User:Acroterion/National Redoubt (Belgium)

The Belgian National Redoubt refers to the fortifications built between World War I and World War II to replace or supplement obsolete fortifications around Antwerp and Ghent. The National Redoubt consolidated the Fortified Position of Antwerp (Position Fortifiée d'Antwerp) and the Ghent Bridgehead (Tête du Pont de Gent) into a defended region into which the Belgian Army could retreat in the event of invasion, receiving resupply though the port of Antwerp and preserving the government and army of Belgium.

The Antwerp fortifications competed for resources at a time when Belgium was building expensive modern fortifications on the German border such as Fort Eben-Emael as part of the Fortified Position of Liège, modernizing the Brialmont fortifications of Liège and Namur and building lighter fortifications on the Albert Canal and the Dyle.

Inner forts
The inner ring of Antwerp forts was constructed around 1860, together with a comprehensive set of bastioned city walls, wet ditches, advanced works and auxiliary citadels. These forts were made obsolete by advances in the range and explosive power of artillery in the late 19th century. In 1906 the forts were termed the "safety ring."


 * City Walls of Antwerp
 * Citadelle du Nord
 * Fort de Dourde


 * Tête de Flandres
 * Belvedere
 * Fort de Calico
 * Fort Isabelle
 * Fort de Burgh

Brialmont forts
Clockwise, starting north of the city at the Schelde:

River Schelde
 * Fort Saint Philippe
 * Fort de Merksem
 * Fort 1
 * Fort 2
 * Fort 3
 * Fort 4
 * Fort 5
 * Fort 6
 * Fort 7
 * Fort 8
 * Fort Crubeke (Fort Kruibeke)
 * Fort de Zwyndrecht
 * Fort Sainte Marie

Third Antwerp Ring
Clockwise, starting north of the city at the Schelde: River Schelde
 * Fort Doel (not built)
 * Battery Blauwgaren river battery
 * Redoubt Berendrecht (1888-93) destroyed
 * Fort Stabroeck (1902-1914) privately owned
 * Redoubt Smoutakker destroyed
 * Fort Ertbrand privately owned
 * Fort Kappellen (1888-1893) military property
 * Fort Merkesem (1871-1882) parkland
 * Fort Brasschaat military property
 * Redoubt Dryhoek
 * Fort Schoten (1886-1893) military property
 * Battery Audaan
 * Fort Saint Gravenwezel built over with housing
 * Redoubt Schilde ruins
 * Fort Oelegem nature association
 * Redoubt Massenhoven destroyed
 * Fort Broechem military property, abandoned
 * Fort Kessel visitable on request
 * Fort Konigshooikt privately owned, restaurant
 * Redoubt Tallaart
 * Fort Lier (1878-1893)
 * Redoubt Bosbeek ruin, privately owned
 * Redoubt Dorpveld
 * Fort Duffel (1886-1890) "railway fortress" ruin, privately owned
 * Fort Katelijne-Waver (1902-1914) ruin, privately owned
 * Fort Walem (1878-1893) Ministry of Finance
 * Fort Breendonk museum
 * Redoubt Letterheide
 * Fort Liezele museum
 * Redoubt Puurs
 * Fort Bornem privately owned
 * Fort de Rupelmonde (Fort Steendorp) (1882-1892) ruin
 * Redoubt Landmolen
 * Redoubt Lauwershoek
 * Fort Haasdonk military property
 * Fort Kruibeke (1870-1880) ruin, military property
 * Fort Zwijndrect (1870-1880) military property
 * Defensive Dike (1870-1880)
 * Fort Sainte Marie
 * Fort Saint-Filips (1877-1881)
 * Fort de Perel (1877-1881)
 * Fort Oorderen (1888-1893) destroyed
 * Battery Prinsenhof river battery
 * Battery Kruisschans river battery
 * Fort Blauwgaren not built