Dr Klovekorn's SS Guard Post Bunker #wwiihistory #bunker

DR KLOVEKORN, THE RELIC HUNTER Hidden among the forests of the Obersalzberg, just off the old Pürschellerstraße, stands one of the rarest surviving relics of Hitler's mountain fortress. This small concrete SS guard post bunker was built to protect SS sentries stationed around the perimeter of the Führer Zone. While the grand buildings of the Obersalzberg have largely vanished, these small defensive positions once formed part of an extensive security network guarding the most heavily protected political enclave in Nazi Germany. Today, very few remain. Armed with safety equipment and a four-gas monitor, I'm going inside. The entrance is narrow, and immediately the atmosphere feels different. The concrete walls close in around me as I descend into a space that, eighty years ago, may have sheltered SS guards during Allied air raids. Straight away my gas monitor is alarming. Normal atmospheric oxygen is about 20.9%, and anything below 19.5% is considered oxygen deficient. I'm also getting a carbon monoxide warning. People often think carbon monoxide is heavier than air, but it's actually slightly lighter. However, temperature differences between the warm outside air and the cooler air inside a bunker can draw contaminated air, including vehicle exhaust, into underground spaces. As I move deeper inside, the readings continue to worsen. The bunker itself is remarkably intact. The original concrete shell survives, largely untouched by the decades. Standing here, it is easy to imagine the guards who once occupied this tiny position, watching over the roads and forests leading towards Hitler's mountain retreat. But history is not worth risking your life for. With oxygen levels falling and carbon monoxide readings increasing, it becomes clear that remaining inside is no longer safe. Reluctantly, I turn back towards the entrance and fresh air. Even so, this has been an extraordinary discovery. Few visitors to the Obersalzberg ever see one of these surviving guard bunkers, and fewer still step inside. Small, forgotten and hidden amongst the trees, this rare survivor offers a remarkable glimpse into the vast security system that once protected the heart of the Third Reich. I'm Dr Klovekorn, The Relic Hunter, and today we've uncovered one more forgotten piece of history.