Climbing in the secret: the bunker coral between Lanke and Lobetal

Climbing in the secret: the bunker coral between Lanke and Lobetal

im Barnim, between Lanke and Lobetal, is the "Koralle" bunker, a popular meeting place for sports climbers. This bunker has an eventful history that goes deep into the time of the GDR and the Second World War. The bunker, which was blown up during the GDR period, today houses two ruins: the so-called "column bunker" and the "climbing bunker". The bunker originally served as the military base of the Navy and was put into operation as the management site of the navy in 1943. The explosion by the Soviet Union was temporary and contributed to the good preservation of the underground bunker system, which is now blocked, as rbb24 reported.

The climber Thomas Meier discovered the "column bunker" in the 1990s and used it for his training. Today, many climbers are involved in the bunker and take care of route construction and renovation measures on their own initiative. Room removal is also part of your tasks, since access to the underground system is no longer possible. Some climbing routes have been adapted for sport, and new routes are constantly being created that are included in the Berlin-Brandenburg climbing guide. In the 1980s, climbers had already used rudimentary backup systems, with the famous three-point rule being used to avoid falls. Fortunately, no fatal falls are documented.

The historical dimension of the site

The area around the bunker was once part of the Hoffnsthaler institutions. A “news school” was originally planned on 50 hectares, but instead the “Koralle camp” was created, which had 50 rooms on two floors and offered space for up to 750 people. Between 1943 and 1945, this camp was the leadership center of the High Command of the Navy. The ruins of this facility are still visible today, and after the Second World War they suffered several destruction by Soviet troops, such as Barnim discovery.

On a walk through the forests, you discover more bunkers, including a small one who is known as the "Spörgelhof". This community plant has been running solidarity since 2014 and brings a natural contrast to the military legacy of the site. The path to the Spörgelhof leads through a forest in which numerous bunkers were discovered, including the remains of parties with empty beer bottles and dishes. You can also find abandoned bunkers with a variety of stories and secrets that very differentiate history.

bunker systems preserved in Germany

The bunker system in Barnim is only one of many that have been preserved in Germany from the time of the Second World War. According to [National Geographic] (https://www.nationalgeographic.de/photography/2023/10/galerie-historisches-bunkeranlagen-in-Deutschland) there are several such systems that have been exposed over the decades, while some can also be visited. The historical relevance of these bunker systems is evident in their attraction for those interested in history and adventurers alike.