3.—German battery “Deutschland” at Breedene.
The battery “Deutschland” is situated near the Jacobinessen farm.
Armement: Four 15 inch guns firing at 55 kilometers a shell 2 meters long.
The charge was contained in a brass shell case.
The tube was 17 meters 10 cm. long.
Gun crew: Each gun was attended by 150 men, in other words the whole battery was 8 officers and 600 all ranks strong.
Observation-posts: The main observation-post (concrete) was built in Albert’s Parc; auxiliary posts were connected to it by phones, such was the case for the one of the hotel Belle-Vue at Wenduyne, and the other called “Fulda” at Mariakerke.
Ammunition supply: was done by railway.
Historical account: The construction of the Deutschland battery was done piece by piece and began in the early part of September 1915.
Belgian labour was requisitioned for that work, with Russian prisoners of war, the hands employed for that battery amounted to seven hundred that toiled months on end for it.
The battery’s activity culminated in 1918, specially in May, going increasingly from the 1st of June up to the 15th, 16th, 17th of October 1918. After the last fire which occurred on the morning of the 17th of October the German disabled the guns and left them few hours later, the battery was then captured by our boys, on their way for victory.