Confirmation point of the Iron Wall (KW-Line)

Confirmation point of the Iron Wall (KW Line)

Keerbergen has nine bunkers on its territory, six of which are located in the Broekelei. These bunkers were part of an initial line of bunkers built in the immediate vicinity of the "Iron Wall," a defensive structure designed to halt tanks that ran from north to south through the municipality. A second line of bunkers was located a few kilometers west of this first line. The Iron Wall and the bunkers were part of the Belgian defense line that stretched from Koningshooikt to the Walloon Waver, constructed just before World War II. During the occupation, all entrances to the bunkers were firmly bricked up on the orders of the Germans.

The Iron Wall was dismantled and transferred to the French coasts where it was reassembled as part of the "Atlantic Wall." The iron anti-tank components (cointet elements) of the wall were anchored at regular intervals to attachment points, forming an anti-tank barrier. These attachment points, such as those here near the path, are still scattered along the former defense line from Koningshooikt to Waver.

Bart Denayer