Garrison Museum Wünsdorf

Introduction:
In former East Germany lies the combined town of Wünsdorf -Zossen which is also known as the Bücher-und-Bunkerstadt. Besides the numerous bookshops, you can visit the garrison museum as well as tour the former (partly underground) bunker complex that served during the Second and Cold War.

History:
Under the leadership of German Kaiser Wilhelm II, construction of a military barracks began in the municipality of Wünsdorf -Zossen around the year 1910. With WW1 looming, the garrison town was expanded considerably. During the ‘Great’ War, several POW camps were built including the ‘half moon’ for Allied Muslim soldiers.

In 1933, Hitler came to power in Germany and Wünsdorf was prepared for the German tank corps. Two years later, the5th Panzer regiment was stationed here and placed in two large barracks. Just before WW2 broke out, the Maybach I, II and Zeppelin bunker complex was built here.

From 1953 to 1994, Wünsdorf was the site of the Russian (Soviet) headquarters in the then GDR. The whole area was cordoned off and forbidden territory. As many as 40,000 Soviet soldiers were based here, some with wives and children.

Today:
Two former horse stables house the garrison museum. One section covers German history while the other deals with the Soviet period. You can admire numerous uniforms, banners, helmets, utensils, photographs, weapons, documents and pictures. Showpiece of the museum is a British staff map captured near Tobruk (Libya) (see photo).

The area contained no less than 19 above-ground anti-aircraft bunkers. Seven remain and you can see one inside. There is also a restaurant located in a former commander's villa. See Zeppelin for the bunkers.

For current visiting hours, please visit the website of the museum.

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Source

• Text: Kaj Metz + Cheapskatetravel.nl
• Photos: Cheapskatetravel.nl (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6), Koos Winkelman (7, 8)