WWII walk

On the night of May 27–28, 1940, the German Army’s 256th Infantry Division occupied our town. As a coastal town, Blankenberge held an important military-strategic position during World War II. The seaside resort was literally on the front line and therefore had to be defended against a possible Allied invasion from the sea. For this reason, the Germans built several strongpoints and batteries here, and the beach, the dunes, and the seawall were fortified as part of the so-called Atlantic Wall. Our town also endured numerous bombings during the war. Many defensive structures were built by our residents themselves, who were forced to do so by the occupying forces. In addition, our town had many hotels and lodging houses that were requisitioned by the Germans to house troops in transit or on leave. This, in turn, led to a strict food requisitioning policy imposed by the Germans, to the detriment of the residents. Many residents of Blankenberge suffered from hunger. The black market and smuggling flourished, and various armed resistance movements were active in Blankenberge at the time. It is striking that quite a few residents of Blankenberge also collaborated with the occupiers. In other words, the impact of the war and occupation on the local population was enormous. This walk takes you through Blankenberge shortly before, during, and shortly after World War II.

📏 9.4 km
🕑 2 hrs 30 min
⭐ easy
📍 Kerkstraattrap
🏁 Casino