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Tour 3 – Subways, Bunkers, Cold War Alleged security for civilians in the case of war
This tour follows the traces of the Cold War in the underground. In West Berlin civil defence shelters were reactivated or newly built in preparation for a possible nuclear war. Particularly after the building of the Berlin Wall, the West German government and the West Berlin senate invested millions in these projects. Some of these were built as ‘multi-purpose structures’ and are currently used as underground stations, parking garages and storage facilities. By explaining the practical preparations made to help people survive, this tour attempts to make the realities and horrors of such conflict easy to comprehend.
First we visit the civil defence shelter – “Blochplatz”, an air raid shelter from WWII that was renovated in the early 1980s. In an emergency 1,318 people were to shelter here for up to 48 hours. Here, with the help of various objects and photos, we will deal with some related themes.
After a short ride via the U-Bahn to Pankstrasse station, we offer a glimpse into the workings of a 'modern' bunker, which was intended to protect the citizens of West Berlin in case of a full-blown nuclear war. This 'multi-purpose' facility, built in 1977 along with the northbound extension of the U8 Underground line, serves not only as an U-Bahn stop for commuters – in an emergency it could have sheltered 3,339 people for up to two weeks. Here, we try to give you an idea what it could have been like, had World War Three broken out.
Dates (Tours in English)
- all year: Thur – Sun at 1 p.m.,
- additional Tours March 1st – November 30th: Tue 11 a.m. & 1 p.m., Wed at 1 p.m.
In the period between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day, we have an altered tour schedule. From the 23rd to the 25th of December 2013 and on the 1st of January 2014 there will be NO TOURS.Please use the calendar function on the left hand side of the page to display which tours are taking place.
The times for tours in other languages can be seen by visiting their respective pages, or via the calendar function.
Duration
Approx. 90 mins
Admission
10 € (reduced 8 €, child 6 €)
(The ticket includes the price of the U-Bahn transfer between Gesundbrunnen and Pankstrasse)
Tickets
Tickets are available from 10.00 a.m. (open from 9:00 a.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays from April through the end of October) in the pavilion next to the south entrance of the Gesundbrunnen underground station (in front of ‘Kaufland’), Brunnenstraße 105, 13355 Berlin (exit direction to Humboldthain Park, Brunnenstraße).
Reservations are not possible and tickets may only be purchased on the day of the tour.
Please arrive early in order to buy them – expect lines on busy days.
We only take cash as payment, credit/bank cards are not accepted!
Meeting point (with valid tickets only)
Brunnenstr. 105 – southern entrance-hall of the subway station Gesundbrunnen (exit direction to Humboldthain Park, Brunnenstraße), next to our ticket sales-pavillon.
Public transportation
U8 Underground Railway Gesundbrunnen,
S 1, S 2, 25, S 41, S 42 (S-Bahn, City-Railway, National Railway), Gesundbrunnen, Bus 247
Groups
This tour is also available upon request to groups in English and in some other languages (min. 200,- € / reduced 160,- € per group). Please contact us for details.