I recently visited Bonn, which used to be the capital of west-Germany from 1945-1990. However, since Berlin was re-instated as capital of the united Germany, Bonn has almost become forgotten. As important as it was for the years it was the capital of Germany as underrated it is now. You can visit a lot of important places like the former Bundesrat, where the “Grundgesetz” (the basic law of federal Germany) was established, and places of similar importance. The most fascinating thing of this trip, however, was visiting the Regierungsbunker (government bunker), a reminder of the extend of hidden politics.
Regierungsbunker
It was built between 1960 and 1972 under absolute secrecy in former train tunnels. Up to this date it can be considered the most expensive building ever built by the German government. The whole government coud retreat to this bunker in case of an atomic attack during the cold war for up to 30 days.
The bunker was built so that all the politicians from Bonn as well as other main politic sites could get there within 30 minutes of an atomic strike. Every two years there were NATO coordinated test runs of the case of an emergency. Even the case of having to pass an emergency bill from within the bunker was tested at some point.
It had to be maintained 24h a day, 365 days a year since an air strike was considered to possibly happen any time during the cold war. About 180 people where in therefore employed to look after the building in three shifts per day.
When the German Federal Government moved back to Berlin after the reunion with East Germany the complex staid empty for several years while it was unclear what to do with it. Since no investors were found to take up the complex for a different use it was decided to pit it and put it back to it´s original state of empty tunnels.
The thought of keeping part of it as a place or remembrance only came up in the last minute. This is why the current Museum only shows a fraction of what used to be the bunker. While there is still a lot of the original equipment exhibited, a lot of rooms were re-constructed not quite as they were before due to that.
I can only imagine how the current bunker somewhere near Berlin must look like. Maybe it´s the true reason the new Berlin airport never gets finished haha
But seriously, isn´t it kind of creepy to think of all the secret government buildings and ongoings there must be? Have you had a similar experience at a different (historic) site?
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