Bomvrij militair object, Biltsestraatweg bij 160

English translation

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Description

Cluster 38. Group Shelters Type P.

NEW HOLLANDIC WATERLINE

Introduction

THREE GROUP SHELTERS TYPE P as 20th-century, serially built additions to the existing defence. The Group Shelters Type P were built according to more or less uniform or standard design (mainly) in the years 1939-1940 at multiple locations in the Netherlands. The total number of built examples amounts to approximately 700, of which approximately 570 in the New Hollandic Waterline; the majority (circa 400) of these still exist. The building programme of the Group Shelters Type P was not completed at the outbreak of the Second World War and a number of examples are known never to have been completed. Type P (also called 'the pyramid' because of its distinctive form) is presumed to be the most well-known type of concrete defensive work in the Netherlands. The type resulted from the so-called VIS 77 (Voorschrift Inrichten Stellingen no. 77) from 1928 and had among its purposes to form part of the defence of a number of existing and newly created accesses, including especially (motor)roads. The Group Shelter Type P usually came into being in the immediate vicinity of already existing or contemporaneously realised casemates, gun emplacements, fortifications or trenches. Because the trenches and other (earth)works were subsequently levelled or demolished almost everywhere, the concrete shelters nowadays sometimes lie partially below ground level. The always completely closed front or front side of the Group Shelters Type P was in many cases covered by earthworks which could form part of a glacis for protection of the trench or a covered way. These earthworks are now mostly no longer present or only with difficulty recognisable, but notably on forts or in otherwise broken terrain they are sometimes still present. Numerous examples of Type P were built in inundatable areas, in a number of cases applying a distinctive, newly (or continuously) visible pile foundation; in other examples a foundation plate projecting all round or also a trough against inundation water can be seen. Three examples were built on Fort De Bilt, two of which are clearly recognisable on the north-eastern bastion; the third example lies in a remnant of the covered communal way behind the southern part of Fort De Bilt.

Description

THREE GROUP SHELTERS TYPE P at Fort De Bilt, including two on the south side of the north-eastern bastion. These shelters lie clearly visible and recognisable in the terrain. An earth covering partially still present. The third lies in a remnant of the covered communal way behind the southern part of Fort De Bilt. Group Shelters Type P are one storey high and usually executed in reinforced concrete of approximately 100 to 180 cm thick cast concrete. They formed a shell-proof military shelter that could provide accommodation for 10-12 infantrymen / artillery personnel, at covering class W 12-15 or W 21-28. In the Eastern Front most belong to the heaviest class. The Group Shelters Type P are built on a rectangular ground plan, with dimensions ranging from approximately 5.50 x 7.20 x 4.70 m to 6.50 x 8.20 x 4.90 (w x d x h). The visible height above ground level, however, varies. Both blind side elevations and the rear side are executed vertically to approximately 3.00 m height. Above that these elevations angle inward at approximately 45° and subsequently transition into a flat roof. On the right in the rear side is at locally varying height above ground level an (access opening later either sealed or not), usually square opening. The entirely vertical, closed front side reflects the angles of 45° and thus ends as a 'truncated pointed gable'. In a number of cases iron hooks or brackets were cast into the gable(s) that could serve for attachment of camouflage material. A characteristic component on top of the Type P shelter is the conical concrete 'outlet', which was intended for use of a periscope. These periscopes in practice, however, were never installed. The interior of the Group Shelters Type P consists of a short corridor (usually with a concrete parapet or balustrade and usually a few descending steps) and from there a 'sluice' directed to the left which could be locked by a (consisting of several parts) heavy steel door. Via a second, similar door a rear lying, virtually square space could be reached, the actual shelter. Access from this space could be covered by a loophole for a rifle. The steel doors, however, were never installed and the entrances were later often sealed with brick and plastered. The ceilings located just over 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 small arm for controlling the entrance.

Valuation

The THREE GROUP SHELTERS TYPE P within Fort De Bilt are of general importance because of:

* Cultural-historical values as part of the New Hollandic Waterline as this was designed by C.R.T. Kraijenhoff and initially from 1815 realised by him, Jan Blanken and major-engineer Willem Offerhaus and thereafter by others strengthened and improved for approximately 125 years.

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

This concerns one or more components from the period 1939-1940, namely concrete troops shelters.

* Ensemble value and situational values as part of the New Hollandic Waterline in general and because of the mutual functional, functionally-spatial and physical coherence with the other components within the complex Fort De Bilt.

* One or more components are representative (characteristic) because they are recognisably added to the existing fortification system.

* All components are reasonably well preserved and at least two can still be recognised as built elements in the field and in coherence with other elements of the fort.