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Bayernwald is nowadays a preserved trench system open to the public for a small entrance fee. During the war it was the frontline in the vicious fighting in the area. The Allies name for it was 'Croonaert Wood'. It was in this area that Adolf Hitler served and won an Iron Cross for his duties as a messenger. One of his paintings was done in the area and shows a devastated scene. The trenches were cleaned up and presented to the public by Andre Becquart in 1971. The schoolteacher was in charge until his death in 1986 after which the wood once more became overgrown. The site was reclaimed some years later and restore to the 1915 specifications. The site has a key code lock on it, the code to which is obtained at Kemmel tourist office. We had a bit of a job on as we arrived on a local bank holiday and the office was shut. Luckily workmen were inside the office and phoned another local tourist office who supplied us with the code. |
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