After exploring the command bunker and the corresponding airfield (well, at least part of the airfield), the only "main" part that was missing to get a mostly complete picture of the area was the fighter command.
It took me a little longer to research the location of this bunker. In the wider area around the airfield, there are some protective structures, such as the aforementioned command bunker as well as the two radio beacons. The fighter control center was of course of particular interest to us, so we started an intensive search while preparing for the tour.
Equipped with the presumed coordinates, getting close to the site wasn't too difficult. If you didn't know that the bunker is in this wooded and overgrown area, you wouldn't think that it was. Well camouflaged, the area is rather inconspicuous for the "layman". A short walk and the first signs appeared in the area: the exhaust pipe of the emergency power system suddenly appeared in the middle of the small forest.
Finding access didn't prove too difficult. The access building nestles against the "bunker hill" like a swallow's nest - but you can only see it when you're really close to it.
Inside, there were stairs, pretty steep and pretty far down. And typical Soviet bunker doors. Arriving on the lower level, we could see that another staircase led back up at the end of a corridor - the way to the second access, that was tightly sealed.
The air was surprisingly fresh down below, but we could still smell the slight smell of burning. In front of the actual main corridor into the protective building there is a small chamber branching off to the right, in which the pre-filter for the air purification was located. Unfortunately, this chamber is completely filled with trash.
The sanitary area is immediately to the right, almost in the first room in the main corridor on the right. Surprisingly enough, there weren't the typical Soviet toilets with a hole in the bottom, but porcelain seats with a real flush! Immediately next to it (also on the right side of the main corridor) are the rooms for the air filter system and the water supply.
On the left side of the corridor, we found the large situation and command room of the fighter command. Here, the air situation was shown as well as the current positions of Soviet air forces. From here, the interceptors were led to the target area - that was the task of those who were on duty here in the bunker.
Apparently, there had been a fire in the command and control room - the walls are covered with soot, the floor was greasy. The smell of fire was still in the air. Obviously, more than one party was held here. The command room is adjoined by two other rooms, which probably served as offices for the radio officers. Opposite these service rooms is the room with the cable entry, the remains of the message distribution system and the empty rooms of the message team.
At the end of the main corridor was the access to the emergency power system and the corresponding control room. The control room had a window to the engine room. We were surprised that the room for the emergency power system was in no way soundproofed and was only separated from the main hall by a steel door - after all, there was a fairly large diesel engine for the power supply - that must have been quite loud.
As you can see in the photos, the explore sounds much more spectacular than my report might suggest - after all, the bunker had been abandoned since 1994 - 25 years at the time of our visit. That's 25 years in which copper thieves, vandals and teenagers have had their way with it.
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