Destroying the Fuhrerbunker - 30th Anniversary

2018 marks the 30th anniversary of the East German's attempt to destroy Hitler's infamous Berlin bunker in the summer of 1988. After lying forgotten and buried behind the Berlin Wall since the 1960s, the Fuhrerbunker re-emerged just before the fall of communism in East Germany and efforts were made to eradicate this historically important site. These efforts were not entirely successful, as we shall see...
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[@karldelavigne8134]

Had they not been demolished, the bunkers would probably have become the biggest tourist attraction in Berlin.

[@yellowbusguy]

The amount of steel reinforcing is amazing.

[@antidoteify]

Yeah they really had to work hard to manage to erase the site

[@patrickguinnane]

I was there. It is a rather strange feeling, in the middle of a housing estate but knowing 15ft below the surface WW2 ended

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

I had the same feeling myself - so nondescript for somewhere of considerable historical importance.

[@MultiHenry97]

A little bit disappointed that the interior photos of the bunker in 1987 are not in the Video. During the demolition process, the eastgerman photographer Robert Conrad dressed up as a worker , sneaked into the construction site, and finnaly into the Führerbunker. There he took the last photos of the inside of the bunker before it was demolished. When he was down there, he also discovered some kind of escape- or supplytunnel, even big enough for trucks to pass trough, but as he realized that the tunnel leads into west-berlin, he was too afraid to explore it any further.

[@JohnDoe-ml8ru]

Should have been made into a museum, not destroyed. :(

[@Exodon2020]

East German leadership avoided being confronted with the past as much as possible. Germany's Nazi Past was shoved on the West German government which was depicted a direct continuation of the Nazi government and done.

[@SoloTravelerOffTheBeatenPath]

Commies are known for destruction and erasing of history.

[@bertsedgwick9828]

4:52 "Rather grim East German houses" pmsl. That estate looks lovely compared to the council flat Estates over here in England lol

[@HustleMuscleGhias]

That was nothing compared to Cabrini Green in Chicago.

[@neildahlgaard-sigsworth3819]

Bert Sedgwick that because they spent money on both the buildings and things for the population to do, unlike here.

[@68air]

YES I thought that comment was particularly subjective and useless. The flats look anything but "grim". Grim would be Auschwitz et al

[@bigbrowntau]

One of the things about Berlin is that it's always rebuilding. Every time you build there, it impacts the historical layer beneath, or removes a building that someone wants to preserve. Like the Fuehrerbunker, the old DDR parliament building was also controversial. Demolish it? Preserve it? Always a hard decision. Thank you for another great video!

[@skypilot257]

I was stationed in Berlin 87-90. Watched the demolition.

[@juslangley]

It really is a sad thing that this was destroyed. Yes, I understand the reasoning; officials didn't want it to be a "temple" to Nazism, but from a historical perspective, it's an utter tragedy.

[@JAG8691]

Justin E. L. I suspect that it is more likely to encourage a future growth in people admiring Hitler and the Nazis than if a museum demonstrating the horrors of the third reich had been opened to the public, after all the bunker is still there, it is an unofficial Nazi shrine.But what has been done cannot be undone we can only build for the future and educate the younger generations in the true history of the planet and hope that they don't repeat history,but knowing human nature I wouldn't bet on a conflict free world in the future.

[@thinman8621]

Look at 4:04 for clear picture of how much steel rebar the Germans put in there concrete. Holy Mackeral! It's no wonder the bunker was still intact after being bombed during the war. Awesome build quality.

[@powerslave6944]

Not to worry; Hitler’s ghost always appear every April 30th at the parking lot.

[@michaelbrown5838]

Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it.

[@sturmtruppe7071]

Still remember when my grandma told me she once stood infront of it in 1944 as a 12 year old girl. 1 week later she moved with her family to the land house near Lübeck. :D

[@georgschmidt2091]

Berlin in the 30s was beautiful compared to today.

