War-Headquarters of IIIrd Reich

© English version by Ervin Schieman & Cezary Markiel

Himmler's bunker. HQ HochwaldLocation [see map] and the beginning of construction of command structures in East Prussia dates from autumn of 1940, in relationship with prepared plan of war against USRR - "Fall Barbarossa". Construction kept secret as so-called "Chemische Werke Askania". Headquarters built by the Todt Organization - OT (Dr. Fritz Todt was killed here in an air-crash). Command bunkers located (as a rule) near forest-sections of railway lines with side-railway for special trains. OKW & Hitler's Headquarters "Wolfschanze" started in autumn of 1940 in the municipal forest of Ketrzyn - Rastenburg. In spring 1941 the Germans built the Headquarters "Mauerwald-Anna" for OKH in Mamerki - Mauerwald, and HQ "Hochwald" for Himmler, SS & Police command near Pozezdrze - Grossgarten. Luftwaffe command was sited in the adapted shelters of the 1935-37 testing centres "Robinson" near Goldap and "Breitenheide" near Pisz - Johannisburg. Luftwaffe Commander Göring spent most of his time in his special train, the "Asien". Ribbentrop of the Foreign Office used a palace in Sztynort - Steinort. The Germans also built a new HQ "Wendula" for III Reich Chancellor for Lammers near Radzieje - Rosengarten. The Department OKH "Foreign Armies East" - "Emma" was placed in old Fortress Boyen (Gizycko - Lötzen) and Abwehra placed in "Walli II" (Mikolajki - Nikolaiken).
HQ Mauerwald-Anna - Quelle Zone     The Germans built anti-aircraft shelters (red colour on plans) in HQs in class "new B", that is to say with two-meter reinforced concrete ceilings and walls (protected from 500 kg air-bombs). Bunkers possessed usually two entries, emergency exit, airfilters and anti-gas sluices closed with armured doors. The internal corridors were defended with small embrasures with armoured plates. In HQ "Breitenheide", older shelters from 1935-37 (in class "B1") possessed two storeys. Well-preserved shelter near Goldap (HQ "Robinson") possessed walls and ceiling of 2,5m thickness (class "A1"). In HQs "Mauerwald-Anna" and "Wolfschanze"HQ Wolfschanze were big technical shelters: telecommunication structures, central heating, power stations, garages etc. With the possibility of attacks with fire-bombs (this being a forest area!), all HQs built by the Germans had numerous fire-fighting reservoirs with water. In 1944 some structures were prepared for heavy air-bomb (1-5 tons) attacks. These with built with additional "overcoats" from reinforced concrete, 3,5 - 6 metres thick (marked on plan in black), and separated with layer of gravel (marked on plans in yellow). The Germans built new foundations in 5-10 meters depths using extreme masses of reinforced concrete. In new "overcoat" builders made long corridors, parallel to the front-wall. New structures possessed enlarged class of reinforcement: A/Bneu or E/Bneu. Germans built in the HQ "Wolfchanze", four new construction shelters (with integrated anti-aircraft stands on the ceiling). Only these HQ shelters were supplemented with ringstands for HMG and anti-aircraft guns of 37mm. In every HQ were numerous auxiliary structures, barracks and additions (strenghtened later in "Wolschanze" HQ with 60-100 cm of reinforced concrete, up to class C and B1).
    Groups of shelters and railway stations with special-trains, offered protection using masking-nets, with artificial trees, Hitler's bunker. HQ Wolfschanzeand with vegetation planted on roofs and with special plaster with admixture of sea-grasses on the walls. External defences included field stands for HMGs and 88mm anti-tank guns, guardhouses, combat-observational steel-towers, 50-150 metre widths mine-field, coiled barbed wire and fences. On the western front of the GFR, the Germans extended a ‘belt’ of protection. Hitler's guard battalion - "FBB" protected a wide area against diversion-groups of enemy. In October 1944 the transformed "FBB" fought as two "Führer's Brigades" in the battle near Goldap.
    Headquarters stayed a secret up to the winter of 1944/45. Probably the British Intelligence Power-complex in Fritz Zone - HQ Mauerwald-Anna.Service situating in the neighbourhood of Rastenburg German HQs identified the ‘secret’ through intense telephone tapping and radio-monitoring (Enigma!). Retreated German sappers on the 24th of January 1945 destroyed (with important prestige regards?) the "Wolfschanze" FHQ, "Wendula" HQ, "Hochwald" HQ, using ca. 10 tons of explosive materials (melenit & trotyl) for every big shelter. Göring's HQ in Rominty and Goldap were already devastated in October 1944. After the evacuation in the autumn of 1944, HQs used as front-line - depots of ammunition and local command centers of 4th German Army. In East Prussia existed the so-called "Koch's HQ", situated near Pilawa (Baltijsk).
