Kazemat, Nieuwe Steeg bij 74

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

Cluster 70.

NEW HOLLANDIC WATERLINE

Introduction

Two CONCRETE BLOCKS FROM CAST-STEEL CUPOLA CASEMATES TYPE G, as remains of attached reinforced concrete components of the defence of the Linge access and the inundation works at Asperen. At multiple locations on and near the Fort at the Nieuwe Steeg there are small reinforced concrete defensive works. They were constructed here primarily to defend the sluice complex at Asperen with which large parts of the foreground polders, including in the southern Alblasserwaard, could be inundated and to defend the Linge access. Among the works executed particularly in the years 1939-1940 are Cast-Steel Cupola Casemates type G. One specimen lies in the middle of the front of the fort and another is located to the northeast of the Fort at the Nieuwe Steeg, on the Lingedijk, in the immediate vicinity of a Group Shelter type P.

In 1936, as a supplement to the reinforced concrete casemate, the so-called cast-steel cupola casemate was introduced in the Netherlands, which was based on a system already applied in France in 1917. The armoured cupolas used were small in size (favourable with regard to visibility and hit probability), round in shape (favourable with regard to deflecting hits and strength), relatively simple to produce in series and they had an 'external' firing opening (favourable with regard to gases and sound). Moreover, they could be manufactured in the Netherlands, which significantly reduced dependence on foreign sources. A first order of 100 units in the Netherlands (at DEMKA) was however followed by a second of 50 units from the Belgian Soc. Anonyme John Cockerill. In total more than 700 must have been cast in a short time, but only a few have survived. The cast-steel cupolas, with a diameter of 1.75 m and thicknesses of 10-17 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 Cast-Steel Cupola Casemates Type G were constructed at various places in the Dutch lines, in particular in the IJssel line, the Maas line, the Grebbe line (each approximately 150) and the New Hollandic Waterline (approximately 80 in a reinforced version with a wall thickness of 14 cm). The usual construction of reinforced concrete with one or more fixed firing positions was here abandoned in favour of a system that possessed, within variable limits (up to 270°), a projectable direction of fire, within a cast-steel cylinder with cupola roof. Most cupolas were placed in the Cupola Casemates Type G. Cast-Steel Cupola Casemates Type G were built according to a standardised design and consist of a cast-steel cupola (usually removed), which is anchored in a reinforced concrete structure. At the front side there was a firing opening with an overhanging element - an 'eyebrow' for protection of the weapon - and on the other side an entrance closed by a steel shutter. The concrete structure consists of a relatively low rectangular building, with a bevelled section on the front side, to achieve maximum field of fire. The standard armament of cupola casemates in the New Hollandic Waterline consisted of a heavy machine gun. The firing opening and the access to the casemate could be closed 'gas-tight' from inside. During the Second World War, the vast majority of cupolas in the interior were demolished by the occupier from the casemates - partly by blowing them up - to remelt them for other steel needs. At the coast they were partly incorporated into the defence, but were usually demolished again after the war. As a result, complete cupola casemates are rare, but they do occur, among others, at the Fort at Vechten. The concrete structures in which they were placed occur more frequently - but usually in damaged form.

Description

Two CONCRETE BLOCKS FROM CAST-STEEL CUPOLA CASEMATES TYPE G (1939-1940) as components of linear and access defence with trench systems, group shelters and the like. The concrete blocks of the two Cupola Casemates Type G are remains of relatively low, almost square, concrete casemates (approximately 7.00 x 6.20 x 2.50 m; w x d x h), with at the height of the space hollowed out on the front side for the cupola, a backward-sloping surface designed to promote deflection of enemy hits. At the rear a rectangular recess in the concrete to allow access to the cupola. The two specimens present within the complex of the Fort at the Nieuwe Steeg have been blown up and as a result show severe concrete damage; the cupolas have been removed and remelted. The specimens are not accessible.

Evaluation

The two CONCRETE BLOCKS FROM CAST-STEEL CUPOLA CASEMATES TYPE G, on and near the Fort at the Nieuwe Steeg are of general interest because of;

* Cultural-historical values as part of the New Hollandic Waterline as designed by C.R.T. Kraijenhoff and initially constructed 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 building craftsmanship, which is based on: a. the system of inundation and access defence (19th and 20th century), b. the arms race with increasingly powerful offensive means (19th and 20th century), c. the system of 'living' field fortification in depth (20th century).

This concerns here components from the period 1939-1940 which are examples of reinforced concrete casemates, now without earth covering and without cast-steel cupola (later removed).

* Ensemble value and situational values as components of the New Hollandic Waterline. Also because of the functional and physical coherence with the other components of the complex and in particular because of their recognisable function in the defence of the Linge access and the inundation works at Asperen.

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

* The components are moderately well preserved, as a result of deliberate dismantling, but they remain readily recognisable in the field as constructed components.