[@ultramet]

I was just in Berlin and actually stumbled upon this site after eating at an Indian restaurant and then walking towards the Mall of Berlin. It’s indeed just a parking lot today. A tour guide was around there and told me in German that the actual site where Hitler was found dead , within the bunker, complex is now where a child’s playground is located (within that ugly DDR housing complex). I saw the playground as well. The ironies of history are fascinating.

[@pneulancer]

Since they destroyed this; shouldn't they also destroy every edifice that Stalin lived in or was built during his reign of terror?

[@notmenotme614]

“Grim workers housing” To rent a flat like that would cost you a fortune in London!

[@muddshshshark]

Drink every time he says "Bunker"

[@JohnSmith-kz8yo]

I'll drink to that!

[@bomber2518]

They can erase buildings and land marks but you can’t erase people’s memories

[@shauntaylor6040]

The walls are still intact but the roof was taken off and the rooms filled in with rubble. Detectors can still pick up the iron rods that reinforced the concrete.

[@justonemori]

Holy moly that's the motherload of rebar.

[@crafter170]

Was there in 1990 chipping bits off of the Berlin wall ...The west was bright and colourful When you stepped back through the hole in the wall the East looked like it was painted with drab grey and black paint ....funnily enough the eastern bloc women were always dressed immaculately. Very clean and pretty especially when you ventured to Czechoslovakia. The further east you went the more beautiful they looked .Anyway thanks for another fantastic vid .Brilliant.

[@rare6499]

Great video, some interesting pictures a couple of which were new to me. I always find it amazing how relatively quickly a site can change so dramatically. The new Chancellery was an amazing building, I would have loved to have seen it.

[@joerusso7683]

Thanks Mr Felton. It's awesome that I can find your great documentaries like this on KZbin and actually learn something, especially when all we get here in the U.S. the same old recycled shows on AHC and THC. You deserve more exposure. Thank you.

[@ringbimmer]

Destroying all those historical buildings. Damn!

[@megakev321]

Why would they demolish such an interesting historical artifact? They could have made it into a museum or something.

[@mrhaltstop2294]

Hopefully the eagle's nest in Berchtesgaden is preserved...they wanted to destroy it as well Destroying monuments and buildings is destroying History...even if they belong to a terror regime

[@richardsmith2879]

Those “grim” houses looked quite smart I thought. Look at British social housing of the period...

[@titansofsteel3896]

Just saw the documentary on Hitler's train. I enjoyed your observations on it.

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

Thanks - it was a well made production

[@hansgruber650]

@@MarkFeltonProductions Yes, saw it again recently, good stuff.

[@blazeaglory]

Its just amazing and creepy how things have changed. From immaculate and sure to broken and illusive.

[@segerton65]

As always great research and photographic evidence mark Felton.

[@scotthopkins7711]

Shame it was looted and destroyed.

[@DavBlc7]

Not shame cos revenge for Germans looted and destroyed Russian homes plus killing many civilians. That's why they want to wipe out any Nazi symbols.

[@Hasse479]

David Black How many russian civilians were killed by the germans, and how many was killed by the communist bolscheviks? I think you will find the russians real enemy in the statistics. The ukranians remember holodomor and saw the germans as liberators. Same with the balts.

[@rnrailproductions5049]

stenen sture same with Native peoples in the caucus, especially the religious Islamic And Orthodox Christians.

[@Cortesevasive]

@@Janibek35 It sort of does mate

[@paolopapolli6002]

LUL POOR FUHRER HIS BUNKER DESTROYED I CRY FOR THIS THING EVERY NIGHT DAMN

[@alexschneider915]

Thank you mark For upload all the video about ww2 It really was really helpful and entertaining

[@alanhaynes418]

I remember extensively exploring this area after the wall came down, but before much in the way of demolition had taken place. I also used to sneak into no-mans land between the walls with a German friend through gaps on the western side which he had discovered. One time, when we returned to our entrance gap, there was an East German work team, complete with armed guard, fixing the hole. Luckily we managed to nip past them, because they were so shocked to see us approaching from behind them.

