Bunkermuseum Emden

Useful Information

Location:	Holzsägerstraße 6, 26691 Emden. (53.3661967, 7.2038765)
Open:	All year Tue-Fri 11-13, 14-17, Sat, Sun 14-17. [2023]
Fee:	free. [2023]
Classification:	air raid shelter, subaerial
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:	Michael Foedrowitz (1998): Bunkerwelten, Luftschutzanlagen in Norddeutschland, Ch. Links Verlag, Berlin
Address:	Arbeitskreis Bunkermuseum e.V., Holzsägerstraße 6, 26691 Emden, Tel: +49-4921-32225. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1940	start of construction of bunkers.
1995	museum opened.

Description

The city of Emden was built on boggy ground. So it was impossible to built classic subterranean bunkers, instead a huge number of subaerial bunkers were built. They were placed all over the city so every inhabitant could reach one in less than 10 minutes. This was the reason why, although 78% of the town was destroyed by air raids, only 370 civilians were killed.

The bunkers are six stories high and have two metre thick walls and a 2.5 m thick roof made of concrete. The citizens of Emden could stay for a longer time in the bunkers if necessary.

The museum is located in one of those bunkers and shows documents to the regional history between 1930 and 1950 and changing exhibitions. It has an archive which can be used for scientific research.