The Electric Fence

[Simke]

Hello to all,
this thread is about the Electric Fence.

While many of us know wwI because of Ieper, or Verdun, where I live, the real and older inhabitants of the village remember wwI because of the Electric Fence, a fearce and scary tool used by the Germans.

In 1914, Holland wished to stay neutral and the Germans decided to build all along the border between Belgium and Holland this electric fence.
This fence whas build so soldiers, could not desert, or Belgian citizans could not flee away to escape the war, but anyone touching this fence, whas instant death.

The design of the fence whas very easy, wooden poles attached with metal wires and off course electricity. Coming at this fence there whas a first line of wire, this whas to warn, the middel line , that whas the one wich had electricity on it, 2000 volt and then a 3 line wich whas again as warning.




At the gates of this fence where soldiers posted with any age above 45



So people and soldiers still find ways to get thru, using wooden barrels, wooden windows, ladders to clim over it , ...



At some places there are now rememberance stones and pieces rebuild so that people do not forget this.



Greetings, Simon

[Panzer 3]

Hi Simke,
Great pics i didnt know they had electric fences there at that time, i do remember the border fence when i was in Belgium with the British army. We were at Grobbendonk and turnout on the border, watching some people in Holland, it is crazy that all they have for a border is a road and a wire fence. But if it works then great, Thanks for posting.
Dave.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Very interesting, I had not heard of this either.

Cheers, Ade.

[Simke]

Hello Ade and Dave ,
thank you for your reactions, I think most of people living in villages to the border will have heard of this, or the stories, but in my village it is still a subject with lots of stories behind it.
Of course you will find much more about this subject on the internet, but I only gave a small description of it.
Greetings, Simon

[Paul D]

Must admit i hadn't heard of this either , very interesting !!