Cointet-element
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The Cointet-element, also known as a Belgian Gate or C-element, was a heavy steel fence about three metres (9 ft 10 in) wide and two metres (6 ft 7 in) high, typically mounted on concrete rollers, used as a mobile anti-tank obstacle during World War II.[1] Each individual fence element weighed about 1,280 kg (2,820 lb) and was movable (e.g. with two horses) through the use of two fixed and one rotating roller. Its invention is attributed to a French colonel (later general), Léon-Edmond de Cointet de Fillain who came up with the idea in 1933 to be used in the Maginot Line. Besides their use as barricades to the entrances of forts, bridges and roads, the heavy fences were used in the Belgian "Iron Wall" of the Koningshooikt–Wavre Line (also known as "Dyle Line") and were re-used as beach obstacles on the Atlantic Wall defending Normandy from Allied invasion.
History
The Cointet-element formed the main barricade of the Belgian
Thousands of Cointets were installed on the K-W Line between the village of
The Cointet elements were also used as an anti-tank line in a side branch of the K-W Line, which was meant to defend the southern approaches to Brussels. This line branched off the main line in Wavre and ran from there to Halle and on to Ninove, where it ended on the banks of the Dender.[5]
After the German victory in Belgium on 28 May 1940, the Belgian Gates were reallocated across Europe to serve as barricade elements on roads, bridges and beaches. The Germans gave it the name C-element. Large numbers of gates were brought to Normandy during the construction of the
See also
References
- ^ "Cointet–Elements Antwerp". www.tracesofwar.com. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
- ^ Philippart, Frank (2008). "The Cointet element" (PDF). Workgroup Modern Fortifications News (3): 1–7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 May 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
- ISBN 9781090171092
- ^ "Deep Defences, Belgian Fortifications, May 1940". www.niehorster.org. Retrieved 2020-07-08.
- ^ Tuyteleers, Wim, De IJzeren muur bezuiden Brussel. Ninove-Halle-Waver, 2020, 176 p.