WWII series Atlantic Wall in Raversyde Belgium

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On 6 June 2019, it will be 75 years ago that the Normandy landings took place,
so on this blog there will be lots of posts about the royals during World War II
but also about special destinations in Europe related to the sad history of 
World War II.

Between 1942 and 1944 Nazi Germany wanted to build an extensive system
of coastal defense and fortifications along the coast of continental Europe
and Scandinavia. This was used as a defense against an expected Allied
invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe from the United Kingdom.


Atlantikwall Raversyde Belgium



Hitler himself ordered the construction of the fortification in 1942. Almost
a milion French workers were obligated to build it.

This system was called: Atlantic Wall (in German: Atlantikwall).

However such a coastal defence system was not only built in France but
also in Belgium!

Many parts of the Atlantikwall in Belgium are preserved as parts of a
very sad history.


Raversyde Belgium Atlantikwall



Some history

 Near Ostend, in Raversyde, a part of the Atlantikwall still exists. Its
history is even older then 1942!

Raversyde was for long time a part of the Royal domains.
King Leopold II of Belgium ordered to build coastal defense already
in 1903. However the actual building works were started on
8 January 1915. End of April 1915 the coastal defense was operational.
This was called the Aachen Battery.



Atlantikwall Raversyde Belgium



Besides the Aachen Battery, the Atlantikwall in Raversyde had more
than 60 bunkers, they were open and underground tunnels, observation
posts and gun positions, all built during World War II.



Atlantikwall Raversyde Belgium



After his regency, in 1950, Prince Charles of Belgium the younger
brother of King Leopold III of Belgium, moved to the royal domain
of Raversyde. The prince left the Atlantic Wall untouched while he
lived there in a fisherman's house where he made beautiful paintings.



Atlantikwall Raversyde Belgium



Raversyde was for Nazi-Germany an important location because it was
closely located near the airport of Ostend.

Airport of Ostend near Raversyde in Belgium
A visit

 The Royal domain of Raversyde and the Atlantikwall are really worth
to pay a visit. The domain shows the sad history of World War II.

More information at the webside of Raversyde on this link.

I visited Raversyde, the home of Prince Charles of Belgium twice: in 2005
and 2015. Only in 2005 I visited the Atlantikwall site on the royal domain.



Atlantikwall Raversyde Belgium

Location: Raversijde, 8400 Oostende, België

Comments

royalfanvivian said…
Mooie, indrukwekkende foto's!
March 19, 2019 at 3:30 PM
Kathleen Van Lierop said…
Dank je wel! Ze zijn genomen over een aantal jaren. De bovenste zijn de meest recente!
April 16, 2019 at 9:37 PM
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