[@USER351]

I have been to that site twice and do not think those apartment buildings look rather “grim”. Much nicer than what I have seen in the U.K.

[@jbacon1966]

uk must be grim as shit

[@BlackfyreHD]

Would of been fascinating if they had preserved the bunker and turned it into some form of attraction. I would of loved to of gone inside when I visited Berlin.

[@webinator9715]

I would have loved it if you had learned proper grammar.

[@Neil-Aspinall]

Mark I have been to the present day bunker site. You do get a real sense of history being there.

[@rokadaprliinnysystemyaczno4761]

And of course it was just a coincidence that the bunker was fully destroyed on the eve of 1989 ;)

[@rupertbaxter2274]

...desperately trying to erase and forget the lessons of history.

[@secretm.5896]

Which is wrong. Germany should live with it's past instead of trying to forget it. No one alive now, except some dying soldiers were there at that time and shooud feel guilty anyway. So whats the problem.

[@oooSturmgeistooo]

Belive me...germany learned its lesson and is far away from "erasing and forgetting"....

[@thanosthethiccfarmer1850]

if Germany does attempt another major war they might just get dropped kicked again like he last two times

[@charlestorruella6140]

@@thanosthethiccfarmer1850 ya like the last 2 times where millons of poeple died ya we kick the shit out if them allright right after the destroyed mist if Europe.

[@batman-cw2hd]

That cowardly shameless bastard Hitler was afraid of facing a trial, facing the German people, and taking responsibility for his crimes against humanity, so he put a bullet in his head that was a easier way out.

[@bbenjoe]

The complex should've been protected as a museum of some sort.

[@eyesofisabelofficial]

Wow, I was there in the May of 1988 and took a similar photo to the one showing the grassy mound from a viewing platform erected by the US army in the american sector.

[@Whitpusmc]

The problem is that destroying these symbols of evil allows modern society to pretend it never happened or that it’s evil deeds were overstated.

[@Xfire209]

You have clearly never been to Germany and have no idea how much they publish newspaper articles, books etc. on that subject. Or how often it is talked about in school. So relax and stop worrying about some pieces of bombed out rubble.

[@kspfan001]

thats what the concentration camp preservation is for. this bunker would just be a neonazi shrine.

[@paintbox9899]

Thanks for excellent breakdown, amazing whats underneath all our cities!

[@jackpinesavage1628]

It's amazing, Mr. Felton, that you allow comments in the videos you post. I should try to not scroll down to read them after I watch your videos to avoid becoming very angry. Yes sir, that's what I'm going to do from now on.

[@davenmac732]

always well done your narration is the same as if i were watching the history channel

[@wolfthequarrelsome504]

Next . Let's destroy the Churchill bunker.

[@mayamanign]

How can I not give a thumbs up to a man who has a King Tiger as his commuter car.

[@volvo1354]

interesting piece, nicely put together

[@anthonyartusa7425]

It really is a shame that the bunkers were destroyed, it would really cool to tour the bunkers.

[@tomg3818]

Great video. Very informative. Left a like 👍

[@sotisthethird5377]

I was at that "bunker" 5 weeks ago. and it's just sad what they did to it..

[@robvernon3124]

Enjoyed watching..thankyou

[@DCDi34]

Such beautiful buildings compared to what's there today.

[@kenboon1478]

The bunkers along with the Reich's chancellory should have been preserved!

[@DavBlc7]

Not think so, The Allies and the Russians decided to wipe out any Nazi symbols close to Hitler. All building that Hitler live in during his leadership were wiped out so and not to became memorials to Hitler for his followers. They failed to destroy the underground bunkers because it was decided it was not safe blowing it up as it was close to buildings around the site filled with people so they had to cover it with soil and grass.

