Flandern situated and had four 38cm guns. This battery was part of the Küstenverteidigung West. These guns were electrically operated and had a shooting range of over 30 kilometers. After the war, the site was opened to the mostly British "war tourists" who came to visit the battlefields. Since 1928 the interest in dropped and in 1939 the 'Lange Maxen' where public sold as scrap iron.

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

Source

• Text: Tim De Vleeschouwer
• Photos: Tim De Vleeschouwer