PDA

View Full Version : Archived: Fort Walem - Nr Antwerp -Belgium Aug 2010



skin
27-09-2010, 03:28 AM
The fort of Walem is part of the old fortifications around Antwerp that was built from 1859 until 1914. The Walem fort was built in 1878.

In September 1914 the fort was attacked by the German army. The Germans fired more than 500 heavy grenades at the fort. 70 Belgium soldiers were buried alive and are still buried under the collapsed fort today. In 1930 a concrete cross was built on the highest part of the Walem fort as a memorial for the fallen.

After the two world wars the fort was a station for the “civiele bescherming” a special force to help in times of disasters. Reminders of this are more than 250,000 gasmasks lying all over the place. The masks, containing asbestos were stored at the fort. In 1992 the place was abandoned although there are signs of dog training being carried out here now.

Wasn’t sure if I should put it in underground or here as about 95% of the place is underground in large to small tunnels.
Got a shock when I found out the masks had asbestos in them, was wondering what the bad taste was and why the skin on my face was burning after doing the honours and donning one.




http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4145/5027849197_281430448e_z.jpg


http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4148/5027849209_c23d0f0efb_z.jpg


http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4088/5027849211_cfc20faf2c_z.jpg


http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4130/5027849205_4793e5e843_z.jpg


http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4106/5027849217_39f6080eec_z.jpg