Lecture 4

"The Reich's Chancellery as Hitler's War Headquarter"

 

9.00 o'clock - Introduction into the Topic

Christoph Neubauer gives a short introduction and the first overview over the extension of all the bunkers built by the end of the war on the property of the Reich's Chancellery. He discusses with the audience why the topic of the underground bunkers are still so heavily discussed today and why there are so many questions still un answered. He also discusses how it can be that there are more than 10 different plans of those bunkers, and are published in different books about this topic. Neubauer shows, using the original books, how facts get changed purposely or accidentally and then republished again and again and why the topic of Hitler's bunker is a very good example how small changes of facts can rewrite history.  

 

10.00 o'clock - The First Temporary Air Raid Shelter in Borsigpalais

Using a Live 3D - Model Neubauer shows the first temporary shelter built in the basement of Borsigpalais in 1934.

 

10.15 o'clock - The First Bunker of the Reich's Chancellery

1935 the first bunker of the Reich's Chancellery was built underneath the diplomats hall. Using 3D - Animations Neubauer shows how the bunker was constructed and what security measures where taken into consideration to give this construction the best possible strengths. Besides the detailed measurements of the ceilings and the walls Neubauier also discusses the original technical equipment and gives a 3D - Look into the bunker itself.   

 

11.00 o'clock - The Bunkers of the New Reich's Chancellery

Using a Live - 3D - Model Neubauer shows the exact location and the dimensions of the Prasidalbunker underneath the eastern administrate building of the new Reich's Chancellery and its connection to the basements of the building. Furthermore the 5 different sections of the bunker of the New Reich's Chancellery underneath the middle section of the building are shown in a Live - 3D - Model as well . Besides the 9 main entrances to the bunkers Neubauer shows and discuses as well there special locations insight the building and there emergency exits.

 

12.00 o'clock - Lunch Break

 

13.00 o'clock - The Fuhrerbunker

A 3D - Animated Film shows how the Fuhrerbunker was constructed in 1943 in the garden of the Reich's Chancellery. The audience learns besides the exact measurements also technical details like the ventilation system, the managing of the water table and the emergency exits of the bunker. On top of that Neubauer describes how the first bunker of the Reich's Chancellery was integrated into the Fuhrerbunker and how its ceiling and entrances were strengthened to match the new security requirements of Hitler's bunker. Furthermore the constructions which took place to protect Adolf Hitler from attacks from his own people are also shown in this part of the lecture.

 

14.00 o'clock - More Bunkers on the
Property of the Reich's Chancellery

Using historic photographs and plans made by the excavation crews after the war in this section of the lecture the audience gets a detailed look into the drivers bunker located inside the underground parking of the New Reich's Chancellery. Furthermore is shown how a concrete building for special use was built in the garden as well as the strengthening of the workrooms of the underground garage and the bunkers of the new Reich's Chancellery in 1943. Neubauer also shows pictures of the terrace bunker built to protect an important part of the basements of the New Reich's Chancellery.

 

14.30 o'clock - Converting the Chancellery into
Hitler's Wartime Headquarters

Christoph Neubauer shows using photographs which constructions took place on the property of the Reich's Chancellery to match the requirements, Hitler's Wartime Headquarters had. Shown will be the newly built office blocks in the garden as well as the water reserve pond and newly constructed bunkers for the guards of the entrance to the Fuhrerbunker.

 

15.00 o'clock - Hitler's Fear of Attacks on His Life

Historical photographs and documents prove that Adolf Hitler converted the Chancellery during the last weeks of his life into a castle protecting him also against  attacks from the people of Berlin. Besides the securing of the Fuhrerbunker from attacks with gas this photographs show how the Ministerial Gardens were blocked of to protect Hitler against furious citizens of Berlin who wanted to end the war.

 

15.15 o'clock - The Fuhrerbunker After Hitler's Death

In the last section of this lecture Neubauer gives an insight look into the bunkers of the Reich's Chancellery as they where found by allied troops in 1945. He shows how the bunkers were demolished bit by bit over the following years and documents this by using photographs and documents of the east German secret service.
On the end of the lecture Neubauer answers the often ask question of what is still left today of the Hitler's bunkers in the ground of the previous Reich's Chancellery.

 

16.00 o'clock - Discussion

A free discussion regarding the topics of the lecture guided by Christoph Neubauer. To answers questions of the audience Neubauer gives access to his archive of more than 14.000 historic photographs and construction files of the Reich's Chancellery and the buildings surrounding her.

 

17.00 o'clock - End