Gracht, Utrechtseweg 351

English translation

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Description

Cluster 37. Tank Obstacle / (Anti) Tank Ditch.

NEW HOLLANDIC WATERLINE

Introduction

Remains of a TANK OBSTACLE / (ANTI) TANK DITCH, as part of a linear and access defence with trench systems, casemates, (group) shelters, barriers and the like, here belonging to the complex Works at Griftenstein. (Anti)tank ditches were usually composed as much as possible from existing (excavated) watercourses, which were often partially relocated, widened and either connected or not connected to each other, to possess, if possible, a zigzagging course in order to make defensive fire as efficient as possible, to camouflage its course and to disrupt the coherence of the enemy advance. The zigzagging is in practice relatively rare, as a result of the use of existing waters. The failure to connect them with each other could be the result of different water levels of the watercourses in question or of water scarcity. The widths and the slopes were specially adapted for the defence function: widening of existing watercourses and the construction of an earthen covering on the side to be defended were standard practice. In most cases the works were levelled after, or even during the war, which is why there is now a question of rarity value. In the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie too, (anti)tank ditches were created in 1939-1940. One of these originally ran from the northern end of the Works at Griftenstein to beyond the Fort at 't Hemeltje in the south. The ditch was later largely eliminated by the construction of De Uithof; remains are only found (south)east of the Works at Griftenstein and in the Kromme Rijn area. The whole formed part of a several-kilometre-long chain of obstacles, partly furnished as a water barrier and supplemented with road barriers, already existing on the Houtense Plain and in the area east of Utrecht. The tank obstacle was realised in the last year before the German invasion by connecting segments of various, mainly existing watercourses east and southeast of Utrecht. The obstacle was intended to prevent or delay the possible advance of combat vehicles via road accesses or over the (dry) agricultural land.

The construction or excavation of obstacles to impede or delay the advance of enemy troops has a long history. Important artificial obstacles were traditionally, among others, ditches, waterlines, felled trees and disabled bridges. With the rise of mechanical (such as the steam train) and motorised (armoured vehicles and tanks) transport, even heavier material was deployed, including steel and (reinforced) concrete barriers. The Dutch army, on the eve of the Second World War in the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie, made use of, among other things, (anti)tank ditches and tank barriers in the form of concrete blocks with steel profile beams placed diagonally in them. The number of tank barriers laid out in the Hollandic Waterline is not known; around the year 2000 there were still about 10 recognisable ones, of which 1 complete, but in the early years of the 21st century several more specimens were 'rediscovered'. Within the complex 'Works at Griftenstein', however, no visible remains of a concrete barrier are still present, with the result that the continuous barrier is no longer clearly recognisable.

Description

Remains of a TANK OBSTACLE / (ANTI) TANK DITCH, here belonging to the complex Works at Griftenstein. The course of the (anti)tank ditch at Griftenstein is still recognisable in the area between the current A 28 east of Junction Rijnsweerd to beyond the N 237 (the Utrechtseweg / Biltsestraatweg). Through the creation of cross-connections, existing ditches here over a distance of approximately 1 kilometre formed a continuous, more or less zigzagging obstacle. Besides these ditches themselves, there are few or no traces of former excavation and earthworks visible on the surface, but traces or remains of these may possibly still be present below ground level.

Valuation

The remains of a TANK OBSTACLE / (ANTI) TANK DITCH east of the Works at Griftenstein are of general importance because of:

* Cultural-historical values as components of the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie as designed by C.R.T. Kraijenhoff and initially established 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 art, which is based on: a. the system of inundation and access defence (19th and 20th centuries), b. the race with strengthening offensive means (20th century), c. the system of 'living' field fortification in depth (20th century).

The component is an example of an (anti)tank ditch specially constructed and/or equipped for defence against assault vehicles and/or tanks that formed part of a much longer linear obstacle.

* Ensemble value and situational values as a component of the Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie. Also because of the functional and physical coherence with the other components of the complex and in particular as a physical obstacle forming part of a linear system east and southeast of Utrecht.

* The type of component has become rather rare and is representative because the tank obstacle has remained recognisable in its physical context and coherence.

* The component has been reasonably well preserved, which means that part of the applications of the watercourses in situ have remained observable and recognisable.