D e t a i l e d   i n f o r m a t i o n :

"Breitenheide" HQ (Szeroki Bor). This was one of oldest complexes on Mazury, built in 1935-37 as an experimental centre and construction office for the Luftwaffe, where they secretly worked with jet propulsion and projects of anti-aircraft rockets! In "Breitenheide" centres were located ~9 shelters of class B1. Most typical structures had external dimensions 25x11m, and inside 5-6 rooms and anti-gas sluices. The largest bunkers had two storeys - the upper storey was a single big room (assembly room?). Shelters were connected with underground tunnels (unique in EP!). In the winter of 1940-41, the Command of the Luftwaffe decided to adapt "Brietenheide" for the new Göring and LwFüSt (Staff of Luftwaffe) HQ. Probably in this time the Germans built a short railway (from main railway Pisz-Ruciane) for the special Goring "Asien" train. Additionally the centres also included staff-barracks, a wood villa for Göring, kitchen, and a power-complex in a brick hall. Areas around "Breitenheide" HQ were separated with coiled wire hinderances and check-points near Pisz and Ruciane. Field Marshal Göring did not spend much time here. He most offen road in his special-train between his HQs and "Wolfschanze" HQ. To the "Breitenheide" Goring invited numerous foreign guests of friendly countries. Mussolini and Hitler were here as well. Bunkers: HQ Robinson - up, HQ Breitenheide - bottomIn 1944, after Hitler's and all HQs' evacuation, the German IVth Army took up quarters in this region. The HQ "Breitenheide" was not blown up by the Germans. The Russians were not interested in these forest shelters.
From 1950’s this area was a closed military ground, enclosed and meticulously guarded by the Polish Army with motion sensors. You will not receive permission to enter or sightsee - but one shelter is outside the enclosure on the westerly bank of Jegocinek Lake. The most comfortable access is along bank of the lake from the north (road Pisz - Wejsuny).
"Robinson" HQ (Goldap-Kumiecie). Luftwaffe's firing ground and experimental centre, came into being simultaneously (1935-37) with "Breitenheide". Fragment of Romincka-Forest enclosured with wooden fence and with wire barriers. Inside, in the vicinity of the small railway station Kumiecie - Hermeshof, the Germans built barracks for motorized units of anti-aircraft weapons, and rocket launchers in the forest between Goldap-Tolminkiejmy railway and the Goldap-Schäferberg road. The builders prepared several firefighting reservoirs with water, with the possibility of fires on forest grounds. Between the railway and Goldap Lake they built a powerful shelter (for commands of shotses?) with the dimensions 24 x 15m and 2,5m thickness (walls). This experimental jet & rocket centre was here until 1941, when they transfered this to the Leba firing grounds (by the Baltic Sea). At this place was now seated the General Command of the Luftwaffe - "Robinson HQ". The Germans built smaller structures near the existing shelter and railway-station. Today there are numerous devastated concrete-cellars. Göring's train the "Sonderzug Asien" was a most important element of this HQ, it was a command and telecommunication centre. Over this train (and section of railway) the Germans hung masking nets. "The Great Huntsman of IIIrd Reich" (Göring's special title) was ordered to prepare a willa "Jägerhof" (1936-41) near Emperor Wilhelm's II hunting-palace "Jagdhaus" in Rominty (northly from "Robinson HQ"). Göring entertained his special guests, Prime Ministers, ambassadors etc.
During the night of the 19th /20th of October 1944, Göring submitted "Johannisfeuer", the order to destroy "Robinson HQ" and "Jägerhof", so as not to fallen in Russian hands. There was heavy fighting in October 1944 against the Red Army, similar to the Goldap, "Robinson HQ". Control passed from side to side several times. From November to January of 1945 this area was a part of front-line fortifications, set by the German 50th Infantry Division.
After WWII the Russians took the complete railwayarea (Goldap-Rominty). The Russian border is now just near HQ's area. The barracks building near Goldap adapted as a rest-centre. The greatest command-shelter and firefighting reservoirs in the forest are accesible.
