War sites in Belgium - 1 - The Breendonk concentration camp.
WW II - The Breendonk Concentration Camp
This concentration camp from W.W. II was built from 1906 until 1914 in the village Breendonk, about 20 km outside of Mechelen. It was originally intended to be a fortress in the ring of defense fortresses around Antwerp. The fortress fell during the German invasion in 1914. Later it became the general Headquarters of the Belgian Army in May 1940. During the occupation of Belgium the Nazi's used the fortress as a concentration camp from September 1940 until August 1944.
After the occupants had gone, it was used as a prison. Since 1947 it is a national memorial. During the visit one passes through the entrance gate, through tunnels, cells and rooms, the mortuary, dungeon, barracks, the execution square and the Bailey Bridge. The museum is only a part of the entire complex. There are different rooms dedicated to the Nazi-occupation of Belgium, the Breendonk regime as well as to the post-war trials of the executors. In the former showers and kitchen works of art can be seen that were made by the prisoners.
One of the last acquisitions is a deportation train wagon donated by the Belgian Railways. In this authentic wagon thousands of people were transported, like cattle, to the extermination camps.
The Breendonk camp is a scaring testimony to the horror that took place here in the middle of the 20th century.
Visit the web site of Breendonk : www.breendonk.be
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Antwerp
Concentration camp