Kohnstein, Mountain summit in Nordhausen, Germany.
Kohnstein is a mountain near Nordhausen composed mainly of gypsum rock that reaches about 335 meters in elevation. Its interior contains an extensive tunnel network created over many decades through mineral extraction operations.
The mountain became economically important from medieval times onward due to its gypsum deposits and was mined extensively. During World War II, the existing tunnel system was adapted for secret rocket manufacturing using forced laborers.
The mountain has served as a working landscape for generations, with gypsum extraction shaping both the terrain and the local economy. Today, visitors can observe how industrial activity left marks on the hillside that remain part of the area's identity.
The mountain is accessible via several hiking routes of varying difficulty and duration. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear and note that access to the tunnel system requires joining a guided tour.
The tunnel system was not built for military purposes but resulted from gypsum mining over many generations, which the regime later repurposed for rocket production. This makes the mountain a rare example of civilian industry being converted to military use.
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