Archeologists have unearthed a forgotten defensive trench that was built by German troops during the Second World War. The trench was discovered just outside the centre of Pervijse, a village near to the West Flemish town of Diksmuide. It is a trench that was built of brick. The trench ends at what was a German army artillery position. It is believed that a light cannon used to defend the road from the coast at Nieuwpoort was in position there.
Archeologists unearth Nazi brick trench on the outskirts of a West Flemish village
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The trench runs in a zigzag line. There are semi-circular firing positions along its route. The discovery is remarkable because it was not known that there had ever been a trench at this location.
The archeologist Simon Verdegem told VRT News that “This trench was probably dismantled after the war and disappeared under the soil. Other smaller defensive structures around village centres also often disappeared after the war. The discovery is important because provides an additional piece in the puzzle of what were the German defences that surrounded the centres of numerous villages in Flanders during World War II”.