The IJssel Line (Dutch: IJssellinie) was the Dutch portion of the NATO Cold War line of defence for Western Europe during the 1950s and 1960s. It consisted of anti-aircraft and four-barrel machine gun bunkers, command and hospital bunkers, and many Ram and Sherman tank bunkers encased in concrete, leaving the turrets exposed. These elements were placed along the IJssel river.[1]
A Ram turret in the IJssel Line, still present in 2007
Movable floating dams were built in the Lower Rhine and Waal rivers. By diverting the flow of water from Germany into the IJssel River, the entire IJssel valley of 127 km (79 mi) could be inundated to form a line of defence against an anticipated Soviet invasion. Extensive flooding of the IJssel floodplains and the surrounding areas was intended as a substantial barrier between Nijmegen and Kampen. To ensure a sufficient amount of water for the area north of Deventer, a third movable floating dam was added at Olst. Flood waters were to be released from the IJssel River by means of 15 water intake works and 750 other water regulating structures. The flood water would then inundate large areas inside the winter dikes. Behind the line of defence, five motorised infantry divisions of the Dutch field army were to be positioned. The IJssel line of defense was intended to slow down a Soviet offensive, providing time for Allied support to reach the Netherlands. The IJssel Line would have been a northern extension of NATO main defences along the River Rhine, preventing an almost immediate occupation of the Randstad Holland as would have been the case in the original version of the NATO plan, envisaging a more southern defence in this area, along the Lower Rhine or Waal, abandoning the major Dutch cities and ports to the enemy. The new plan was developed by Captain Joop Haex, the later Dutch State Secretary for Defence. The line was abolished after 1968, when the NATO strategy of forward defence along the Inner German Border was adopted.
Earlier, during the 16th and 17th century, and at the time of the German invasion of 1940, fortified defensive lines along the IJssel had been created, which also were called IJssel Line.
The IJssel Line Foundation was formed as a voluntary body in 2003 to maintain the buildings and structures as historical monuments.[2]
^. IJssellinie.nl. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-03-17.
^. IJssellinie.nl. 2003-12-22. Archived from the original on 2012-04-26. Retrieved 2012-03-17.
Additional sourcesedit
Beekmans, J.R. en Schilt, C. (redactie) (1997) Drijvende stuwen voor de landsverdediging, Utrecht: Stichting Menno van Coehoorn, ISBN90-6011-991-6.
Reijer, E.C. de (1997) De IJssellinie 1950-1968, Zwolle: Uitgeverij Waanders B.V., ISBN90-400-9870-0.
Defence Lines In The Netherlands
November 30, 2023
ijssel, line, main, article, dutch, waterline, dutch, ijssellinie, dutch, portion, nato, cold, line, defence, western, europe, during, 1950s, 1960s, consisted, anti, aircraft, four, barrel, machine, bunkers, command, hospital, bunkers, many, sherman, tank, bun. Main article Dutch Waterline The IJssel Line Dutch IJssellinie was the Dutch portion of the NATO Cold War line of defence for Western Europe during the 1950s and 1960s It consisted of anti aircraft and four barrel machine gun bunkers command and hospital bunkers and many Ram and Sherman tank bunkers encased in concrete leaving the turrets exposed These elements were placed along the IJssel river 1 IJssel LineNetherlandsReconstructed inlet near OlstTypeDefensive lineSite informationControlled byNetherlandsConditionparts visibleSite historyBuilt1951 1955In use1951 1968MaterialsFlooded plains earth walls brick concrete steelDemolished1968A Ram turret in the IJssel Line still present in 2007Movable floating dams were built in the Lower Rhine and Waal rivers By diverting the flow of water from Germany into the IJssel River the entire IJssel valley of 127 km 79 mi could be inundated to form a line of defence against an anticipated Soviet invasion Extensive flooding of the IJssel floodplains and the surrounding areas was intended as a substantial barrier between Nijmegen and Kampen To ensure a sufficient amount of water for the area north of Deventer a third movable floating dam was added at Olst Flood waters were to be released from the IJssel River by means of 15 water intake works and 750 other water regulating structures The flood water would then inundate large areas inside the winter dikes Behind the line of defence five motorised infantry divisions of the Dutch field army were to be positioned The IJssel line of defense was intended to slow down a Soviet offensive providing time for Allied support to reach the Netherlands The IJssel Line would have been a northern extension of NATO main defences along the River Rhine preventing an almost immediate occupation of the Randstad Holland as would have been the case in the original version of the NATO plan envisaging a more southern defence in this area along the Lower Rhine or Waal abandoning the major Dutch cities and ports to the enemy The new plan was developed by Captain Joop Haex the later Dutch State Secretary for Defence The line was abolished after 1968 when the NATO strategy of forward defence along the Inner German Border was adopted Earlier during the 16th and 17th century and at the time of the German invasion of 1940 fortified defensive lines along the IJssel had been created which also were called IJssel Line The IJssel Line Foundation was formed as a voluntary body in 2003 to maintain the buildings and structures as historical monuments 2 See also editDefence lines of the NetherlandsReferences edit Shermantank IJssellinie nl Archived from the original on 2016 03 04 Retrieved 2012 03 17 IJssel Line Foundation IJssellinie nl 2003 12 22 Archived from the original on 2012 04 26 Retrieved 2012 03 17 Additional sources edit Beekmans J R en Schilt C redactie 1997 Drijvende stuwen voor de landsverdediging Utrecht Stichting Menno van Coehoorn ISBN 90 6011 991 6 Reijer E C de 1997 De IJssellinie 1950 1968 Zwolle Uitgeverij Waanders B V ISBN 90 400 9870 0 Defence Lines In The Netherlands https web archive org web 20130918105422 http www hollandsewaterlinie nl pages defence lines in the netherlands aspx Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title IJssel Line amp oldid 1143846593, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
