National Redoubt (Belgium)
The following fortifications and defensive constructions were an integral part of the National Redoubt at different times: The most important part of the national redoubt was a double ring of defensive forts around the city and port of Antwerp.
The National Redoubt was a 95 km (59 mi)-long belt of fortifications built from 1859 to 1914, as the strongest defensive position of Belgium in case of invasion.
The forts Liefkenshoek, De Perel, St. Marie and St. Philip were built during the Eighty Years War in 1584 by the Duke of Parma (Alexander Farnese) to block the supply of (the Hollanders in) Antwerp.
This function was fulfilled by the forts De Perel, Burcht, Isabella and Saint Marie.
The Scheldt defence was complemented by the development of the Vlaams Hoofd Fort, west of the current terminus of the St. Anna Tunnel.
Halfway through the 19th century after the emergence of Napoleon III in 1851, it was clear that the Belgian army did not have the capability to resist an attack from France.
It was necessary to centralise defences and so a ring of fortresses around Antwerp, forten 1-7, were originally built as earthen ramparts but later reinforced by stone structures.
The National Reduit (Act of 8 September 1859) would consist of a siege wall, a circle of fortresses and inundations.
The Franco-Prussian War in 1870 showed that the German artillery could bombard Paris from a distance of 7 km.
In addition, the Scheldt Defence was extended with the forts St. Philip and De Perel (both rebuilt).
They were small oblong armored fortresses, against enemy warships and were to be heavily armed with 24 and 28 cm guns.
Three more redoubts (Oorderen, Berendrecht and Kapellen) were built respectively to defend the inundatable polders and the dykes and the railway line to the Netherlands.
Finally, the Act of 1902 started the construction of the forts Sint Katelijne Waver and Stabroek, but they were not fully completed and armed in 1914.
The development of newer weapons was so fast that in 1900 a committee was established to review the defence of Antwerp.
On the outside of the ditch the ground was sloping (the glacis) to enable direct fire on any enemy.
On the main front about thirty guns and mortars for the long distance defence were placed.
The forts were connected by the R11 military road, thereafter developed into a small green outer ring for Antwerp.
The forts were built in 2.5 m unreinforced concrete, which would offer resistance to 28 cm caliber shells.
Developments in the gun caliber had been taken into account in the construction by an increased ground cover.
Trials in Russia in 1912 with a Belgian turret showed that it could not withstand 28 cm guns.
The Germans were equipped with 30.5 cm (Skoda M1911 howitzers lent by Austria, with a range of 9.6 kilometers) and 42 cm (the Big Bertha, range 10 km) caliber guns, with shells respectively 380 kg and 1000 kg.
After establishing a defensive line near Liege, the Germans marched westward, and on September 4 the first shells were aimed at the axis Walem-Breendonk.
On September 30, German heavy artillery destroyed the forts of Walem, Sint Katelijne Waver and Koningshooikt.
On October 9, the Belgian Army abandoned the east bank of the river Scheldt, blowing up the forts of Schoten, Brasschaat, Merksem, Kapellen and Lillo.
After the attack on Belgium, the Belgian army retreated on May 14 behind the Albert Canal to the defense line Koningshooikt-Wavre.
De Perel fort was blown up in the Second World War by the Germans, and its last remains were demolished in 1958.
All forts from the period 1877–1883 (Walem, Lier, Steendorp (formerly also called Rupelmonde) and Schoten) are extant.
The Oordenen and Berendrecht redoubts were demolished in connection with the expansion of the port of Antwerp.
The Smoutakker and Schilde redoubts were blown up by the retreating Belgians in the First World War.
Of the forts from the period 1877–1883 one isa military domain, one a nature reserve, one communal property (formerly Ministry of Finance) and one is owned by a shooting club (plus radio amateurs).
