Kazemat (B10), Op Hoornwerk ten noorden van de Nude 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 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 embankment, the weirs and the earthen fortifications have been preserved. The Grebbelinie comprises embankments, earthen forts, sluices, casemates, outposts, anti-tank ditches, inundation areas, trenches, bunkers etc. Because it was always assumed that the line would have to be defended by a temporary field army, no permanent accommodation for military personnel was built in the Grebbelinie.

The line was directed against a possible advancing enemy from the east. By inundating the land, enemy troops could be held back. The Grebbelinie was designed 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. At those places which were too high to be inundated, fortifications were constructed. In the laying out 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 compartments. The water was dammed up in each compartment using a weir which lay transversely to the line embankment.

Although fortifications had been constructed sporadically in this area since the end of the 16th century, in 1744 on the proposal of the then Director-General of Fortifications B.J. de Roy, work began on the construction of the earthen embankment which later became the Grebbeliniedijk. The embankment had to hold back the water, so that the Gelderse side of the dike could be inundated. Furthermore, in view of the difference in height between the Nederrijn and the IJsselmeer, the plan provided for the construction of weirs or cross-dikes which could hold back the water. In this way a series of water-filled compartments was created, descending step by step further to the north. In total, eight weirs 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 moment to flood the line. Because the advance was not pursued, the French did not reach the line at that time. However, when the French under General Pichegru returned at the end of 1794, the line could be flooded. But a severe frost period in early 1795 meant that French armies could pass over the frozen rivers and inundations without difficulty.

Ultimately, in 1799, the French gave the line its final form. They paid much attention to improving the defence of the weirs and laid 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 fortification.

Only in 1846 did people begin to appreciate the importance of the Grebbelinie for the defence of the country again. To protect the railway line Utrecht - Arnhem, it was laid across the fort at the Buursteeg. In 1860 it was decided that the Grebbelinie should be one of the most important defensive lines in the country. Following this, new dam sluices were installed in the main weirs, so that the area in front of the line could be flooded more quickly. In 1866, the Omleidingskanaal east of Veenendaal was constructed, which reduced the inundation time from 20 to 12 days. But nonetheless, the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie became the most 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 main defensive line of the country. Because shortly before this the Valleikanaal had been dug to improve drainage in the Gelderse Vallei, a continuous canal had now come into being between the Nederrijn and the IJsselmeer, which could also serve as an anti-tank ditch and also offered better possibilities for flooding the area.

Large areas on the east side now came under water and farms 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 entanglements, particularly in the non-inundatable areas between Woudenberg - Renswoude and Veenendaal. On 10 May, German troops invaded our country. Although the fighting at the Grebbeberg became most well-known, heavy fighting also took place at other places on the line. The Germans ultimately made the final adaptation of the line in 1944. The line was now given the name 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 have now been preserved. In 1951, the Grebbelinie was permanently abolished as a defensive line.

The casemate was built in 1939-1940 in the context of the strengthening of the Valleilinie and is located on the Hoornwerk at the Grebbe. It is one of four casemates from this period that still remain on this section of the Valleilinie.

Description:

A FORTIFICATION constructed in 1936, consisting of a concrete machine-gun casemate of type P. The casemate was built in the context of the strengthening of the Valleilinie and is located on the rear side of the northernmost bastion. In total, two examples of this type were built in the Grebbelinie, of which this is the only one that remains.

This is a casemate for anti-tank guns, developed and built in 1936. The casemate has a rectangular ground plan with an area of 6 by 3.40 metres. The casemate has an entrance on the rear side and an embrasure on the front side. The construction is in reinforced concrete with walls and roof covering 0.20 metre thick.

Valuation:

The casemate is of general importance because of:

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