"Wolfschanze" FHQ (Gierloz - Rastenburg). At the Hitler HQ, the Germans built the first phase (1940-41) which included ~7 shelters of class Bneu, and in last phase (1944) they strengthened it and built the next 4 shelters. With auxiliary structures (barracks, garages) there were ~80 different buildings located in an area of 2,5 km2. The barracks were capable of accomodating several hundred of persons. The Führer's and the OKW quarters were divided into 3 zones of security (Sperrkreis). Around all of the complexes were extended wire barriers and fences with mine-fields (contained 55000 of mines) to a length of 10 km and to a width 100-150 m. Internal zones I and II possessed separate enclosures and systems of protection. All HQ buildings were protected by a special battalion, the "FBB - Führerbegleitbatalion" (over 1500 of soldiers).
  • Sperrkreis I, the "heart" of the whole complex, were located, Hitler's*, Keitl's, and Bormann's bunkers as well as Sonder-Nachrichtendienstesbunker (special telecommunication) and the Gästebunker (for special guests). In 1943 the Germans formed Wolfschanze HQ. Göring's bunker from 1944 with integrated anti-aircraft stands on the ceiling."Zone A" around Hitler's and Keitel's shelters and were protected with SS soldiers from "Leibstandarte AH". In the summer and autumn of 1944 these shelters reinforced with strengthened concrete whose "overcoats" were 3,5-6 m thick, with built-in HMG-stands on some shelters' ceilings. The Germans also built in this zone two new heavy structures: Göring's shelter with two stands of anti-aircraft guns 37mm and one Ringstand for HMG 34 on the ceiling, as well as a new shelter "for common use", the so-called Bormann shelter. After an extension in 1944 these structures reached impressive sizes: shelter for guests - 45x24m, shelter for special telecommuication - 37x23m, Hitler's, Keitel's and Bormann's shelters - 35x23m, Göring's - 27x20m, all 9-10 m of height over ground's level. The Germans also built, in the Ist zone, numerous buildings and staff barracks of the OKW (Jodl), adjutantures, mess, food rooms, garages and a pumping station. Builders strengthened most of them in 1942-42 with concrete-walls, transforming them into light shelters. Near the big shelters were numerous additional and technical rooms.
  • Sperrkreis II - The telecommunication and supply centre of "Wolfschanze" HQ near the former railway station Görlitz. There is the oldest part of the HQ and at the beginning (VI-VIII 1941), Hitler and the OKW staff spent most of their time (also Hitler's special-train - the Sonderzug "Amerika" stayed on a side railroad). In this time German builders finished structures in the Ist zone. In the IInd zone they rebuilt a mess in the former rest-centre ("Kurhaus" for Ranstenbug's inhabitants) and built two new shelters for telecomunication. In summer 1944, in this zone, the Germans built the greatest bunker in Wolfschanze, so-called "New telecommunication's shelter" - the "Nachrichtendienstesbunker" (70x40m - a similar structure was begun in "Mauerwald-Anna" HQ).
  • IIIrd Zone - for representatives of different groups of Army personnnel. In the barracks and light buildings were quartered representatives of the OKH, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Foreign Office and also guard soldiers from the FBB. In this zone was located the auxiliary landing field for connecting flights (the main airfield of Hitler's HQ situated near Wilamowo). Here the Germans built in 1944, a powerful bunker for common use, consisting of two separate structures, divided into partitions. On the ceiling of this structure were stands for antiairctraft weapons.
  • IVth Zone The external protective zone (4 km2), built between belts of wire barriers and mine-fields, was controlled by FBB soldiers. In this zone were several concrete-guardhouses (Wache) at gates on the main roads with steel observation towers (adapted for HMG-fire). German sappers blew up all shelters on the 24th of January 1945.
Nowadays the "Wolfschanze" HQ is a Skansen museum and you can tour ruins of the bunkers with (or without) a guide. Remaining fragments of walls of all heavy shelters give an impression of the original sizes. Especially the so-called Göring's bunker (No 16) with well-preserved stands on the ceiling and a corridor (well-preserved corridor is also in guest's shelter - No 6). In the neigbourhood of Hiler's bunker (No 13) there is several Ringstands. Double shelter of common use (No 26) with a new communications shelter (No 30) - largest sizes of structure.
*) Attention! The current popular "names" of the shelters!
Bunker of FHW IIIrd Department of OKH - Mauerwald-Anna HQ"Mauerwald-Anna" HQ (Mamerki/Przystan - Mauerwald). This was the greatest command complex in East Prussia. It was built in the spring and summer of 1941 with 29 reinforced concrete shelters and over 200 auxiliary structures situated in a 6 km2 area. "Mauerwald-Anna" HQ was for the General Staff and the Logistic Staff of theGerman Army. It was divided into two main zones "I - Quelle" and "II - Fritz", and auxiliary sectors - "Brigitten Stadt". This was practically a little city with all necessary infrastructure. In this HQ were locted approximately 1500 persons (40 Generals with General Commander of OKH!). The head commander of this "city" was General Gundel. The Germans built around the OKH HQ, check points, field anti-aircraft or HMG stands, and was operated by a guard battalion of Wehrmacht soldiers. In north and east were the naturally protecting waters of the Mazurian Channel and Mamry Lake. The west and south complex was protected with wire barriers and mine fields.
