Fortress Breendonk

 museum, Second World War 1939-1945, place with historical importance, fortification, internment, interesting place, 20th century construction

Fortress Breendonk is one of the 32 fortifications belonging to the 95 Km. long outer defending girdle around Antwerp. Build in 1909 along with 10 new fortresses and 12 redoubts as a new defense line to prevent that Antwerp could be bombed by cannons with larger firing range.
Construction was finished in 1914, only it was already inferior to the German fire power. WW I the fortress was pounded heavily by the artillery of the Germans, the order to evacuate was given and the Belgian army withdrew behind the river Ijzer.
1919 the fortress is used as army barracks. During the inter-war years in the fortress is rebuild as headquarters.
WW II, the fortress is used as headquarters until it is siege by the Germans.
1940 the Germans uses the fortress as political prison camp.
1941 the prison turned into a transit prison camp, prisoners stay for 3 months before transferred to the concentration camps.
1942 the human unworthy conditions turned the prison into a concentration camp.
1945 the fortress is used as a internment center.
1947 fortress Breendonk is declared national monument and memorial.
2003 renovation of the exhibition.
www.breendonk.be/EN/index.html