13 Nov 2014
Former East Germany Cold War bunker could become tourist attraction
BY Tom Anstey
A giant abandoned Cold War era nuclear bunker in Germany could be about to become a visitor attraction dedicated to the history of East Germany.
The 7,750sq m (83.400sq ft), three storey, underground bunker – capable of withstanding a nuclear attack – was built to protect former Communist leader of East Germany, Erich Honecker, in the event of a nuclear war between the west and the Soviet Union.
Germany recently marked the 25th anniversary of the collapse of the Berlin Wall, with interested parties now looking at turning the bunker into a museum, highlighting the former East Germany’s communist past.
'Honecker's Bunker' – located to the north of Berlin – was built to accommodate up to 400 people and was abandoned at the end of the Cold War. The site was briefly reopened in 2008 for three months, drawing around 20,000 visitors. A similar bunker designed to protect West Germany’s leaders opened in 2008 and attracts around 80,000 people annually.
Lead developer Hannes Hensel is looking to raise €1.5m (US$1.9m, £1.2m) to fund the museum opening. Plans include organised tours of the site, as well as an on-site hotel and restaurant.
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