Sirens wail and the ground trembles. We are standing before the Hochbunker Eiswaldtstraße a silent witness to Berlin’s tumultuous past. This massive structure is more than just concrete and steel. It is a testament to a city’s resilience during wartime.
The Hochbunker Eiswaldtstraße also known as Hochbunker der Kaserne des Flakregiments 12 is a stark reminder of World War II. Built in 1940 it was designed as a civilian air-raid shelter. The Baugruppe Langer led by Albert Speer constructed it as part of the “Führer-Sofortprogramm”. The Hochbunker Eiswaldtstraße stands as a protected monument today.
This M 500 type bunker could house up to 500 people during air raids. Its design mimics three flat bunkers stacked atop each other. The Hochbunker Eiswaldtstraße was cleverly disguised to blend into the urban landscape. Architectural details like decorated plinths cornices and ornamental ventilation slits were added. A hipped roof gave it the appearance of a residential building from above. Sprayed plaster made the walls seem less menacing.
The bunker was assigned to Flakregiment 12 stationed in Lankwitz. This regiment was later destroyed in Stalingrad. Allied air raids devastated the surrounding area in 1943. However the Hochbunker Eiswaldtstraße remained standing.
After the war a MITROPA employee transformed the Hochbunker Eiswaldtstraße into Berlin’s first bunker hotel in 1945. Rudolf Barth opened the “Mitropa-Bunker Hotel” with 103 rooms and 160 beds. It served as lodging for returning soldiers and truck drivers. The American occupying forces then used it as a casino.
In 1955 the Mosaik-Film GmbH rented the Hochbunker Eiswaldtstraße for storage. It also housed the Senate reserve for emergencies. During the Cold War the bunker was designated a civil defense facility. Extensive renovations in 1989 prepared it as a nuclear shelter.
With the fall of the Berlin Wall the civil defense concept became obsolete. The Hochbunker Eiswaldtstraße was placed under monument protection. After years of vacancy the Senate sold it to an investor in 2011 for 100000 euros. Today the entrances are secured with metal grilles and a barbed-wire fence surrounds the property. The future of this concrete giant remains uncertain.
The Hochbunker Eiswaldtstraße covers approximately 750 square meters. Its front is 21 meters long and its sides are about 35 meters long. The building stands in a 52 m x 70 m area surrounded by trees and bushes. The usable area is approximately 1468 square meters spread over three floors. There is also a hard-to-access attic.
Standing here before the Hochbunker Eiswaldtstraße we are reminded of Berlin’s complex history. From air-raid shelter to hotel to film storage this structure has played many roles. Its imposing presence serves as a reminder of the past and a challenge for the future.