Bunker 5001 was East Germany’s ultimate undisclosed location. Had the Cold War turned hot, East German leader Erich Honecker and other high-ranking communist leaders would have comfortably ridden out the end of the world in this 7,500 cubic meter space.

It’s buried in the middle of a forest about 40 kilometers from Berlin.

My guide, Hannes Hensel, who’s part of a group called the Berlin Bunker Network, showed up and poked around the ground for awhile until he uncovers a steel trapdoor. He opens it and beckons me inside. We won’t surface again for well over 4 hours.

“This was the most technologically advanced bunker of its time,” Hensel says while explaining his interest in the site. Bunker 5001 was actually superior in some respects to similar American and West German bunkers of its time.

Inside, he shows me how the East Germans built the bunker as a series of massive containers, built on giant springs and coils so that the facility could ride out the shock wave from nearby nuclear blasts. The bunker contained its own generators, water system and air filtering facilities, so that its 400 inhabitants would have had no need to enter the nuclear wasteland above for two weeks after a war. The postwar plans were a bit hazier, however.

“After two weeks, they would have gone above ground wearing radiation suits and gotten to an airplane and flown eastward to Russia,” says Hensel.

Bunker 5001 is definitely number one on the most endangered list of bunkers in the Berlin area. The site’s entrances meanwhile IS SEALED UP with concrete sometime to prevent thrill-seekers from gaining access.

Further Documentation is available at http://www.bunker5001.com/

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Double or Twin Room | Desk, soundproofing, free WiFi, bed sheets

"Great place to stay. Short walk to Alexanderplatz and access to all of Berlin transport system. "

AED 298 total

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25 May - 26 May

Desk, soundproofing, free WiFi, bed sheets

"This hotel is not very central but we appreciated the comfortable bedding, the cleanliness, the quiet street, the large windows and the buffet breakfast."

AED 286 total

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1 Jun - 2 Jun

Lobby

"👍"

AED 360 total

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1 Jun - 2 Jun

Double Room | Hypo-allergenic bedding, in-room safe, desk, blackout drapes

"Great location for u-banh, 15 minutes to Potsdamer Platz. Safe area. "

AED 298 total

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18 May - 19 May

Double Room with french Bed | Hypo-allergenic bedding, in-room safe, desk, blackout drapes

"Top tier staff, room was alright for the price"

AED 267 total

includes taxes & fees

1 Jun - 2 Jun

Triple Room | Desk, soundproofing, free WiFi, bed sheets

"Good location and easy to get here from the Berlin central station."

AED 292 total

includes taxes & fees

1 Jun - 2 Jun

Desk, blackout drapes, soundproofing, free WiFi

"The ubication it's not the best but the hotel is perfect."

AED 239 total

includes taxes & fees

18 May - 19 May

Twin Room | Soundproofing, free WiFi, bed sheets

"Overall a good stay I would recommend it for anyone wanting to be around a good area in Berlin "

AED 325 total

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25 May - 26 May

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