jcallen@cs.utah.edu (John Callen, x3933) (10/19/89)
From: esunix!sim.dnet!jcallen@cs.utah.edu (John Callen, x3933) While I was touring in Europe, I made a trip to go out of my way to visit Berchtesgaden, just southeast of Munich almost on the Austria border. Just outside of the town was Obersalzberg, Hitler's and the senior staff's home-away-from-Berlin. Anyway, I think without a doubt Obersalzberg holds the title for the most significant underground bunker system ever developed. It is still intact, even though Allied bomber command did their darndest to penetrate it (stories from those who actually survived the bombings in the bunker said it was completely safe with only a low rumble giving any indication that any bombing was going on). You can still go tour a small portion of the bunker and get an idea what the rest of it might be like (the German and US governments prohibit complete exploration of the bunker network). Anyway, it's really hard to describe the extent of the system. All of the private homes were interconnected (Hitler, Goering, Bormann) as well as the SS barracks. Being the typical tourist, I picked up some very good specialty books on Obersalzberg, from which I extract the following: from "Obersalzberg", by Josef Geiss Chapter XII, The Construction of the Tunnels It was in 1943. In Stalingrad and Egypt the German Army was bleeding to death. Instead of the elimination of the enemies according to Hitler's and Goebbel's propaganda-speeches decisive defeats had to be accepted. The calmitous air war over Germany increased day by day. However, on the Obersalzberg not a word was allowed to be mentioned about "air-defense". And it fact, nothing was done in this matter. On the contrary. Suddenly in August 1943 the words "air-defense", "air-raids", "shelter" "tunnels" and safety for the Fuehrer were the main topics. Plans were made, modified, changed, disapproved, remade, and finally approved to construct an extensive, unique tunnel-system underneath the buildings of the Obersalzberg. Almost all other projects were postponed. Reichminister Speer finally succeeded in enforcing the younger men on the Obersalzberg to be drafted, which caused an enormous change in the situation of labor on the Obersalzberg. Only about 30% of the personnel were Germans, mainly key personnel, as there were engineers, architects, handicraftsmen, machine leaders and construction specialists. Only a few elderly Germans unfit for military service were laborers. All those, who were drafted, were replaced by Czechs and Italians. With this mixed personnel, which even did not understand the German language, and whic was assisted by an SS tunnel-construction company, the construction of the tunnesl on the Obersalzberg began. The first tunnel-system had to be provided for Hitler, Eva Braun, guests and adjutants, beginning at the Berghof <Hitler's residence>. A second tunnel netork had to be provided for Bormann and his family. Adjacent to these tunnesl rooms for the administration and files, futhermore for the airdefense headquarters were planned. It was also intented to include Haus Goering in this tunnel system. However, Goering had already been precautioius in 1941. Adjacent to his house he had built a small air-raid shelter with 3m thick wall of reinforced concrete. The lining of the excavated tunnels was very carefully planned. A 30 to 60cm thick concrete lining was fastened to the walls, which was covered with cement and insulated according to a new method by some kind of artificial rubber tilt. The insulation was protected by a 25cm thick wall. The ground water was conducted tot he canalization through built in tricklestones and other satfey precautions were adjusted to the entrances to protect them against bombs and concussions. The following principles were used for the construction of the tunnels: A straight corridor or stairs led so far away from the entrance that a sufficient cover of 30 to 50 meters was guaranteed. A curb-stone followed to keep off an gusts of air after the explosion of bombs, followed by a gas lock, from where the corridor continued. The caverns were located on both sides of the corridor. The larger part of the corridors contained sub-tunnels in which all technical systems such as ventilation, electric power, water, cables, canalization and hot-air heating was installed. Close to the entrances machine-gun turrets were erected. The rock was partly solid and good, however, it was ruptured and interweaved by loam streaks, where Hitler's tunnel had to be constructed, which made it necessary that every dug part immediately had to be supported by strong props; these had to be removed as soon as the concrete lining was fastened. Additional tunnels were constructed for people living at the Platterhof, the SS baracks, for inhabitants of the settlement Klaus- and Buchenhoehe, and for the employess of the Gutshof. The construction of the tunnels was concluded with a shelter for the employees and workers of the construction firms, who lived in barracks. The construction of the air-raid shelters began with the Berghof-tunnel. The completion of a certain part was set for 24th of December 1943. At that date Hitler's arrival was anticipated. However, the start was delayed because of the ruptured ground. Eight weeks were left to complete the work. All available means and ways were used. The construction was speeded up in order to meet the deadline. Every meter a mason was spanning the arches. Between the masons' legs the laborers were crawling on all fours bringing in stones and mortar. Carpenters, electricians and telephone engineers had to wrok close to each other. Thus, in about eight weeks beginning with the first mixing of concrete and ending with the polished inlaid floor including wainscoting and furnishing, a 130m long tunnel with adjacent caverns was completed. Originally only plain tunnels were planned. But now special wishes had to be considered. The security service demanded the installation of machine guns. For aesthetic reasons the architects did not renounce marble, valuable wooden wainscot, air-conditioning, rugs, dressing-cabinets, a.s.o. Bormann wanted to have the headquarters removed further below; Goering demanded to have his private tunnel connected with the rest of the tunnel system. But when it was that far, Bormann refused to have his part connected with that one of the Reichsmarschall. And indeed both tunnels remained separated by about 10 meters of solid ground. Now the ventilation sysem was not sufficient any more. Therefore, reconstructions and new excavations started. When everything was completed, someone remembered that another room was needed. Again the ground had to be excavated. Now the various house-keepers uttered their wishes. They desired supply-rooms. The dog-warden wanted a special room for Hitler's wolf-dog, which caused certain reflections by the architects whether dogshair would contain gas, whether a special ventilation circuit had to be built-in, or whether simple filters would be adequate. The telephone experts found that the cable diameter was not sufficient, therefore new enlargements were necessary. Eva Braun wanted to have an own bathroom. The cooks expressed their wishes. Therefore complete kitches and a refrigeration system had to be installed. Special rooms had to be built for storing pictures, records, and libraries. Bormann had his special dining-room. Finally, shortly before the tunnels were completed the anti-aircraft headquarters demanded a special room for themselves. Therefore cables were placed through a special shaft with complicated safety precautions. An emergency power system also had to be installed, which actually did not operate during the air-raid. ===================================================================== A summary of the extent of the tunnel system at Obersalzberg: 2775meters worth of tunnel corridors 79 rooms totaling 4120 cubic meters Today Obersalzberg is owned by the US Army and is operated as a recreation area for US military and their families.