Peel-Raam Line


The Peel-Raam Line was a Dutch defense line built in 1939 and attacked and conquered on 10 May 1940 by the German forces.
The defense line was situated behind the Maas Line. The defense line starts at Grave, where a barrack complex was built as part of the Peel-Raam line. From there, the line passed by Mill, Peel along the Zuid-Willemsvaart until the Belgium border nearby Weert. In the North the defense line was connected with the Grebbe line.
The defense line could profit from the natural protection of the swamps, rivers and canals in the area. In the northern part, an artificial barrier was made, the Defensiekanaal. The defense line was made of Casemates and barbwire obstructions. The railway bridge on the Defensiekanaal near Mill, also had a spargel-obstruction. On the first day of the German invasion, 10 May 1940, a German train crashed into this spargel-obstruction.
There were not many communication lines between the Casemates and the main force of the infantry was far behind the line of Casemates.
The Dutch would like to have connected the defense line with the defense line along the Albert Canal in Belgium. But the Belgian army wanted a new defenseline '' along the line Tilburg-Waalwijk and the Bergsche Maas. Because of this, the defense line was vulnerable and the enemy could go around the defense line crossing into Belgium soil.

The Line Today

The Peel-Raam Line is, for most part, intact; the northern part, in particular. The stretch between Griendtsveen and De Peel Air Base and the spot nearby Mill features several visible remains. The fortifications and casemates in the municipalities of Deurne, Venray and Mill en Sint Hubert are protected as National monuments.