Information Board Petit Bois - The Underground Excavator / A Deadly Game of Cat and Mouse

Industrialization and mechanization played an important role in the First World War. For example, steel and coal were the source of food for many 'war factories'. But that things sometimes went wrong was proven by the underground excavator at Petit Bois.

The 20 to 30 meters of underground warfare was a joust between the Allies and the Germans. After all, both were aware of each other's tunneling activities. Only they did not know exactly where the German or British tunnels were. An anonymous British tunneler testifies: "You knew they were there somewhere. But you had to guess what exactly they were up to. As long as you could hear them working, it was good. As soon as it became quiet, fear came..."

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Source

• Text: Martin Damen
• Photos: Martin Damen