Zeppelin bunker complex and the Wünsdorf town of books – experience German military and literary history

It deals with Germany’s Imperial age, the Weimar Republic, the Third Reich and the German Democratic Republic (GDR). The former military town of Wünsdorf, covering nearly 590 hectares, reflects the varied European military history as no other town does. The main communications centre of the Soviet armed forces in the divided Germany was created in the garrison town of Wünsdorf and resulted from the former German communications bunker, which was known under the name of Zeppelin. Up to 40,000 soldiers were stationed here. Today, the former military base, which is located about 20km outside the gates of Berlin, can be visited by tourists. In spite of its gloomy atmosphere, the intricate Wünsdorf bunker is worth seeing and invites you to subterranean encounters with the past: guided tours of the Maybach 1 and Zeppelin bunker complexes provide you with understandable insights into the unknown world of military coordination. Subject to advance notice (and for 10 or more people), they are also conducted in the English or Russian languages. Literature and CDs provide information in several languages on the development of the communications bunker before and after the end of the Cold War. Since the withdrawal of the Red Army in 1994, the formerly restricted area has changed into the Wünsdorf visitors’ centre. The first international town of books in Germany was created right at its centre. In numerous second-hand bookshops, 100,000 books, documents, maps and charts from all kinds of specialist fields await people who are fond of rummaging. Visitors can obtain a general impression of the area of the former garrison during a sightseeing tour of the site and in the garrison museum. Afterwards, you are invited to come into the former villa of the commanding officer for good food and drink.