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Roadblock Sart-Tilman

On the road 'Rue du Sart-Tilman' from the eastside of the river Meuse near Liège, eastbound to higher grounds, there are several so called 'bornes anti-char'. Anti-tank obstacles, to create a roadblock.

One would easily pass by not knowing therse obstacales are in fact part of history of Worldwar 2.

Most types used are; borne Cointet, borne à Câble and a variation between these two, the borne à câble modifiée. On photo's 1 and 2 is the 'borne Cointet'. Photo's 3 and 4 show the 'résaue de rails'. A bar of rail in a tube filled whith concrete. These are also at the maingate of fort Tancrémont .

Typical for the 'borne à câble' and 'borne à câble modifiée' is that they have holes in which steel cables could be hung to avoid traffic coming through. This hole is absent at the type 'Cointet'. Between two 'bornes Cointet' there would be a steel calbe which made it possible to pull several fences on the road so nothing could pass.

The obstacles are numbered, but have no codes like the specific obstales who are part of a bunkersite, see articles roadblock near bunker Ag1 and roadblock near fort Chaudfontaine .

The concrete cavity (photograph 3, opposite of the road) was in use for storing the fences when not in use for blocking the road.

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Source

  • Text: Ed Lewandowski
  • Photos: Ed Lewandowski
  • La Position Fortifiée de Liège, Tome 6, Les abris de la PFL 3. E. Coenen & F. Vernier.