Wire of Death, Border barrier in Dutch-Belgian frontier, Belgium
The Wire of Death stretched 450 kilometers along the Belgian-Dutch border, featuring electrical wires that carried 2,000 volts of lethal current.
German forces constructed this electrified barrier in 1915 to prevent Belgian civilians from fleeing to neutral Netherlands during World War I occupation.
The fence divided communities and families across the border, leading Dutch and Belgian residents to name it Dodendraad, meaning Wire of the Dead.
Visitors can examine a 200-meter reconstruction of the original barrier at Hamont-Achel, with information panels explaining its technical specifications.
Between 2,000 and 3,000 people lost their lives attempting to cross this electrical fence, which remained active until November 1918.
Inception: 1915
GPS coordinates: 51.28211,5.52816
Latest update: May 27, 2025 11:10
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