Fortress Liezele

 place with historical importance, First World War 1914-1918, fortification

Fortress Liezele is one of the 32 fortifications belonging to the 95 Km. long outer defending girdle around Antwerp.
Build in 1908 along with 10 new fortresses and 12 redoubts as a new defense line to prevent that the city could be bombed by cannons with larger firing range.
Construction was finished in 1914, only it was already inferior to the German fire power. When the other fortresses are being siege by the Germans, and the army retreats behind the river Yser, fortress Liezele stays isolated behind until it capitulates on October 1914.
During the inter-war years, the fortress is used as barracks for a field artillery unit.
1939 the fortress is rebuild as infantry reinforcement.
1940 the fortress but sees no action during WW II the Germans uses it as a depot.
After WW II it is decommissioned.
Today the fortress is a museum and the best preserved fortress around Antwerp.
www.fortliezele.be/