“Top secret military facility, open to the public?” That’s the intriguing paradox that defines the Bornholm Tower. This isn’t just any tower. This is the Bornholm Tower a relic from the Cold War. We are standing at the Danish Intelligence Service’s former listening post.
Bornholm Tower clearly shows Denmark’s active role in NATO during the Cold War. It highlights the intelligence services aimed toward the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact.
The surveillance began on Bornholm in 1948. In 1961, the Intelligence Service moved into the Northern Lighthouse. Two more floors were added. But the big white tower you see now wasn’t built until 1986. Antennas and radar crowned its top. Activities continued until the establishment closed in 2012. It is now known as the Bornholm Tower.
The geographical location of Bornholm made it ideal for such a plant. This territory is significantly farther east than the Danish mainland. Therefore, it is closer to the Eastern Bloc and the Soviet Union.
The task of the Bornholm Tower was intercepting communications from Soviet channels. The aim was to know of any potentially offensive maneuver against Denmark or NATO in advance.
One of the most notable pieces of information obtained was in 1968. Reports witnessed the preparation of an attack by the Warsaw Pact forces on Czechoslovakia. This invasion tragically put an end to a new political course in that country.
Take a moment to look around. The foundations reveal cables and pipelines. Compressed air and coolant fluid once flowed through these. Compressed air kept the technical shells in shape. These shells hung vertically from the concrete tower. Coolant fluid cooled the big servers which processed data.
Now, let’s step inside. Take the original elevator up. The view from the 70-meter Bornholm Tower is breathtaking. You can see Dueodde and a large part of the eastern island.
Inside, you can see remnants of the server rooms. Most of the empty rooms display electronic cabinets and communication gear. There is also a reconstruction of some of the original technical rooms. Historical pictures complete the display.
Further rooms host displays related to World War II and the Cold War. Look for the MiG-15 in the colors of the Polish Air Force. It resembles those which fled from Poland to Bornholm. They were commanded by brave early Cold War defectors.
Consider the old oven outside. That’s where secret documents were destroyed. And note the big refrigeration plant. It was used to cool the big computer servers.
The Bornholm Tower is more than just a structure. It is a reminder of a tense period in history. It’s a place where secrets were guarded and information was power.