Berlin was the nerve center of the German Reich and as such, it was the target of extensive Allied bombing and destruction. As the war wore on and the fronts collapsed, the Allies were famously racing to Berlin. But the Germans had not been ideal, they had been busy building bunker after bunker to hide from the constant bombing by the Allies and to defend it as the inevitable Battle For Berlin was joined. It is said that around 1,000 bunkers were built under the streets of the capital of the crumbling Reich.
Many cities around the world have their secrets beneath the surface. Los Angeles boasts its speakeasy tunnel, New York City is known to have secret tunnels, London is rumored to have one of the largest and many of them remain military secrets, and Paris has the catacombs and mazes of quarries. Berlin has bunkers - lots of bunkers (and various other tunnels).
The World Under Berlin
Under Berlin is a hidden world of air raid shelters and bunkers from World War II (as well as sewage systems, escape tunnels, water lines, and much more).
Today some of the bunkers under Berlin are open to the public and one can take a tour of them. The main underground tour organization is Berliner Unterwelten. They take visitors into this subterranean world of tunnels and shelters.
Tour 1 - Dark Worlds
With the Berliner Unterwelten Tour 1 - Dark Worlds visitors can experience WW2 bombing raids through the eyes of frightening and confused civilians as they hunkered down in the air raid shelters. See how they felt hiding helplessly as the mighty Allied airforces bombarded and destroyed their city all around them as their own government was unable to stop the Allies.
- Focuses: On The German Civilians During The War
Today, every day in Berlin hundreds of people casually walk past a green door in the Gesundbrunnen underground railway station unaware that behind it is a subterranean world full of history.
- Berlin City Center: Around 80% Was Destroyed
The bunker one will explore on this tour is one of the few remaining in Berlin after the war. The tour focuses on the lives of the average Berlin citizen. See their world as the Allies destroyed up to 80% of the city center.
At points, the Western Allies even deliberately targeted bombing civilians because it was hard to acutely hit factories and other key infrastructure while hoping to break the German will to fight. It didn't work, instead, just more German civilians lay dead.
In these twisting passages and rooms, one will even be able to see countless artifacts left over from the war that have remained here for decades. The tour even glimpses into the city's subway and sewerage systems providing an insight into the 160-year-old underground history of Berlin.
- Tour Cost: 15,00 € Per Person ($17.50)
- Schedule: See Their Website
- Available In: German And English
- See: Countless Artifact Left From The War
Tour 2 – From Flaktowers to Mountains of Debris
Another great tour by Berliner Underwelten is the From Flaktowers to Mountains of Debris tour. This tour explores the devastated ruins of a massive WW2 fortress designed to be impervious to bombs from airplanes. Hitler ordered six of these massive "Flak" towers to defend Berlin from the skies. Only three were built after the war they were "demilitarized" or blown up.
Number Of Flak Towers: 3 Built In Berlin
They were so strong, that blowing them up was much easier said than done and the Flak Tower in Humboldthain Park is only partially destroyed.
In this tour, they show visitors three of the seven floors of one of the largest bunkers of the city. Be transfixed as the guides present in-depth information about the history of the mighty structure and the ongoing project to clean it up.
So far Berlin Underworlds Association has labored 8,000 hours removing over 1,400 cubic meters of rubble. This has inadvertently created the ideal home or bats (be careful not to disturb them!).
- Season: Only Offered April To End Of October
- Tour Cost: 15,00 € Per Person ($17.50)
- Schedule: See Their Website
- Bats: Be Careful Not To Disturb The Bats!
Berlin Story Bunker Tour
The Berline Story Bunker Tour is a recreation of the infamous Führerbunker. This is the bunker where Adolf Hitler spent his last days as the empire collapsed around him. The tour is a frightening reminder of that war that cost 70 million lives. Visitors can only see the bunker with a guide.
- Free Audio Guide: Available In English
- Signage: In English and German
- Price: 13.50€ ($15.00)
- Duration: Approx. 90 Mins (Audio Tour)
- Hours: 10 am to 7 pm Daily
This tour is set in a 6,500-square-metre WWII bunker and recreates the chilling sequence of events leading up to Hitler's suicide in 1945 in the Führerbunker. One can even see a reconstruction of Hitler's personal study.