Open Day at the Kralenriede Bunker

The Bunker was open to the public today and Guenter and I with about 20 others took the opportunity to look around the bunker built in 1942 to hold 600 woman, children and the elderly, although a greater number often sought safety.    No males between the ages of 16-60 could seek refuge, they were all supposed to be fighting for the cause.  It was very well lit, I was expecting something really creepy, dark and with big spiders, but on a very hot Sunday, it was refreshing cool.  The guide gave an interesting history, in German of course, some of which I could understand, but a lot went over my head!  The photo left shows Guenter wandering in a corridor, where small rooms lead off on either side, with just enough space to accommodate a family. 

Below is me and a loo.  Water was a precious commodity and with only a very few loos for 600 people, you can imagine what life was like if people had to spend many hours or even days in this place.   The link below is in German, click translate for some funny English, which will give you all the information and a plan of the entire high bunker, which was all above ground.  Several bunkers still exist in Braunschweig.  Kralenriede is kept as a monument but others have become blocks of flats, foundations of buildings and warehouses.     More photos will follow later.
Bunker Kralenriede
- [ Translate this page ]www.vernetztes-gedaechtnis.de/krahlenriede/krahlenriede01.html

Vicki and Loo.