  • "I Quelle" Zone was intended for Quartermaster Services of the OKH, serving all German Army units on all fronts of IIWW, and for III Department of the OKH - "Fremde Heere West" (recognition of western allies). In this zone the Germans build 4 shelters (14x11m) with two rooms (similar to standard Regelbau 102 series of class Bneu), and two Regelbau 31 (17x10m) with five rooms: for officers, adjutants, guards, envoys and a work-room. These shelters projected Hitler. Three supplemental technical bunkers in "Quelle"-Zone covered the power-complex and transformation-station, and ten other constructions containing offices, kitchen and mess, baths, infirmary... and even stables. Near the main road was the water filtration station in the bunker (for all HQ). Two shelters in "Quelle" Zone were strenghted in 1944 with reinforced concrete using "overcoats" of class A. These were the shelters of Colonel Liss (chief of III Department of OKH), and General Wagner (General Quartermaster of German Army).
  • "II Fritz" Zone was the main part of the complex. Included were four staff shelters of 5 rooms, ten shelters of 2 rooms and numerous barracks and offices. These housed the General Staff of OKH (with the chiefs Brauchitsch, Halder, Zeitzler and Guderian), the Operating Department (Heusinger), the Transportation Department (Gercke), the Signal Department (Fellgiebel), the Personal Department (Burgdorf), XII Department "Fremde Heere Ost" (recognition in the east, Gehlen), military representatives (attachés) of German allies, and the head commander of "Mauerwald-Anna" HQ. There was also a power-complex and trafo-station in the bunkers. On west border of "Fritz" Zone was a railway station for special trains, with magazines and loading platforms. The Germans, in 1944, prepared one shelter for strengthening, but these works were never finished. Supplementary buildings in this zone contained a soldier canteen, baths and obligatory stables.
  • IIIrd Zone "Brigitten Stadt" was for auxiliary services of the OKH, in which served mostly women (therefore this name). The Germans built two non-typical shelters for telecommunication and post, canteens, infirmary and even cinema. In 1944 they began to build a new telecommunication shelter (similary to "Wolfschanze" HQ).
Strengthening (process) of old bunker, on example Himmler's bunker in Hochwald HQ HQ"Mauerwald-Anna" is a perfectly preserved complex of reinforced concrete bunkers from IIWW. There is now free entrance for sightseers. In the past year a group of enthusiasts began the work of clearing overgrown vegetation. They are planning to place the Skansen Museum here for tourists. In "Quelle" Zone it is possbile to tour a big staff-shelter FHW (25x18m) and General Wagner's shelter (21x18m) both ~9m in height. An equally powerful bunker is the power-complex in "Fritz" Zone with large internal rooms for kettles, reservoirs and pumps. An interesting point is the shelter in the northwest part of sector "Fritz" (near railway line Wegorzewo-Ketrzyn). Here you can see an example of strengthening of a shelter from 1941, where they prepared to build with an "overcoat". An interesting group of structures includes the telecommunication complex in IIIrd zone, with a staircase leading to the ceiling, and a new shelter's foundations the size of hockey rink.
"Hochwald" HQ (Pozezdrze - Grossgarten). Headquarters for Himmler's SS and police commands in 1941 consisted of six shelters of class Bneu (14x11m and were 4,5m in height, two rooms identical to construction in HQ "Mauerwald-Anna"), additionally three brick guardhouses, an underground garage (between railway and road), a pumping station, several barracks for the police guard battalion. SS Obersturmbannführer Tiefenbacher was the commander of "Hochwald" HQ. The whole of the area was protected with wire barriers and a mine-field, observation and field fire stands. In the beginning of the war against the USSR, near the "Hochwald" were stationed in special-trains Ribbentrop and Lammers until their new quarters were finished. In 1944 the Germans rebuilt and strenghtened Himmler's bunker. German sappers blew up all shelters on 24th January 1945.
Today you can to see the partly damaged Himmler shelter, however it is in original size 21x19m (9m of heights) it has a main corridor and an internal room (partitions and sluice do not exist).
