Fortress ‘s Gravenwezel (Schilde)

 place with historical importance, fortification

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Fortress ‘s Gravenwezel is one of the 32 fortifications belonging to the 95 Km. long outer defending girdle around Antwerp.
Build in 1906 along with 10 new fortresses and 12 entrenchment as a new defense line to prevent that the city could be bombed by cannons with larger firing range.
Construction was finished in 1912, only it was already inferior to the German fire power.In the outbreak of WW I the outcome of the fortress was soon composed, after 10 days of siege, the order to evacuate was given and it was no longer of military interest.
During the inter-war years in 1934, the fortress is rebuild as infantry reinforcement.
WW II, stationed soldiers are fleeing the fortress during the first days of the war in may 1940.
Today the terrain is private property and numerous weekend houses are built on the domain.