Stelling, Ten oosten van de Grebbeberg Rhenen

English translation

The text above is the record as published by the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed, in Dutch. The English below is a machine translation made by TreeAlive, not by the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed; it has not been checked by a person. Where the two differ, the original is the record. Report a translation error: privacy@treealive.com

Description

Introduction:

The Grebbelinie is a water line approximately 60 kilometers in length, which makes use of the wet conditions in the western, lowest-lying part of the Gelderse Vallei. It is a unique example of a water line constructed in the eighteenth century. Because no major interventions have taken place in the structure of the line since then, the greater part of the line wall, the closure dikes and the earthen defensive works have been preserved. The Grebbelinie comprises dikes, earthen forts, sluices, casemates, outposts, tank traps, inundation areas, trenches, bunkers etc. Because it was always assumed that the line had to be defended by a temporary field army, no permanent quarters for military personnel were built in the Grebbelinie.

The line was directed against a possible advancing enemy from the east. By inundating land, enemy troops could be held back. The Grebbelinie was meant to ensure that this happened in a controlled manner. The water in the inundated area had to be deep enough to prevent enemy vehicles and artillery from passing, but not so deep that the enemy could approach the line with vessels. On those places that were too high to be inundated, defensive works were constructed. In the construction of the inundation areas, use was made of the lower-lying fields. To be able to flood the area as efficiently as possible, the line was divided from south to north into 11 basins. Water was dammed up in each basin with the help of a closure dike which lay transversely to the line dike.

After sporadic fortifications had been constructed in this area from the end of the 16th century, in 1744 at the proposal of the then Director-General of Fortifications B.J. de Roy, a start was made with the construction of the earthen wall which would later become the Grebbeline dike. The wall was meant to hold back the water, so that the Gelderse side of the dike could be inundated. Furthermore, the plan provided for the construction of closure dikes or transverse dikes to hold back water, on account of the height difference between the Nederrijn and the Zuiderzee. In this way, a series of water-filled basins was created, which descended progressively northwards like a series of steps. In total, eight closure dikes were constructed to be able to flood the area in a controlled manner. In 1786 further fortifications were constructed.

The first time the line was brought to readiness was in 1793 when France declared war on the Netherlands. However, the water level in the Rhine at that time was too low to inundate the line. Because the advance was not continued, the French did not reach the line at that time. When, however, the French under General Pichegru returned at the end of 1794, the line could be inundated. But a severe frost period at the beginning of 1795 meant that the French armies were able to cross the frozen rivers and inundations without difficulty.

Ultimately, the French gave the line its final form in 1799. They paid much attention to improving the defence of the closure dikes and constructed earthen outposts there. Because Napoleon incorrectly believed in 1809 that there was no longer any danger from the east, the Grebbelinie was abolished as a defensive work.

Only in 1846 did people begin to understand the importance of the Grebbelinie for national defence again. To protect the railway line Utrecht - Arnhem, this was laid transversely through the fort at the Buursteeg. In 1860 it was determined that the Grebbelinie should be one of the most important defensive lines of our country. Following this, new dam sluices were placed in the most important closure dikes, so that the area in front of the line could be flooded more quickly. In 1866 the Omleidingskanaal was constructed east of Veenendaal, which reduced the inundation time from 20 to 12 days. However, the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie became the more important defensive line, because inundations could be achieved more quickly and easily there.

Only during the mobilisation of 1939-1940 did the Grebbelinie, under the name Valleilinie, become the principal defensive line of our country. Because the Valleikanaal had been dug shortly before to improve the drainage in the Gelderse Vallei, a continuous canal had now been created between the Nederrijn and the IJsselmeer, which could also serve as a tank ditch and also offered better opportunities for inundating the area.

Large areas on the eastern side were now flooded and farms that stood in the field of fire were demolished. Around Veenendaal, extensive trenches and tank ditches were dug and 271 concrete machine-gun casemates were built. In March 1940, the main defence of the eastern front of the Vesting Holland was moved from the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie to the Grebbelinie. This led to the construction of even more trenches, tank ditches and barbed wire barriers, particularly in the areas between Woudenberg - Renswoude and Veenendaal that could not be inundated. On 10 May German troops invaded our country. Although the fighting at the Grebbeberg became the most well-known, heavy fighting also took place at other places on the line. The Germans ultimately made the final modification to the line in 1944. The line was now given the name Pantherstellung. The aim of the line was to stop an enemy advancing towards Germany and the main line of fire was this time towards the west and south. More than 20 gun casemates were built, of which 12 are still preserved today. In 1951 the Grebbelinie was permanently abolished as a defensive line.

The Hoornwerk at the Grebbe was intended for the closure and defence of the road Wageningen-Rhenen. With this aim, two half-bastions were constructed on either side of the Grebbeliniedijk. The left wing was closed off with a lunette. The original parapet was almost two meters high. In order to be able to shoot at a possible enemy, a small elevation (banquette) was provided behind the earthen wall. The thickness of the wall was almost one and a half meters. There were also wet ditches on both sides of the Grebbeliniedijk. The two bastions were connected by a curtain, on which thorn hedges were planted as an extra obstacle. In front of the curtain there was also a tenaille which was lower than the walls behind. A third protective wall was constructed around these works. Artillery could be positioned at the corners of this. In 1785 all of this was further supplemented with positions for artillery and the parapet was raised in places.

Description:

Earthwork DEFENSIVE WORK, called Hoornwerk aan de Grebbe, constructed between 1743 and 1745, improved in 1785, consisting of four (originally five) small bastions surrounded by a double line of ditches.

The four bastions, together with the double line of ditches, have a maximum area of 470 by 520 metres.

Valuation:

The complex is of general importance by virtue of:

Cultural-historical values as part of the Grebbelinie, as this was constructed in six phases over a period of 200 years. Of great importance due to its commemorative value by virtue of its role during the fighting in 1939-1940.

Architectural-historical values in particular as an expression of military-strategic building practice, which is based on:

a. the system of inundation and access defence (18th, 19th and 20th centuries), b. the system of 'living' field fortification in depth (20th century) c. the outpost function during the mobilisation and fighting 1939 - 1940

This concerns a complex which, in its original construction, is an example of defensive works from the period:

phase 1: from 1744, construction of line dike and works

Archaeological values due to the expected traces of trenches, tank ditches and similar features present in the soil

Ensemble value due to its location within the system of the Grebbelinie in general, in particular in direct relation to the complex of the three bastions on the floodplain situated to the south of this and the access. Also due to the functional and physical coherence of the components of the complex. Finally, there is here a preserved/reasonably preserved relationship with the field of fire and inundation field.

The complex is rare because it is still an almost complete surviving example of an 18th-century defensive work in the Grebbelinie and as such is representative (characteristic) of this type of defensive work.

The complex is well-preserved because almost all of the components belonging to it are still present in more or less recognizable form and function.