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Remains of Security Building PD25bis

Remains of the PD25bis security building
It served the railway's supervisory staff as a protective space. Shortly before the start of the war, the Belgian army had filled a 4 meter deep shaft with 495 kg of explosives not far from this building. In the event of an enemy attack, this explosion would leave a crater 14 meters in diameter on the railway line.

Corporal Charles Devisser of the cyclist battalion was one of the first Belgian soldiers to die on May 10, 1940, during the German army's invasion of Belgium.
On that day he was on duty at post PD25bis, not far from the "Green Monastery", a place located between the camp of Elsenborn and Küchelscheid.
While Charles Devisser was covering the retreat of his colleagues, he was badly hit and left injured. He was transferred to the hospital in Bütgenbach, then to the hospital in Schleiden, where he died a little later from his injuries.
The unit honored him every year by laying a wreath at the monument.

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Source

  • Text: TracesOfWar
  • Photos: Hans Tasma

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