[@magnusgreel275]

@@DavBlc7 I agree. I don't like the Soviets, but they made the right decision destroying that stuff. It's awesome that they literally paved over it with a parking lot! The final backhand against the Nazis. The third Reich, with all the killing, torture, pain and war... And what have they got to show for it? A parking lot and a sign. Well done, hope it was all worth it, fools.

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

sean sims And make it a pilgrimage site for Nazis? No.

[@batman-cw2hd]

That cowardly shameless bastard Hitler was afraid of facing a trial, facing the German people, and taking responsibility for his crimes against humanity, so he put a bullet in his head that was a easier way out.

[@MayhemicMAD]

While I absolutely agree with you, there is in fact one location left intact and turned into a museum. The eagles nest on the Obersalzberg.

[@richardlawson4317]

Rather grim workers' housing?? They look fine to me. Rentals nowadays in most large cities are beyond the pay scale of most people. I would gladly rent an apartment there!!

[@sharyncarr4279]

Except for one problem, the buildings are filled with asbestos and the German government has a serious concern as to what to do with them.

[@folkestender2025]

They are not grim workers houses, they are normal modern 80th Style apartment blocks at this area. I know more ugly houses. upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Berlin_2011_location_of_Führerbunker.jpg

[@Thepriest39]

The Germans knew how to build some tuff shit. Experts in re-enforced concrete.

[@AlphaChinoz]

omfg someone was clearly try to reaching out of collapse building at 1:15 .! death caughted on photography

[@Naturelover12184]

I'm gonna build again

[@louisbeerreviews8964]

Jack lord no you can’t not

[@nicholass3964]

Great minidocumentary

[@royrached6668]

McDonald's: where u want us to deliver....hmmm the same apartment of the old Fuher bunker area plz ... :P

[@global001]

what would've been good here is if you'd shown plans & photos of the interior to bring more life to you other great images

[@anthonywalsh7613]

I actually went & saw this in 1988 from a platform from west Berlin

[@one4allall4one91]

If this could had waited 4 more years the bunker would have been saved. 4 short years later the soviet union dissolved.

[@timheersma4708]

There were photos taken by a brave soul that snuck in during demolition,/construction. There was not much left worth seeing.

[@sirbadassstudios]

So is the bunker still there buried under the ground and rooms still under the building being inaccessible?

[@robertsmith5744]

There is a sign marking this spot, use google maps and across the street to the south of the US embassy is the parking lot and the sign.

[@rnrailproductions5049]

It would’ve been great to build some entrance or whatever and restore the bunker for historical purposes.

[@ecthelion1735]

What a tragedy.

[@Horizon344]

Excellent research

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

Thanks

[@MilesBader]

"for these rather grim east german houses" ... Hmmm? They look pretty nice to me... (dunno what the interior is like, of course)

[@jimmcrae1258]

I drove past the car park in a tour bus last year , if you're not told what it was you would be oblivious and the irony is it is only just down the road from the Holocaust memorial.

[@RoseSharon7777]

I'd like to know when they were built and are there any pics of that?

[@KarlfMjolnir]

I believe he said 1935 for the older part and 1942 for the newerbunker? Or did you mean the buildings?

[@noneofyourbusiness2107]

its such a good piece of history

[@martijnquaedvlieg9828]

Interesting to see that there is a VW T3 Transporter in DDR use on 3:35. I knew some of those were exported to the DDR, but they were vastly expensive there.

[@tommygun6028]

Great video 😎👍🤝

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

Thanks

[@BHuang92]

I went to the site of the Fuhrerbunker and felt some very bad vibes to the area. The tour guide was explaining the history behind it while I was taking pictures and noticed the sky getting darker. As the tour guide finished, it started pouring immediately.

[@zillsburyy1]

Cool video

[@jamesdavidson7604]

They should buy the parking lot, excavate the site, rebuild it as best as possible and make it a museum

[@tomcatsherman6360]

0:01 royal tiger from Lagleize , Belgieum

[@mattezhackblip]

You can't bury history.

