The headquarters of Hitler - Wolf's Lair (45 photos)

The story of Hitler's command complex, from which he directed the attacks and fighting.




Wolf's Lair, Volfsshantse (it. Wolfsschanze) - the main rate of the Fuhrer and the command set of the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces of Germany. Hitler spent here more than 800 days. It was from here he directed the attack on the Soviet Union and the fighting on the Eastern Front. July 20, 1944 there was an unsuccessful attempt on Hitler (which was later made into a movie "Valkyrie" with Tom Cruise). The headquarters of Hitler - Wolfsschanze (Russ. Wolf's Lair). located in the forest Gierłoż 8 km from Kętrzyn. Construction rocked the spring of 1940. On all maps and plans of the object displayed as the Chemische Werke Askania (Chemical plant Askania). Engaged in the construction of the organization Todt. It was built about 2-3 thousand workers. There were three main periods in the construction: 1940-41, 1942-43, and the last - spring, winter and early autumn of 1944 work schedule was designed to strengthen the Fuehrer's bunker and other powerful bunkers. Wolfsschanze was the largest of Hitler's headquarters, and almost was a real city. It was built more than eighty bunkers and fortified buildings in the middle of dense forest, located in a protected area of ​​250 hectares and is surrounded by several rings of barbed wire, minefields, observation towers, machine-gun and anti-aircraft positions. The width of the minefields was 50-350 m. Almost until 1956 lasted for demining operations. It was found about 54 000 min and about 200,000 munitions. To protect from detection from the air, used models of trees and scrim. Its changed four times a year, in accordance with the environment, thus, there was no difference between the objects and the environment. The walls were lined with many bunkers algae, and then painted in green or gray. The whole area was photographed from the air in order to check the masking. Entrance to the territory was only possible through three security posts. In 1944, about 2,000 people served Wolf's Lair - 300 field marshals, generals and aides; 1200 soldiers escort a battalion of Hitler; 150 exploration services and the protection of the SS; 300 administrative staff, drivers, electricians, mechanics, stenographers and clerks, waiters, hairdressers and so on. D. For the first time Hitler came here June 24, 1941 after the attack on the Soviet Union. The evacuation of the German command Wolfsschanze came suddenly, when the Red Army was already coming right up too close. 24th January 1945, just before the arrival of Soviet troops (27 January 1945) Field Marshal Keitel ordered the destruction of Wolfsschanze, that they could no longer take advantage of anybody. There was not a deliberate attempt to destroy Wolf's Lair, although its existence and exact location was known to American intelligence as early as October 1942.

Plan for the whole territory of Wolf's Lair. We are located in the central part:



Plan of the central part:



The only fully preserved object. He used to use the SS escort. Now here is a restaurant and hotel. Here we spent the night and had breakfast before heading out to see all of what goes on it:









The former SS barracks and intelligence services:



Summer bunker light type. There are mainly held conferences and meetings. 20 th July 1944 here came Colonel Stauffenberg. In the suitcase he had brought a bomb activated by chemical explosives. The bomb exploded as planned, but instead of Hitler, killed four other men:



Stauffenberg had direct access to Hitler's headquarters, by raising to the rank of colonel and commander in chief of the army staff appointment reserve. July 20, 1944, Stauffenberg, using tongs, broke the vial containing acid, set the timer on the bomb and put it in his briefcase. He did not have time to activate the second bomb, as it was interrupted by the announcement of the beginning of the meeting with Hitler. Only one of the two prepared explosives was activated and the second remained in the portfolio of Assistant - Hefti. Stauffenberg was 300 meters to the barracks, where all the meetings were held, put his briefcase near Hitler, about the right and left legs of the table, under the pretext call. Between 12:45 and 12:55 the bomb went off. Four people were fatally injured, while others suffered. Hitler himself was slight injury. Stauffenberg and his assistant had to leave the Wolf's Lair in the staff car. At night, the plot was revealed. Stauffenberg and deputy commander of the Reserve Army, General Olbricht and Colonel Mertz von Kvirnhaim were shot. Hitler immediately convened a special committee, known as the Sonderkommando, to clarify the circumstances and all those involved in the assassination. As a result, he was arrested about 5,000 people, many of them were severely tortured and then shot or hung with special cruelty, and the rest were killed in concentration camps, or committed suicide.

Details about the assassination attempt, I did not write, are interested can watch the film "Valkyrie»



The plaque was installed in 48 years since the assassination. Three sons Stauffenberg attended the opening ceremony.
It says:
On this site stood the barracks where the 20th July 1944 Claus Schenk Earl von Staufenberg has made an attempt to assassinate Hitler. He and many others who fought against the dictatorship of Hitler, gave their lives for this effort:



Monument deminers who have died in mine site:



Huge guest bunker. Its length is 45 meters, width of 27 meters; the roof 6, 5 m. In all this pile of concrete had only two rooms, an area of ​​85 square meters. m, the rest - walls, roofs and corridors:



None of the interior is not left bunker was blown up from the inside. Pay attention to the thickness of the ceiling:



The majority of bunkers were double the ceilings and walls.







Each bunker severe type flak towers were installed. Throughout the birdhouses on trees for bats:





On the right the former guest room:



The former post office:





Office takers - almost 45 meters in length:



This huge bunker used as a protection for the sauna, underground storage products and other nearby facilities:



Inside the dark and after all filled up by 5 meters:



Otstatki from Bunker Keitel - Chief of Staff of the High Command Armed Forces of Germany. Caring visitors are not allowed to fall multi-ton wall and con rods:



Dining Keitel:





Ahead is seen Hitler's bunker:



Hitler's bunker - the largest object in the area. The area of ​​its outer surface - 2480 square meters. m. In 1944, it was rebuilt and fortified. The bunker had six entrances and all with one hand:



The dining room was added next to the main hopper:



Inside, everything has been destroyed by the explosion. The thickness of the roof - 8, 5 m:





Bunker Goring - Reich Reich Ministry of Aviation:



It had three tower defense:





It is the least affected by the explosion:



One of the two 80-meter room:



Double ceiling:







Garages



Here was located the department of communication and Telegraph:







This concludes our Poland. What we have seen it you read in the pages of this magazine.

Source: antonovjj.livejournal.com