question for the historians

hi there, i am planning in introducing the so called belgian gates in my map. and because i want it to fit there i want to know form you if such structures where used on the battles there

Belgian gates as in the ones used by the Germans on the Normandy beaches? Yeah, look up "Cointet-element" on Wikipedia and it will give you there history.

Last edited September 18, 2009 at 9:02 PM by Ju-87

yes

They were made by the Belgians to stop the Germans... obviously didn't work but the Germans must have found them to be quite effective since they nicked them afterwards. The Germans re-deployed them around Belgium and France, on the beaches and in urban areas, so if your making an Eastern Front map, I wouldn't use them, since I doubt any made it that far.

Last edited September 18, 2009 at 9:05 PM by BurroDiablo

You would most likely see the German concrete "Dragons Teeth" tank traps.

thanks alot for the fast awnsers!

I would say that it is possible that their were "belgian gates" at the eastern front. It is the idea of this structure!
Perhaps german troups which came from the western front construct this gates out of unused steel because they were convinced that such a structure can stop an enemy ;)
A belgian gate is "just a big fence" out of steelpipes and steel girders.

I can't find anything on the vastness of the internet that suggests otherwise. Like all Anti-Tank defences, they were most effective when used in large numbers, but Belgian gates weighed 3 tonnes each. On the Western Front the Germans had the luxury of time to move them into place; on the Eastern Front they had no such luxury.

Possible is everything ;)
Since i saw pictures from T-34 and Pz I Ausf. C in Normandie 1944 i believe that my fellow countrymen had transport everything from everywhere to somewhere else xD

A T-34 in Normandy? First i've heard of it... got a link to any more info, i'm intrigued now ;)

well they were build for the KW line (between Koningshooikt and Waver) just 50% of the c elements (what u call belgian gates) were placed and still kept the german panzers out for 10 whole days. and as far as i remember they where used just in the westeren front


BELGIUM FTW !