Beneath our feet lies a hidden world. It is a world of concrete and history. We are standing before the Tiefbunker Wilhelmsplatz. This bunker tells a silent story of Stuttgart’s past.
The Tiefbunker Wilhelmsplatz was built as part of a citywide initiative. The initiative started in November 1940 to construct bunkers in Stuttgart’s city center. This bunker is similar to the one between the Gustav-Siegle-Haus and the Leonhardskirche.
Construction of the Tiefbunker Wilhelmsplatz finished in 1941. It was built in an open excavation. The bunker has a single story with two entrances. Its enclosed space measures 4,200 cubic meters. A 1.4-meter-thick reinforced concrete ceiling covers the bunker. The Wilhelmsplatz was then rebuilt on top. The outer walls are 1.8 meters thick.
Inside, 24 rooms surround a rectangular corridor. The entrances are on the short sides. A large common room faces the old city. Each room is about 6 square meters. There is also a larger communal space. The Tiefbunker Wilhelmsplatz was designed to shelter 450 people from air raids. During the war, it likely housed more.
After the war, the Tiefbunker Wilhelmsplatz had several uses. Until the mid-1950s, it was a hotel with parking. From then until 1967, Caritas used it to help the homeless. From the late 1970s to the mid-1980s, it hosted a social project.
This project offered diverse activities. These included pottery, leather work, and a photo lab. There were also woodworking and metal workshops. Cooking and baking courses were available too. Dynamic meditation was offered. The Bhagwan movement also used some of the rooms in the Tiefbunker Wilhelmsplatz.
Musicians began renting practice rooms in the early 1980s. The bands Cleanin’ Women and biznis biznis practiced here. Cleanin’ Women practiced here from 1983 to 1999. Biznis biznis also had their practice room in the Tiefbunker Wilhelmsplatz starting in 1983.
In 1986, the bunker was modernized using federal funds. The upgrades cost 516,000 DM. The upgrades addressed Cold War needs. Ventilation, filters, locks, doors and electrics were updated.
During the Yugoslavian war in 1994, the city prepared to use the bunker as refugee housing. However, Stuttgart found other accommodations quickly.
After its decommissioning, there were attempts to integrate the structure into the area. These remained brief. Recently, the Tiefbunker Wilhelmsplatz has only been open to the public during the “Long Night of Museums.”
Today, the Tiefbunker Wilhelmsplatz occasionally hosts exhibitions. Duchess Diane of Württemberg held a vernissage here in 2006 during the “Long Night of Museums”. The Tiefbunker Wilhelmsplatz stands as a reminder. It reminds us of Stuttgart’s resilience. It also reminds us of the city’s history of community support. The bunker has 1,068 m² of floor space. It could hold 1,000 people during World War II. It could hold 350 during the Cold War.
The construction company was Christian Bossert. Thirty-one workers were involved. None were prisoners of war. A fire water cistern is located between the bunker entrance and the Sigmundbrunnen.
As we leave the Tiefbunker Wilhelmsplatz, consider its layers of history. From shelter to social space, it reflects Stuttgart’s evolving story.