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Object of the Month January 2025
After the liberation of Walcheren in 1944, countless traces of the German occupation remained visible in the landscape. These remnants bear witness to the intensive occupation and the strategic importance of Zeeland during World War II. One of these remarkable objects is the concrete marker posts used to designate German minefields near Flak Battery Zwanenburg, an important defensive line near Vlissingen. This battery was crucial to the German defense of the Western Scheldt and played a key role in protecting access to the port of Antwerp. The location was heavily fortified with anti-aircraft guns, bunkers, obstacles, and extensive minefields.
From Danger to Utility
After the war, when the minefields were cleared and the occupation became a memory, many of these objects ended up in the hands of local residents. This is how these marker posts came into the possession of Mr. Gerard van Zoelen from West-Souburg. Like many other wartime materials, they were repurposed for everyday use. These posts, originally intended as warning and boundary markers, were reused as practical paving materials on farms and yards.
Resilience and Creativity
The repurposing of these German marker posts reflects the resilience, creativity, and pragmatic mindset of the people of Zeeland during the post-war reconstruction period. In a time when resources were scarce and the traces of war were everywhere, every effort was made to give leftover materials a new purpose. These objects not only tell the story of the occupation and liberation but also of the challenges faced by the people of Zeeland in the aftermath of the war.
From the Farmyard to the Exhibition
These posts, now part of our collection, are given a prominent place in our exhibition. Through the conservation process, they have been preserved in their original state, allowing visitors to gain an authentic impression of these unique remnants. They illustrate how the war’s legacy, even in everyday objects, remains tangible in Zeeland to this day. As silent witnesses, they not only recount the harshness of the war but also the post-war reconstruction period, during which the people of Zeeland demonstrated resilience and creativity. These objects bridge the past and the present, inviting reflection on the lasting impact of war on both people and landscapes.
