Grebbe line

The Grebbe Line (Dutch: "Grebbelinie") was a forward defense line of the Dutch Water Line, based on inundation. The Grebbe Line ran from the "Grebbeberg" in Rhenen northward until the IJsselmeer.

Early history and first decommisioning

The Grebbe Line was first established in 1745 as a defensive line to protect the Netherlands from invading armies. If an invasion was imminent, parts of the area between Spakenburg and the Grebbeberg were to be inundated. Until World War II it was never actually used in this purpose; an attempt was made in 1794 to establish a defensive line against the invading French army under General Charles Pichegru, but the joint English-Dutch army abandoned the line when the French troops approached.

Throughout the 19th century the Grebbe line was maintained as a defensive line. However as no attacks seemed forthcoming the necessity to maintain the costly fortifications was deemed less necessary and in 1926 a large part of the fortifications was decommissioned.

World War II

In 1939 the disused line was once again fortified against a German attack on the Netherlands, but due to cost and skills issues (soldiers were used as labourers) the earthworks were not well-constructed. In the original plans the line would fulfill its ancient task as a forward defensive line of the Water line. At the last moment however, in February 1940 the new Dutch commander in chief general Henri Winkelman, decided to make the Grebbe line the main defensive line. The Dutch Water line was deemed less useful as the modern German field artillery could reach the main cities by simply shooting over the line.

Meanwhile, the Germans were aware of the line and of its outline. Before the war German spies had regularly visited the zoo at Rhenen using its lookout tower to map the defences there. When the Germans attacked in May 1940, the outgunned and outnumbered Dutch army managed to defend the Grebbe line for several days to the surprise of the Germans. The Battle of the Grebbeberg saw the fiercest fighting in those few days, during which 380 Dutch soldiers were killed.

Directly after the cessation of hostilities a war cemetery was established at the Grebbeberg location by the German authorities.

The Grebbe line was permanently decommissioned by the Dutch Government in 1951.

ources

* [http://www.grebbelinie.nl/ Grebbelinie website]
* [http://www.grebbeberg.nl/ Website commemorating the WWII Battle of the Grebbeberg]
* [http://www.waroverholland.nl/ War over Holland]