Air-raid shelter am Weinberg, Underground air-raid shelter in Kassel, Germany
The air-raid shelter at Weinberg is an underground tunnel system carved into limestone with multiple passages and chambers spreading beneath the city. The network was designed to house and protect large groups of people during extended periods of bombing.
The tunnel system started in the 1800s as a storage facility for beer and ice before being converted into a shelter in 1942. This transformation was a rapid response to the growing threat of air attacks during wartime.
The shelter reflects how people from different backgrounds shared tight spaces during times of danger, making it a place where the community's shared vulnerability becomes visible. Visitors walking through can sense the human experience that defined those moments.
Guided tours take visitors through the interior and explain how the shelter functioned, for which comfortable clothing is recommended. The temperature underground stays cool throughout the year, so bringing a warmer jacket is a good idea.
During severe bombing in October 1943, more than 10,000 people crowded into the shelter even though it was designed for roughly 7,500. This overcrowding shows how desperately the population sought protection.
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