Soviet Bunkers

Rules and agreements developed over the years help to partially defuse potential flash points along the East - West German border.  Members of the US Army, unless they were part of the border surveillance mission, were prohibited from being within one kilometer of the border.  The Bundeswehr was also prohibited from this region.  In East Germany, the Volks Armee, the regular military, and the Soviet Army likewise were not allowed  into the 1 kilometer zone. 

 

The Soviets maintained their own visual observation system along the border region through a series of bunkers  almost always set  behind the Hinterland / Signal fence.  They were located at points which could observe avenues of approach across the border as well as other areas of interest  in the border area.  Soviet troops from Meiningen, or higher levels of the Russian command from the cities of Erfurt and Gera, would occupy select bunkers during NATO / US maneuvers to observe. 

 

The bunkers themselves were unremarkable, however, they usually were located near a screening terrain feature which could hide a parking area and support building.  In the Eaglehorse sector, Russian observation bunkers were located (from North to South) by the towns of :  Melpers, Schwickershausen and Gompertshausen.

The Soviet bunker can be seen just above the added graphic blue line by the town of Melpers.   --Ritter


By the town of Schwickershausen,  just above the hack marks on the graphic blue line, the Soviet bunker may be seen.    --Ritter

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