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“Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History”
Berliner Innenstadt in Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, Germany — Northeast German Plain (The European Plain)
 

NS-Luftschutzbauten

Geländerundgang

⎯⎯⎯
Nazi Air Raid Protection Structures

Site Tour

1933–1945

 
 
NS-Luftschutzbauten / Nazi Air Raid Protection Structures Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by James Hulse, March 6, 2026
1. NS-Luftschutzbauten / Nazi Air Raid Protection Structures Marker
Inscription.  
Mit dem Aufbau des Luftschutzes für Berlin begannen die Nationalsozialisten bereits 1933. In den von Gestapo und SS genutzten Gebäuden der Prinz-Albrecht- und Wilhelmstraße wurden zunächst die Keller gesichert und Luftschutzräume ausgebaut. Im Zweiten Weltkrieg wurde für das Reichssicherheitshauptamt zusätzlich ein massiver oberirdischer Luftschutzbunker gebaut. Außerdem wurden auf dem Gelände Luftschutzgräben ausgehoben. Durch einen Bombentreffer im Frühjahr 1944 kamen in einem Graben zahlreiche Häftlinge des Konzentrationslagers Sachsenhausen ums Leben.

Die Sprengung des Bunkers erfolgte 1954.

1996 stieß man im Zuge der damaligen Baumaßnahme auf die Eingangstreppe, einen Vorraum mit Luftschutztür und ca. 17 m eines ursprünglich betonüberdachten Splittergrabens.

Der heutige Weg verläuft parallel zum ehemaligen Luftschutzgraben.

(Bildunterschriften)
Angehörige der Technischen Nothilfe mit Atemschutzgeräten bei einer Übung am „Tag der deutschen Polizei“ vor dem Reichsluftfahrtministerium, 17. Januar 1937.

Entwurf für den Ausbau mehrerer Luftschutzräume im Kellergeschoss der Gestapo-Zentrale, August 1933.

Zeichnung des Luftschutzbunkers des Reichssicherheitshauptamts nach dem Bombentreffer vom 24. März 1944.

Der 1941 errichtete Luftschutzbunker des Reichssicherheitshauptamts nach dem Ende des Zweiten Weltkrieges, 1951.

Freigelegter Luftschutzgraben in Zick-Zack-Form auf dem Gelände der „Topographie des Terrors“, Frühjahr 1997.

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Nazis already began constructing air raid protection for Berlin in 1933. In the buildings on Prinz Albrecht and Wilhelm Straße used by the Gestapo and SS they started by securing the cellars and building air raid shelters there. During the Second World War an additional massive aboveground air raid bunker was erected for the Reich Security Main Office. Air raid protection ditches were also dug on the site, in one of which many inmates from Sachsenhausen concentration camp were killed during the bombing in spring 1944.

The bunker was blown up in 1954.

During construction measures in 1996, workers discovered the entrance staircase, an anteroom with an air raid shelter door and ca. 17 m of an originally concrete-roofed split trench.

The present-day path runs parallel to the former air raid protection ditch.

(Captions)
Members of the Technical Emergency Corps with gas masks on an exercise outside the Reich Aviation Ministry on “German Police Day,” January 17, 1937.

Plans for the construction of several air raid shelters in the basement of Gestapo headquarters, August 1933.

Sketch of the Reich Security Main Office air raid bunker after the bomb hit of March 24, 1944.

The Reich Security Main Office air raid bunker, built in 1941, after the Second World War, 1951.

Excavated zigzag-shaped air raid protection ditch on the site of the Topography of Terror, spring 1997.

 
Erected by Topography
NS-Luftschutzbauten / Nazi Air Raid Protection Structures Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by James Hulse, March 6, 2026
2. NS-Luftschutzbauten / Nazi Air Raid Protection Structures Marker
of Terror Documentation Center. (Marker Number 13.)
 
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is January 17, 1937.
 
Location. 52° 30.376′ N, 13° 23.045′ E. Marker is in Berlin, in Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg. It is in Berliner Innenstadt. It is on Niederkirchnerstraße just west of Wilhelmstraße. The marker is located on the grounds of the Topography of Terror Documentation Center (free history museum). Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Niederkirchnerstraße 8, Berlin 10117, Germany. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in Europe, the European Union, Atlantic Europe, Central Europe, the Schengen Area, Western Europe, and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Holy Roman Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Europahaus-Komplex / Europahaus Complex (within shouting distance of this marker); Das „Hausgefängnis“ der Gestapo-Zentrale / The “House Prison” at Gestapo Headquarters (within shouting distance of this marker); Topographie des Terrors / Topography of Terror
NS-Luftschutzbauten / Nazi Air Raid Protection Structures Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by James Hulse, March 6, 2026
3. NS-Luftschutzbauten / Nazi Air Raid Protection Structures Marker
(about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Topography of Terror (about 90 meters away); Prinz-Albrecht-Palais / Prinz Albrecht Palais (about 90 meters away); Dienststellen von Gestapo und SS / Gestapo and SS Offices (about 120 meters away); Gestapo-Zentrale / Gestapo Headquarters (about 120 meters away); Wilhelmstraße 102 (about 120 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Berlin.
 
NS-Luftschutzbauten / Nazi Air Raid Protection Structures Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by James Hulse, March 6, 2026
4. NS-Luftschutzbauten / Nazi Air Raid Protection Structures Marker
NS-Luftschutzbauten / Nazi Air Raid Protection Structures Marker (Right Side Marker) image. Click for full size.
Photographed by James Hulse, March 6, 2026
5. NS-Luftschutzbauten / Nazi Air Raid Protection Structures Marker (Right Side Marker)
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on September 10, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 8, 2026, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 3 times since then. Photos:   1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 10, 2026, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
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Sep. 12, 2026