Gaugefechtsstand Wien, Military command bunker in Ottakring, Austria
Gaugefechtsstand Wien is an underground command bunker in Ottakring featuring a blast-proof staircase that descends about 25 meters to a main horizontal tunnel. This tunnel stretches approximately 100 meters long with two separate entrances and exits.
This command center operated between 1942 and 1945 to coordinate air raid warnings and defense operations, working with three Flak towers stationed across Vienna. After the war, most above-ground structures were removed in 1983 to prevent unauthorized access.
During the war, this underground center brought together military personnel and civil officials who worked to coordinate air defense alerts across the city. It shows how such hidden structures were woven into the daily operations of Vienna during wartime.
The northern exit remains partially visible in the Wienerwald forest, though finding it requires careful exploration of the wooded area. Visitors should come prepared for uneven terrain and be aware that the exact location is not immediately obvious from street level.
The bunker housed a Drahtfunk system, an early form of mass communication that broadcast air raid warnings throughout Vienna to reach thousands of residents simultaneously. This technology was a pioneering way to alert large populations during wartime operations.
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