Traces of the war past in Lommel

Lommel harbors numerous traces of its wartime past. Along the Bocholt-Herentals Canal you can find several bunkers that were once part of the border defense. The city also has several military cemeteries, where Belgian, German and Polish soldiers rest. The Bailey Bridge near the Blue Boulder was used by Allied troops. In addition, there are several chapels and memorial stones scattered throughout the city that pay tribute to fallen soldiers and important events.

Free

Culture

War History

War Cemeteries

Lommel is a city rich in memories of its wartime past, which is particularly evident in its various cemeteries. One of the most notable is the German Military Cemetery in Lommel, the largest of its kind in Western Europe, where more than 39,000 German soldiers who fell during World War II are buried. Additionally, Lommel hosts the Polish Military Cemetery, where Polish soldiers who died during the liberation of Belgium are laid to rest.

The Belgian war cemeteries in Lommel, such as the one at the Werkplaatsen cemetery, contain graves of Belgian soldiers and resistance fighters from both world wars. The memorial stones at these sites silently testify to the courage and sacrifice of the local population. At the Kerkhoven cemetery in Lommel, the fallen are also commemorated, with monuments specifically dedicated to resistance fighters who gave their lives during World War II. Names like Jozef Michiels, Jozef Wouters, and Jacobus van Baelen are immortalized here, serving as a lasting reminder of their sacrifices.

Bunkers

In Lommel, several bunkers can be found that were part of the border defense along the Bocholt-Herentals Canal. These bunkers were constructed as part of a defensive line during the interwar period and World War II. In total, 72 bunkers were built along this canal, including flanking riverbank bunkers, gun bunkers, heavy bunkers, and machine gun bunkers.

Bunker 12, for example, was suited for a Maxim machine gun and originally had camouflage colors. This bunker was part of the front line and was manned by the border cyclists of the Cie. Kaulille. After the war, this bunker was sometimes used as a mooring place for ships.

Another bunker, Bunker 11, was equipped for both a Maxim machine gun and a Browning F.M. machine gun. This bunker had a unique design in the line, with three grenade-throwing holes for all-around defense. This bunker was also operated by the border cyclists of Kaulille.