Fort Breendonk is a fortification built in 1906 as part of the second ring of defenses (the Réduit national) around the city of Antwerp (Belgium). Originally one in a chain of fortresses constructed to defend Belgium against a German attack, Breendonk was near the town of the same name, about 12 miles southwest of Antwerp. It was covered by a five meter thick layer of soil (for defense against bombings) and a water-filled moat, and measured 656 b...
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Fort Breendonk is a fortification built in 1906 as part of the second ring of defenses (the Réduit national) around the city of Antwerp (Belgium). Originally one in a chain of fortresses constructed to defend Belgium against a German attack, Breendonk was near the town of the same name, about 12 miles southwest of Antwerp. It was covered by a five meter thick layer of soil (for defense against bombings) and a water-filled moat, and measured 656 by 984 feet. The fort was used as a prison camp by the German occupiers during World War II. Nowadays, the site is a national memorial (Nationaal Gedenkteken Fort van Breendonk in Dutch), and can be visited.
Belgium was invaded in August 1914 by the German army after refusing its request of unhindered passage to northern France.
The invasion began on August 4, 1914. Eager to reach Paris as soon as possible, the German army concentrated all its efforts towards the south, ignoring Antwerp.
Continued Belgian resistance from the north forced German...
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