World War 2 in your backyard

[Old Wizard]

In my high school days I spent a summer with a buddy of mine as a steam fitters helper at Penhold when it was NATO
training base. Many Harvards buzzing around along with Expediters, Chipmunks and Mentors.,

 

[Wayne Little]

Bring it on Andy.

 

[Marcel]

This is one of the little bunkers on our island. Because of the climate change, we get more flooding and extreme weather than 20 years ago. Also the water level is slightly rising. Scary enough when you know you live 3 meters below sea level. So we set out to strengthen en enlarging the dykes. This little bunker was almost a victim of that. Until recently, it stood high and proud next to the dyke, now it is incorporated into the base of that same dyke. Being sunken now, I guess it is impossible to enter it, but I'm glad they didn't just demolish it, but left it as it is.

 

[Wurger]

 

[Gnomey]

Cool!

 

[Old Wizard]

 

[Wayne Little]

Cool..!

 

[pbehn]

Not my backyard but I thought it interesting, some things are not what they seem.
Campaign to save London's 'stretcher fences' used in Blitz | Daily Mail Online

 

[Gnomey]

Interesting!

 

[Wayne Little]

Didn't know that...

 

[Wurger]

Yep interesting...

 

[Marcel]

Great news: the bunkers on the island are now 'Dutch Heritage' and are from now on protected.

Yesterday I visited one of those close by my house and entered it. These bunkers BTW are actually Dutch 'kazematten' of the piramide type. They are shelter for 12 men and were meant to protect against artillery.

You can see that this bunker is built in April 1940 like all bunkers on the island of Dordrecht. This one is nicely hidden under plants and is being maintained by the owner. The only problem is that I am too long. so I had a lot of cobwebs in my hair when I left

Looking to the entrance. On the left the shooting hole they can cover the entrance form there.

 

[fubar57]

Were there a lot of those bunkers on the island Marcel?

 

[Wurger]

 

[Marcel]

Were there a lot of those bunkers on the island Marcel?

Yup, all build at the last minute, March/April 1940. This was the southern part of the New Dutch Waterline, the second line of defense. It was never finished, but Dordrecht is literally littered with these group shelters.
\A nice view is here, near the bridge, you see a whole line of bunkers in the back. This goes on along the whole dyke, about 10 km or so, although further on they are further apart.:

 

[Old Wizard]

 

[Capt. Vick]

Wow!

 

[Gnomey]

Good stuff Marcel!

 

[Wayne Little]

very interesting stuff Marcel.

 

[Marcel]

Finally had time to go out with the camera again. Found another bunker, partly sacrificed to keep our feet dry.