A furious row has broken out in Berlin over government plans to demolish a sprawling Nazi-era bunker. Critics are calling the move ‘absolute madness’ and a betrayal of historical memory.
The bunker, a hulking concrete structure in the heart of the city, was built by the Nazis as a communications centre. It later served as a Soviet prison and a storage facility for exotic fruits after the war. Now, the German government wants it gone to make way for luxury apartments.
But a coalition of historians, architects, and local activists is fighting back. They argue the bunker is a vital piece of history that should be preserved as a memorial. ‘You cannot just erase the past,’ said Dr. Hannelore Schmidt, a leading historian. ‘This is where orders were sent that led to the deaths of millions. Tearing it down is an act of historical vandalism.’
The plan has also exposed deep divisions within the ruling coalition. Sources close to the interior ministry say the chancellor is ‘furious’ about the leak of the demolition order. ‘This has come out of nowhere,’ one insider told me. ‘Nobody was consulted. It’s a complete mess.’
Opposition parties are scenting blood. The far-right AfD has seized on the row to accuse the government of ‘whitewashing history’. Meanwhile, the Greens are split between their anti-fascist credentials and their desire for more housing.
What makes this particularly toxic is the timing. Germany is already embroiled in a bitter debate over its historical identity. The rise of the far right, the legacy of the Holocaust, and the pressure of immigration have all collided. The bunker has become a symbol of that clash.
Local residents are also divided. Some see the bunker as an eyesore, a grim reminder of a dark past they want to leave behind. Others fear the loss of a tangible link to history. ‘My grandfather fought against the Nazis,’ said Klaus Weber, who lives next door. ‘If we destroy their bunkers, we forget what they were fighting for.’
The government is now scrambling to contain the damage. A spokesperson told me the demolition order was ‘premature’ and that a public consultation would be held. But the damage is done. The row has exposed the raw nerves underlying Germany’s relationship with its past.
For now, the bunker remains. But the battle over its future is only just beginning. And it’s a battle that goes far beyond bricks and mortar. It’s a fight about what Germany wants to be.
