Bomvrij militair object, Werk aan de Groeneweg Houten

English translation

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Description

Cluster 62. Shelters type 1918/II.

NEW HOLLAND WATER LINE Introduction

SHELTERS TYPE 1918/II as part of linear and accessory defence with trench systems and the like. (Concrete) (group) shelters formed an answer to the advent of heavy projectiles and high-explosive grenades. The latter have a high-explosive charge. Depending on the weight of the grenade and the protection against it, there has been a classification since 1928 into resistance or protection classes, consisting of two numbers, for example W 12-15. The first indicates that the protection is sufficient for impacts of projectiles up to that calibre (in cm); the second that protection also exists against one or at most a few impacts up to this higher calibre. The earliest types of shelters offered only protection against grenade splinters and were called 'splinter-proof'. Shelters Type 1918/I and Type 1918/II were built according to a more or less uniform or standard design in 1918 at several locations in the New Holland Water Line and the Stelling van Amsterdam. The total number of built examples in the New Holland Water Line amounts to approximately 225; the majority (approximately 165) of these still exist. The greatest concentration of shelters Type 1918/I and /II is located on the Houtense Vlakte, where 147 were realised. The shelter Type 1918/I (approximately 125 pieces) was mostly constructed at the front of double trench systems. The shelter Type 1918/II (approximately 100 pieces) was mostly built along the rear trench. Because the trenches and other earthworks were later levelled almost everywhere, the (entrances of the) concrete shelters nowadays lie partly below ground level in quite a few cases. The entirely closed front side of the shelters was usually completely covered by earthworks that formed part of a glacis to protect the trench or a covered way. These earthworks are now mostly no longer present or only recognisable with difficulty. In a number of cases the earthing-up on the front side or the flank was deliberately (only partially) removed or re-applied in the years 1936-1938 to convert the then 20-year-old shelters Type 1918/I and 1918/II into machine-gun casemates. Tens of such rebuilt examples are present in the New Holland Water Line. Variants of Types 1918/I and 1918/II exist, which can be recognised among other things in the angle of slope of the throat side and by differently executed access openings. Particular to the examples in the Werk aan de Groeneweg is that most of them are still sheltered under an earthen cover and / or lie in the water of former trenches and terrain irregularities.

Description

SHELTERS TYPE 1918/II are single-storey, usually constructed in approximately 100 cm thick reinforced cast concrete, grenade-proof, military shelters, which could provide protection for 16 infantrymen / artillerymen, at protection class W 15-21. The shelters 1918/II were built on a rectangular ground plan, with dimensions of approximately 10.00 x 5.50 x 3.70 m, (w x d x h), of which the base is rarely visible. The visible height above ground level varies, but amounts at the highest point to 1.50 to 2.50 m. Both blind side walls and the closed front side are executed vertically, to transition with a sharp angle to the roof surface which slopes slightly towards the rear. This roof surface descends after a blunt angle at a slope of approximately 45° to the often not, or only partly visible, low, vertical gable on the throat side. A variant of Type 1918/II has a less steep slope here. In a number of cases iron hooks were cast into the walls which could serve for the attachment of camouflage material. The shelters Type 1918/II were constructed as monolithic concrete structures and were accessible via two access openings, left and right, on the trench side - the throat side. These accesses are surrounded by a thickened concrete frame, which is arranged in the same plane as the rear, sloping roof surface. Variations occur in these frames, among other things with a reinforcement at the top. The low-level accesses were later usually sealed off by means of masonry or concrete, but examples stuffed with rubble also occur. In a few cases the shelters are still open or have been reopened. (Remains of) doors or hatches have not been found and are in any case extremely rare; however, iron hooks remain in the ceilings at the accesses, in which iron hatches could presumably be hung. In a number of cases, in the years 1936-1938, an extra wall opening was made at the front, diagonally or to the side to serve as a loophole for a machine gun. With this the function of such a work changed from shelter to that of machine-gun casemate. The interior of the shelters Type 1918/II consists of a rectangular space, located approximately half below ground level, which is accessible in a stooped posture via concrete stairs of a few steps located at the corners. The ceilings, located at approximately two metres above floor level, are approximately one metre thick, flat and rectangular. Not a single example of Type 1918/II belonging to the Werk aan de Groeneweg has been visited internally.

Valuation

SHELTERS TYPE 1918/II are of general interest by reason of:

* Cultural-historical values as part of the New Holland Water Line as designed by C.R.T. Kraijenhoff and initially realised from 1815 by him, Jan Blanken and Major-Engineer Willem Offerhaus and subsequently strengthened and improved by others over approximately 125 years.

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

These are components from the period 1914-1918. The components are examples of reinforced concrete enlisted men's shelters type 1918/II.

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

* The components are representative (characteristic) because they are clearly recognisable as having been added to the existing fortification system as part of a deconcentrated, forward defence line.

* The components are fairly well preserved, albeit as structures only limited visible, but are thereby readily recognisable in situ.