Bomvrij militair object, Betonnen werken coupure Diefdijk-A2 Culemborg

English translation

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Description

Cluster 63.

NEW HOLLAND WATER LINE

Introduction

GROUP SHELTERS TYPE P as part of linear and access defence with trench systems, casemates and the like. At several locations along the Diefdijk between Fort Everdingen and the Fort near Asperen there are small concrete defensive works. Because of the National Road 2 (now A 2), designed shortly before the Second World War, which crosses the Diefdijk at Zijderveld, a number of concrete defensive works were also built at this access, including a number of group shelters type P. Concrete (group) shelters were a response to the arrival of heavy projectiles and high-explosive grenades. The latter have a highly explosive charge. Depending on the weight of the artillery and the protection against it, there is a classification into resistance or protection classes, consisting of two numbers, e.g. 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 concrete (group) shelters offered only protection against shell fragments and were called 'fragment-proof'. The group shelters Type P were built according to more or less uniform or standard design (especially) in the years 1939-1940 at several places in the Netherlands. The total number of built examples amounts to approximately 700, of which around 570 in the New Holland Water Line; the majority (approximately 400) of these still exist. The construction programme of the group shelters Type P was not completed at the outbreak of the Second World War and a number of examples have remained visibly unfinished. Type P (also called 'the pyramid' because of its distinctive shape) is presumably the most well-known type of concrete defensive work in the Netherlands. The type originated from the so-called VIS 77 (Regulation for Setting Up Positions no. 77), from 1928, and had among other things the purpose of forming part of the defence of a number of new accesses, including especially (high-speed) roads. The group shelter Type P usually came into being in the immediate vicinity of already existing or simultaneously realised casemates, gun positions, fortifications or trenches. The from time immemorial completely closed front side or frontal side of the group shelters Type P was intended to be covered by earthworks, which could form part of a glacis to protect the trench or a covered way. These earthworks are now usually no longer present or only recognisable with difficulty, but particularly on forts or in terrain otherwise characterised by relief there is sometimes still coverage. There are various variants of Type P, both in terms of dimensions and protection class as well as in execution and detailing. For example, there are examples built in the protection classes W 12-15 and W 21-28 with dimensions ranging from approximately 5.50 x 7.20 x 4.70 m to 6.50 x 8.20 x 4.90 m (w x d x h). Numerous examples of Type P were built in inundatable areas, in a number of cases with a visible pile foundation applied, while often a retaining wall or trough with steps against inundation water was inserted in the then elevated, square access and in yet others a concrete foundation plate projecting all around is present.

The Group shelters type P in the complex Intermediate Position Diefdijk - North are located both north and south of the A2 and all on the east side of the Diefdijk, at the edge of the foreground inundatable polders. Of one of the examples, located approximately 150m south of National Road A2, the interior has been made visible by sawing the work lengthwise. This of course detracted from its integrity, but contributes to its representative and educational significance.

Description

GROUP SHELTERS TYPE P are single-storey, usually in reinforced, approximately 100 to 180 cm thick reinforced concrete, shrapnel-proof, military shelters, which could provide shelter for 10-12 infantry / artillery personnel. Group shelters Type P were built on a rectangular ground plan. The visible height above ground level varies. Both blind side walls and the throat side are executed vertically to approximately 3 m height. Above this, these walls slope inward at an angle of approximately 45 degrees, then transition into a flat roof. On the right in the throat side is an (later filled in or not filled in) access opening at locally varying height above ground level. The entirely vertical, closed front side reflects the 45 degree angles and thus ends as a 'truncated pointed gable'. In a number of cases, iron hooks were cast into the wall(s) that could serve to fasten camouflage material. A characteristic component on top of the shelter type P is the conical, concrete 'outlet', which was intended for the application of a periscope. These periscopes were however never actually installed. The interior of the Group shelters Type P consists of a short corridor (usually with a concrete retaining wall or balustrade and usually a few descending steps) and from there a 'lock' directed to the left which could be sealed off by a (consisting of several parts) heavy, steel door with bolts. Via a second, similar door a rear, virtually square room could be reached to the right, the actual shelter. The access could be covered from this room via a loophole. The doors were however rarely or never installed in practice. The ceilings located at approximately two metres above floor level are flat and rectangular. In a number of cases interior components are still present, such as (remains of) wooden benches or a support for the firearm for covering the entrance. Most of the approximately five examples within the complex Intermediate Position Diefdijk - North are fairly well visible in the field; the interior of none of them was visited. One example - against the south side of the building Diefdijk no. 17 - is hidden from view by boarding, but it is still observable via a hatch.

Valuation

The GROUP SHELTERS TYPE P within the complex Intermediate Position Diefdijk - North are of general interest because of:

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

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

These are components from the period 1939-1940, namely concrete personnel shelters.

* Ensemble value and situational values as part of the New Holland Water Line in general and because of the mutual functional, functionally-spatial and physical coherence with the other components of the complex.

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

* The components are fairly well preserved and can still be easily recognised in the field as built components.