[@andrewpante6047]

Drink every time he says Furhrer bunker !

[@klaus3794]

At 4:41: on the right hand side you see the blue big sign explaining the bunker system. Some people told me their is sigh - apparently they are wrong.

[@opoxious1592]

I would love to add that "Reichs Kanzlei" sign to my collection. I wonder if it would have survived post-war Germany

[@rabot8837]

Looks like Detroit :)

[@JohnDoe-pv2iu]

Soviet era 'houses', an appointment building. Probably should refer to them as 'housing'. Great Video.

[@TomMoose]

Always appreciate your vids. Not sure I concur with “rather grim East German houses” description. These were prime real estate and not the low level construction you find in other less wealthy parts of former East Berlin. Also would prob be nice to mention that the Holocaust museum and memorial are practically across the street, wich is a nice up yours to the nazi regime.

[@Keln02]

How big was the darn thing?

[@joeblogs8204]

grim east german workers houses? ook what they are buiding in the UK and charging us a a fortune !

[@Mr-Damage]

I reckon just one brick from the bunker would be worth a bit

[@apolloroma6783]

such history , didn't they realize this could have been a tourist site like the Roman forum is today... so much revenue could have been made for the city ,now Rubble

[@Arkeze]

The end of WW2 depresses the shit out of me, it’s the end of the greatest conflict in world history that will never happen again. I sometimes wish 1939-1945 would go on forever in a time loop. I know everyone who fought and suffered would probably want to punch my teeth down my throat for that, well except for Churchill lol that ol boy loved the war and was the high point of his entire life and saved his name from failure and obscurity. The way everyone dressed, how the cars looked, buildings looked, a time when people like Hitler and Stalin, Mussolini, Churchill, FDR, and Emperor Hirohito existed. It’s a world that not even the greatest fiction writers could conjure up and is like something straight out of a George Orwell movie but it’s real and it happened. Now we live in a time where everyone is on their iPhone and kids eat tide pods and play with fidget spinners and school shootings are a thing. It’s quite strange that a time period that was absolute hell on earth for millions and millions of people is my happy place. No matter what bad is happening in the world or to me, alls I got to do is turn on a ww2 documentary or open up a WW2 book and transport myself inside a B29 over Germany, or in a submarine In the Atlantic or a spy in occupied France and all is right in the world.

[@bryggreen77]

Cody Columbia I dig what you said. Agree with a lot of it.

[@bhishakhakim9357]

I always knew I wasn't the only one!

[@jimtalbott9535]

Destroying this is unfortunate, but also understandable - they didn’t want a “place of worship” for Neo-Nazis. A far bigger travesty was the destruction of Koenigsberg Castle in the 60s. “We want no reminders of Prussian Militarism.” Brezhnev said - as if that would have changed anything.

[@jaywilliams9294]

Just imagine if you live right next to where Hitler killed himself

[@McRocket]

Grim and interesting.

[@terencehayes9840]

Great video

[@pheasantpluckersson2138]

Whilhelmstrasse looks a lot better these days, new buildings, trees and walkways

[@jeffkardosjr.3825]

What's "grim" about those houses?

[@Sol_Invictus_]

Wow even Master Hand was in on the destruction

[@tommo258]

Contrary to many comments here, I believe they were just in removing the bunker. Certainly it is a tragedy to lose this monument of incredible historical significance, but the potential for it to become a shrine to Nazism and a Mecca for Neo-Nazi's is enough to warrant the removal. It is good that the site is marked so it is not erased from history, though any shrine has been removed which I feel is just. I am British for those curious.

[@valothebrute4028]

yeah shame that the russians didnt do a better job at blowing it up

[@Rickertsred]

As unpleasant as somethings are, they need to be preserved. Not to glorify them, but to serve as a warning. You can't just wipe it away and pretend it didn't happen.