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The strongpoint Bensberg from the Second
World War is located near the Aachen battery and consists of several
men's quarters and the necessary accommodation. Many bunkers carry the name of a musician: Händel, Mozart,
Bach, Millöcker, Haydn. These names were given by military engineers
(Pioniere), living in these bunkers. Each bunker had a code and number. The inscription Ost-W indicates the
area Ostend-West, bunker nr. 120.
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This men's quarter was completely refurnished, just as it
was sixty years ago. The small room housed 6 to 12 soldiers. All furniture
is original. Apart from the usual equipment there’s also a lot of
specific engineering material like large wire cutters, shovels, saws and
demolition equipment.
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The storage bunker from the Second World War
was refurbished and completely redecorated. The emergency rations
generally consisted of tinned food and drink supplies. The supplies were transported in large
bags carrying the German eagle. Sometimes the bunkers contained other things like fuel
and ammunition for hand-guns.
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In one of the bunkers, a small
exhibition pays tribute to the work of the Belgian bomb disposal units. These
men had
to clear a huge amount of explosives after the liberation of the Belgian
coastal area. Lifelike representations of a Belgian mine clearer and his
German prisoner-helper can be seen here. They are surrounded by several
types of mines that were found along the coast. The exhibition is
accompanied by impressive, authentic action photos. Most of these
photographs refer to the immediate vicinity of Raversijde.
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One bunker served as First-aid Post. Here,
the light wounded could be taken care of, but more seriously wounded
had to be transferred to the military hospitals of Ostend and
Bruges. Also soldiers from the vicinity were looked after, like the
Luftwaffe soldiers from the near airport. Frequently, officials from the
German Red Cross came along for inspection or joined a shipment of
medicines. These officials were wearing an own gray uniform giving them a
military look.
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In this bunker, the Canadian liberators are hunting for
souvenirs. German bayonets, insignia and pistols were much sought after.
Some of the items on display were given to the museum by
ex-servicemen.
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Near Villa Bastien some special objects can be
found: sea mines and a British submarine gun that has been recently hauled
by a fisherman. This torpedo was recovered by the Belgian Naval
Bomb Squad from the launching tube of the motor torpedo boat S220. This
torpedo-boat had sunk off the coast of Ostend in the night of March 1st
to March 2nd 1945. From the Netherlands it had to supply the
French harbors that were still in hands of the Germans, but it was sunk
by the British destroyer Seymour.
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