Antwerpen14-18_Antwerp builds bridges ENG

Recommendations

Info

The Pontoon Bridge as a supply line The bridges across the River Scheldt have to ensure rapid troop movements, the transport of materials and supplies between the two river banks. The construction is done by specially trained pontoon workers of the Belgian army. They are engineer corps soldiers with combat training. They are responsible for the construction of bridges, for maintenance and repairs, for monitoring, for opening and closing of bridges, for the maintenance of the railway bridge in Temse and the few ships that cross the River Scheldt, for monitoring the Scheldt and should the need arise, for the destruction of the bridges. The military control of the bridge and the River Scheldt The pontoon bridge is closely guarded. The military authorities are weary of sabotage and want to keep an eye on people entering or leaving the city. • The technical guard (two sergeants, two corporals and 35 to 40 soldiers) ensures the proper functioning and maintenance of the bridge. • The army guards the approaches to the bridge and runs call duties. The bridge at Steen Castle is guarded by infantry units and the other bridges by the pontoon soldiers themselves. • The river guard has two boats at anchor upstream and downstream. During the day they hoist the flag, lighting the lanterns at night. They monitor upstream traffic with a motor boat and downstream with a tug. • Along the river banks patrols walk up and down continuously. • To prevent the bridges from being blown up by the Germans using floating mines, armed motor boats guard the River Scheldt at all times. There are two fire brigade cars ready to extinguish fires at each bridge. The bridge is narrow, the ramps steep The narrow bridge can be used in one direction only. It is three meters wide, has a carriageway of 1.80 meters, and an an adjacent path for pedestrians. To determine which direction is needed, the guards keep in touch with one another by telephone. Crossing the bridge is subject to strict rules. • Vehicles that are too heavy have to be unloaded first. The load is then divided or remains on the quays. • Some vehicles are too wide and cannot cross. • Foot soldiers have to step out of cadence to reduce the thunder of their steps. • Soldiers and officers on horseback have to dismount and cross the bridge in pairs. • Artillery has to be rolled across at a walking pace. • Cars have to drive slowly, maintaining a safe distance from one another. • Soldiers are given priority, but citizens can also use the bridge. 6
The slope of the entry and exit ramps of the bridge depends on the tide and the traffic on the bridge. At low tide the boats are much lower, making the ramps steeper. At times of heavy traffic, the weight makes the bridge even lower. Horses often have trouble in reaching the river bank. The ramps suffer from the weight of the vehicles and are repaired regularly. At night the bridge is lit up by electric lanterns. The wiring is done by a civilian company. However, after the first zeppelin bombings the city has to remain in darkness overnight. The lanterns on the pontoon bridge are extinguished or obscured. “After the zeppelin attack, the people of Antwerp lived in complete darkness at night. At eight o’clock, everything had to be closed and all tram traffic was suspended. If there were lights visible from the windows of the houses police officers or civilian guards would ring bells to notify the owners. In the dark, the city’s streets and squares were scarcely recognisable.” (Jozef Muls) Antwerp bombed by a zeppelin 7
Page 1 and 2: Antwerp 1914-2014 builds bridges
Page 3 and 4: 1914-2014: Antwerp builds a bridge
Page 5: After seven days, the bridge is rea
Page 9 and 10: The burning oil tanks form an apoca
Page 11 and 12: Passage for ships The pontoon bridg
Page 13 and 14: Dirk Verhaegen is Staff Colonel and
Page 15 and 16: 1914 The bridges built in 1584, 191
Page 17 and 18: Colophon ‘Antwerp builds bridges
Page 19 and 20: Rechteroever See you on the bridge!
Page 21 and 22: This is a publication issued by the
Page 23 and 24: Belgium before the war The 19th cen
Page 25 and 26: The clash between the European powe
Page 27 and 28: 1914 The zeppelin bombardments of A
Page 29 and 30: 1914 The advance of the German army
Page 31 and 32: Panic in the city Luggage left behi

Antwerpen14-18_Antwerp builds bridges ENG

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?