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Fort BreendonkFort Breendonk is a fortification built in 1906 as part of the second ring of defenses (the Reduit national) around the city of Antwerp (Belgium) The fort was used as a prisoncamp by the German occupiers during World War II. Nowadays, the site is a national memorial (Nationaal Gedenkteken Fort van Breendonk in Dutch), and can be visited. World War I Belgium was invaded in August 1914 by the German army after refusing its request of unhindered passage to northern France. The invasion began on August 4, 1914. Eager to reach Paris as soon as possible, the German army concentrated all its efforts towards the south, ignoring Antwerp. Continued Belgian resistance from the north forced German command to attack Antwerp. On September 9, General Beseler was ordered to attack Antwerp. Siege artillery was sent north, having precipitated the fall of Namur and Maubeuge. Fort Breendonk was first attacked on October 1, 1914 by howitzers located 5 to 6 kilometers out of range of the fort's own guns. The Germans breached Belgian lines in Lier. The German army could attack Antwerp avoiding Fort Breendonk. On October 9 Fort Breendonk surrendered, after the fall of Antwerp. World War II The German army invades and occupies Belgium in 1940. Fort Breendonk is obsolete and is no answer to mechanized warfare. The fort was briefly the headquarters of the Belgian command during the first weeks following the invasion, but was abandoned in the face of German advances. The Germans transformed Fort Breendonk in a prisoncamp. On September 20, 1940, the first prisoners arrived. Originally the prisoners were petty criminals, people deemed asocial, trespassers of the new race laws, but later on resistance fighters, political prisoners and innocent hostages were detained as well in the prison camp. The SS units of Germany, but also Flemish SS soldiers, guarded this camp. 185 prisoners were executed, others were transported to other concentration camps. Present : Memorial The site on which the fort stands, is a national memorial. The fort is a well preserved example of the prison camps operated by Nazi Germany during WW II. Fort Breendonk is open for visitors.
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