Kazemat (B10), Op Hoornwerk tussen Nude en Grebbedijk 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 kilometres 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 the construction of a water line from 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 weir dams and the earth defensive works have been preserved. The Grebbelinie comprises weirs, earth forts, sluices, casemates, outposts, anti-tank ditches, 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 the military were built in the Grebbelinie.

The line was directed against a possible advancing enemy from the east. By inundating land, enemy troops could be stopped. The Grebbelinie had 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 through, but not so deep that the enemy could approach the line with vessels. At 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 flood the area as efficiently as possible, the line was divided from south to north into 11 basins. The water was dammed up in each basin with the help of a weir dam that lay across the line dam.

After fortifications had been laid out occasionally in this area from the end of the 16th century onwards, in 1744 on the proposal of the then Director-General of Fortifications B.J. de Roy, work began on the construction of the earth wall which would later become the Grebbelinie dike. The wall had to hold back the water, so that the Gelderland side of the dike could be inundated. Furthermore, the plan provided for the construction of weir dams or cross dikes to hold back the water because of the height difference between the Nederrijn and the Zuiderzee. In this way a series of water-filled basins was created, which descended further northwards like a series of steps. In total, eight weir dams were constructed to allow the area to be flooded 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 was too low at that time to flood the line. Because the advance was not continued, the French did not reach the line at that time. However, when the French under General Pichegru returned in late 1794, the line could be flooded. But a severe frost period in early 1795 ensured that the French armies could cross the frozen rivers and inundations without any problems.

Ultimately, the French gave the line its final form in 1799. They paid much attention to improving the defence of the weir dams and laid out earth 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.

Not until 1846 did people begin to see the importance of the Grebbelinie for the country's defence again. To protect the railway line Utrecht - Arnhem, this was laid through the fort at the Buursteeg. In 1860 it was determined that the Grebbelinie was to be one of the country's most important defence lines. In response, new dam locks were placed in the most important weir dams, so that the area in front of the line could be flooded more quickly. In 1866 the Omleidingskanaal was constructed to the east of Veenendaal, which reduced the inundation time from 20 to 12 days. But nevertheless the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie became the most important defence line, because inundations could be brought about more quickly and easily there.

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

Large areas on the east side were now flooded and farmsteads that were in the line of fire were demolished. Around Veenendaal, extensive trenches and anti-tank ditches were dug and 271 concrete machine-gun casemates were built. In March 1940 the main defence of the east front of the Vesting Holland was moved from the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie to the Grebbelinie. This led to the construction of even more trenches, anti-tank ditches and barbed wire barriers, particularly in the areas that could not be inundated between Woudenberg - Renswoude and Veenendaal. On 10 May the German troops invaded our country. Although the battle at the Grebbeberg became the most famous, heavy fighting also took place at other places on the line. The Germans ultimately made the final adjustment to the line in 1944. The line was now called the Pantherstellung. The purpose of the line was to stop an enemy advancing towards Germany, and the main direction 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 defence line.

The casemate was built in 1939-1940 as part of the fortification of the Valleilinie and is located on the Hoornwerk at the Grebbe. It is one of the total of 4 casemates from this period that still remain on this part of the Valleilinie.

Description:

A DEFENSIVE WORK built in 1939-1940, consisting of a concrete machine-gun casemate of the S3 type. The casemate was built as part of the fortification of the Valleilinie and is located on the front of the second bastion of the hornwork.

This is a light casemate of the S3 type or Stekelvarken 3 as it was called because of the iron pegs on the outside to which camouflage material could be attached and the three gun ports. The casemate was designed for one light machine gun for frontal and flanking fire. The three gun ports together had a field of fire of 110 degrees. The two unused gun ports could be closed with a shutter of 2cm steel if desired. There were no provisions for observation. The casemate has a rectangular ground plan with a straight front and rear. The dimensions are: rear side 5.20 metres, side sides straight 1 metre, side sides angled 2 metres and front 2.50 metres. The height including the floor plate is 3 metres. The casemate consists only of a fighting chamber with a rear exit, three rifle ports and has walls of 80 cm reinforced concrete. Chamfers are made in the perimeter of the roof to deflect grenades.

Valuation:

The casemate is of general importance because of:

Cultural-historical value because of its memorial value due to the role during the combat operations in 1939-1940.