Fuhrerbunker

As I was walking to the Brandenburg Gate, I came across an unremarkable open space used as a car park. There were at least 4 different tour groups scattered all over the car park.

I walked on and didn’t think much of it. On the way back from the Gate, I again came a number of groups milling around the area. And there was an insignificant signboard nearby which people were reading.

It was then I realized that this was the site of Hitler’s bunker. The bunker was built near the gardens of his residence and he spent almost all his time there from January 1945 onwards and used it as his headquarters to direct the last stages of the war. He married Eva Braun in the bunker and committed suicide inside the bunker. His body and that of Eva Braun were burnt on his instructions just outside the bunker.

The site is now a car park as the Soviets who came to this location first and occupied this area till reunification wanted to destroy it and leave no trace of Nazi Germany.

Well today I stood on that car park imagining all the history that took place in that area beneath my feet about 80 years ago.