Between the devil and the deep blue sea - University of Canterbury

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volts. 134 Most definitely, 50,000 volts is too high an estimation, given the relatively
primitive generators of the time. A more realistic figure would be anything between 2,000
to 6,000 volts,135 which was enough to kill a person, although when properly insulated from
the current, people could pass through the fence unharmed. 136
Illustration 9: The electric fence
(Source: Brugman, Geschiedenis WI/1 den Wereldoorlog between pp. 224 - 225)
The first official warning to the Netherlands about the fence came on 6 June 1915,
more than a month after work on its construction began. The German Minister in The
Hague notified the Dutch government that building was nearly complete along parts of the
border and the fence would be charged for the first time the following week. He promised
that it would be clearly marked and hoped the Dutch authorities would warn locals about
the risk the fence posed to their lives. 137 The government informed Snijders immediately
134 Kramers, "Internering in Nederland" p. 27; Rob Ruggenberg, "Huiver over 'den Draad'" [Shudder over 'the wire']
in Heritage of the Great War (accessed November 1998), no page
numbers (reprinted in De Groote Oorlog. 4, no. 2, October 1998, pp. 21 - 23); Schaepdrijver, De Groote Oorlog p.
123; Vanneste, Kroniek. van een Dorp Volume 1, p. 258; Moeyes, Buiten Sehot p. 127.
135 Vanneste, Kroniekvan een Dorp Volume 1, p. 258.
136 With grateful thanks to Professor Pat Bodger of the Electrical Engineering Department at the University of
Canterbury, New Zealand, for explaining the intricacies of electric currents to me.
137 German Minister in The Hague to Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, 6 June 1915, in ARA, "Archieven van de
Generale Star' entry no. 2.13.70, inventory no. 170.