Führerbunker

The Führerbunker (German, literally meaning "shelter/bunker [for the] leader" or "[the] Führer's shelter") was located beneath Hitler's New Reich Chancellery in Berlin, Germany - near Brandenburger Tor. It was in this subterranean bunker that Adolf Hitler and his wife Eva Braun spent the last few weeks of the war and it was here their lives came to an end on April 30, 1945.

The elaborate complex consisted of two separate levels, the Vorbunker (the upper bunker) or "forward bunker" and the newer Führerbunker located one level below. They were connected by a stairway set at right angles (they were not spiral). The Führerbunker was located about 8.2 metres beneath the garden of the old Reich Chancellery building at Wilhelmstraße 77, about 120 metres north of the new Reich Chancellery building, which had the address Voßstraße 6. The Vorbunker was located beneath the large hall behind the old Reich Chancellery, which was connected to the new Reich Chancellery. The Führerbunker was located somewhat lower than the Vorbunker and west (or rather west/south-west) of it.

The complex was protected by approximately four metres of concrete, and about 30 small rooms were distributed over two levels with exits into the main buildings and an emergency exit into the gardens. The complex was built in two distinct phases, one part in 1936 and the other in 1943. The 1943 development was built by the Hochtief company as part of an extensive program of subterranean construction in Berlin begun in 1940. The accommodations for Hitler were in the newer, lower section and by February 1945 had been appointed with high quality furniture taken from the Chancellery along with several framed oil paintings.
 

        Videoanimation of the Bunker - Click here   
Click to enlarge

  1. Mittelbau mit Marmorgalerie (Mittelbau Marble Gallery)
  2. Eingang zur Reichskanzlei (Entrance to the Reich Chancellery)
  3. Eingang zur Präsidialkanzlei (Entrance to the Office of the Reich President)
  4. Kasernenbauten (Barracks Buildings)
  5. Hebebühne zu den Katakomben (Lift to the Catacombs)
  6. Gartenportal zu Hitlers Arbeitszimmer (Garden portal to Hitler's Office)
  7. Bauzufahrt zum Führerbunker (Entranceway to the Fuhrer Bunker)
  8. Zufahrt – Tiefgarage und Führerbunker (Access - Underground Parking and Fuhrer Bunker)
  9. Einfahrt – Tiefgarage und Feuerwehr (Entrance - Parking and Fire Brigade)
  10. Zufahrt Führerbunker (Access - Fuhrer Bunker)
  11. Haus Kempka (Kempka House)
  12. Gewächshaus (Greenhouse)
  13. Ehrenhof (Courtyard of Honor)
  14. Festsaal mit Wintergarten (Ballroom and Conservatory)
  15. Alte Reichskanzlei (Old Reich Chancellery)
  16. Speisesaal (Dining Hall)
  17. Propagandaministerium (Ministry of Propaganda)
  18. Erweiterungsbau zur Reichskanzlei (Reich Chancellery Extension)
  19. U-Bahn-Eingang Wilhelmplatz (Wilhelmsplatz Subway Entrance)
  20. Kaufhaus Wertheim (Wertheim Department Store)
  21. Leipziger Platz (Leipziger Plaza)
  22. Ministergärten (Ministry Garden)
  23. Tiergarten (Animal Garden - Zoo)
  24. Hermann-Göring-Straße (Herman Goring Street)
  25. Voßstraße (Voss Street)
  26. Wilhelmstraße (Wilhelm Street)
July 1947 photo of the rear entrance to the Führerbunker, in the garden of the Reich Chancellery; Hitler and Eva Braun were cremated in a shellhole in front of the emergency exit at left; the cone shaped structure in the center served as the exhaust and bomb shelter for the guards.

 

More animation and pictures - click here

Fakt ist, dass sich in der Wilhelmstrasse an dieser Stelle die Reichskanzlei befand. Hinter diesen Gebäuden verbirgt sich der "Führerbunker".
Lige overfor ligger pladsen med mindesmærkerne for de jøder, der blev forfulgt, mishandlet og dræbt i 2. verdenskrig. Indtil for få år siden var der ikke skilt eller andet, der markerede stedet.
 

 Unter dieser schneebedeckten Rasenfläche befinden sich die letzten Fragmente des "Führerbunkers". Hier nahmen sich am 30. April 1945 Adolf Hitler und Eva Braun das Leben. In der Nacht vom 28. auf den 29. April hatte Hitler noch seine langjährige Geliebte geheiratet.
 

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