"Wendula" HQ (Radzieje - Rosengarten). The Germans build in the summer of 1941, a new field headquarters for the Reichskanzelei (Chancellor Of IIIrd Reich) and the chief, Obergruppenführer Lammers, north of Radzieje village by the railway Ketrzyn - Wegorzewo (Rastenburg - Angerburg). This HQ was finished after the beginning of the war against the USRR. There were two concrete shelters and seven staff barracks with basic water installations (pumping station, hydrants), and was protected with wire barriers, two guardhouses and field stands. Retreating German sappers blew up one shelter on the 24th of January 1945. Currently a second shelter (20x15m) is well preserved and accessible for sightseeing. Another piece of "Wendula" HQ is a road made from concrete plates (do not exist in other HQ structures ).
"Westfalen" HQ (Sztynort - Steinort). In Lehndorffs' palace were placed the Foreign Office's Minister of IIIrd Reich - Ribbentrop. The Germans did not extend these special shelters, they were probably preparing some LSR (anti-aircraft room) in the cellars of the quarters. Some of the workers of the FO were quartered in the hotel "Jägerhohe" near Swiecajty Lake.
At present Lehndorff's Palace in Sztynort is subject to continuous changes of owners. It is possibility to view the outside of this beautiful palace and park-garden.
Secret service agencies in East Prussia spied on their eastern enemies. Their primary office was the sabotage and spy centre of the SD (secret service) and of the Abwehr (military secret-service) in Zytkiejmy - Wehrkirchen (1937). The Germans placed it in St. Hubertus' hotel, and they built a high radio mast and a powerful broadcasting station. The chief of this centre was Hauptsturmführer Dylba alias Ruger, who was responsible for the instruction of saboteurs, the transfer of armaments to "5th columnist" and reconnaisance and propaganda activity in Podlasie (nothern Poland). The following agencies of the secret services moved to East Prussia after the beginning of the war against the USRR (1941-42). In Fortress Boyen (Gizycko - Lötzen) was the placed the agency of XII OKH's Department ("Fremde Heere Ost") with cryptonym "Emma". The Germans learned of the power of the Red Army, mostly from listening to Officers (Russian prisoners of war) in the fortress part of the buildings. They investigated also the possibility of creating armed anti-communist groups, selected from prisoners of war ("Vlasov's Army" ROA, RONA). This activity also interested the military secret service, the Abwehr, which had their own centre, "Walli II" near Mikolajki - Nikolaiken (today the "Mazur Hotel"). It is probable that Stalin's son was a prisoner here. Concrete shelters were not in these centres.
"Amerika" and other special-trains. In August 1939 Hitler and the OKW used moving command posts, called at first "Führersonderzug F", later "Amerika", and later "Brandenburg". The train was equipped with two locomotives (until 1940 just one), two anti-aircraft cars (Flakwagen) with 20mm guns, and numerous multi-use cars. These were not the usual rail cars. On Hitler's orders these were constructed from steel-plates. Every car weighed ca. 60 tons. From outside the cars looked identical and the Germans often changed the order and quantity for making recognition difficult. The crew that guarded this train was from a FBB company whose commander was Erwin Rommel. Additionally 22 soldiers of the SS Leibstandarte "AH" guarded the Führer's car.

These were universal command posts, difficult to situate, with the possibilty of quick movement. German railways and their technical infrastructure determined that this would be a perfect base for this manner of command. On planned stops operating personel connected the train to telephone or telegraph lines. They also assembled information and delivered orders. In the press car there was a short-wave broadcasting station with 700W of power.
Similar trains prepared for other dignitaries of the IIIrd Reich included Göring’s - "Asien", Himmler's - "Heinrich", Ribbentrop, the OKH-command etc. Until 1941, trains were a main form of command centre, and the Germans prepared special stopping places with gigantic train shelters, telecommunication and subsidiary shelters. In occupied Poland they built, in 1940, "Anlage Mitte" HQ (Jelen-Konewka near Lodz) and "Anlage Süd" HQ (Stepina-Cieszyna near Rzeszow). After changing to stationary HQs in Eastern Prussia, the special-trains lost a little of their purpose, except for Göring who stayed in Sonderzug "Asien" most of the time. From the spring of 1944 he did not leave his train. On the 20th of November 1944 at 315 am Hitler got on the train "Brandenburg" at station Görlitz in the "Wolfschanze" and set off from here for last time.
Photographs from best preserved HQ "Mauerwald-Anna" and other in Gallery 1. More pages of FHQ "Wolfschanze" (and of other HQs in Eastern Prussia): [1] . [2] . [3] . [4] . [5] . [6] . [7] . [8] . [9] . [10] . [11]
Script Copyright © Cezary Markiel. 2000-2003 All Rights Reserved
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