Kazemat, Fortweg bij 9

English translation

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Description

Cluster 49.

Introduction

CAST STEEL DOME CASEMATES TYPE G as components of the fortification of the fort in the run-up to the Second World War. In 1936, as a supplement to the reinforced concrete casemate, the so-called cast steel dome casemate was introduced in the Netherlands, which was based on a system already applied in France in 1917. The armoured domes used were small in size (favourable with regard to visibility and hit probability), round in shape (favourable with regard to strength and deflecting hits), relatively simple to produce in series and they had an 'external' firing aperture (favourable with regard to gases and sound). Moreover, they could be manufactured in the Netherlands, which significantly reduced dependence on foreign countries. A first order of 100 pieces in the Netherlands (from DEMKA) was followed by a second of 50 pieces from the Belgian Soc. Anonyme John Cockerill. In total, more than 700 must have been cast in a short time, but only a few of these have survived. The cast steel domes, with a diameter of 1.75 m and thicknesses of 10-14 centimetres, were installed in multiple casemate types with resistance classes W 12-15 to W 21-28. Shortly before the start of the Second World War, so-called Dome Casemates Type G were constructed at various locations in the Dutch lines, in particular in the IJssel line, the Maas line, the Grebbe line (each approximately 150) and the New Dutch Water Line (approximately 80 pieces in a reinforced version of 14 cm thickness). The usual construction of reinforced concrete with one or more fixed firing apertures was hereby abandoned in favour of a system that had a firing direction to be projected within variable limits (270°), within a cast steel cylinder with dome roof. The firing aperture in the dome formed a rounded rectangular 'eyebrow' of 14 cm thickness, which protruded some decimetres outside the dome and provided protection to the weapon positioned within it. Cast steel Dome Casemates in the New Dutch Water Line were equipped as standard with a heavy machine gun as armament. Most domes were placed in Standard Dome Casemates Type G. Standard dome casemates were used, among other things, for the defence of 'new or improved accesses', that is to say at locations where new (motor) roads or electrification of railways were planned or realised. The front side could be provided with an earth covering and camouflage. The dome casemates type G were usually approachable and accessible via communication trenches; in the vicinity usually lay group shelters type P. Both the firing aperture and the access to the casemate, which was located in a recess behind the dome, could be sealed 'gas-free' from within, but the doors are no longer present. During the Second World War, the vast majority of domes in the interior were dismantled from the casemates by the occupier - partly by blasting - with the aim of remelting them for other steel needs. On the coast, they were partly incorporated into the defence, but were often demolished again after the war. As a result, complete dome casemates are rare, but they still occur at Fort Vechten in any case. The concrete structures in which they were placed occur more frequently - usually in damaged form. Both specimens at the Fort bij 't Hemeltje have been blown up and stripped of the cast steel dome and other metal components. One of the two, however, is of a particular type, with extra gravel bed and contingency covering.

Description

CAST STEEL DOME CASEMATES TYPE G are casemates of a type of which specimens were built at various locations in the Dutch lines shortly before the start of the Second World War. The specimens at the Fort bij 't Hemeltje have all been stripped of the cast steel dome and only the concrete platforms or plinths in which the domes were fixed remain. Remains of standard cast steel dome casemates type G are relatively low, virtually square, concrete plinths (approximately 7.00 x 6.50 x 3.00 m; w x d x h), with at the level of the dome recessed in them a surface sloping backwards which was intended, among other things, to cause any enemy direct hits to ricochet. The height above ground level is often much less than 3 m. On the rear side, at the entrance to the dome, a recess in the concrete was made to allow the dome to be entered. One of the two specimens is provided with a covering in the form of a so-called gravel box, whilst the entrance is not recessed in the rear side, but is located at the top behind the dome and was connected to the fighting compartment via a vertical climbing shaft, a short portal and a sloping gas lock. This rare specimen is of longer and narrower execution (7.70 x 4.50 m).

Valuation

The CAST STEEL DOME CASEMATES TYPE G are of general interest because of:

* Cultural historical values as part of the New Dutch Water Line as designed by C.R.T. Kraijenhoff and initially from 1815 realised by him, Jan Blanken and major-engineer Willem Offerhaus and subsequently reinforced and improved by others for approximately 125 years.

* Military historical values as part of a continuous military defence line between the former Zuiderzee and the Biesbosch. This consisted mainly of a coherent system of inundation fields and associated inundation means and of firing fields. This system was supplemented with various types of constructed or created (defence) works dating from different periods which served to or contributed to the closing off of non-inundatable terrain or other accesses.

* Architectural historical values in particular as an expression of military-strategic building art, which is based on: - the system of inundation and access defence (19th and 20th century), - the race with increasingly powerful offensive means (19th and 20th century) - the system of 'living' field fortification in depth (20th century)

These are examples of reinforced concrete plinths of cast steel dome casemates from the period 1936-1940, of which one is of a rare and exceptional type.

* Ensemble value and situational values as part of the New Dutch Water Line. Also because of the functional and physical coherence with the other components of the complex.

* The components are representative (characteristic) because they are good examples of reinforced concrete plinths of cast steel dome casemates, which are clearly recognisable as additions to the existing defence system. One specimen has particular rarity value because it is provided with a special contingency covering in the form of a vertical access with climbing shaft, portal and diagonal gas lock.

* The components are reasonably well preserved because they - despite intentional damage and dismantling - have retained characteristics from the construction and functional period in their construction and detailing.