While the world might seem quite peaceful currently, the violence of the past few centuries is undeniable. Evidence of this can be found even in North America, where abandoned missile silos and government bunkers, dating back to World War II, are still present. In Europe, the quantity of underground bunkers is almost inconceivable. From Switzerland to Paris, war remnants are scattered throughout the whole continent. Here are 25 incredible abandoned missile silos and nuclear bunkers.
Devil’s Slide Bunkers, California
Built in the 1930’s, this abandoned pillbox sticks out of the California coastline.
Greenbrier Bunker, West Virginia
Built under a luxury hotel, from 1959-1992 this bunker was ready to house all of Congress for up to several years if need be. At least until it was exposed by a news reporter.
Duga Radar, Ukraine
Called the “Steel Yard” by NATO countries, you can still find abandoned bunkers littered around this former Soviet radio base. You may want to be careful though, it’s really close to Chernobyl, so there are obvious radiation dangers.
Fort Ord, California
Until it was abandoned in 1992, it was one of the largest military facilities in the country.
Fort Tilden, New York
Found in Queens, this World War II era fortification had its guns aimed at the ocean with the intent of stopping an Axis invasion.
Balaklava Submarine Base, Crimea
This Black Sea base was one of the Soviet Union’s most top-secret bases during the Cold War. It consists of numerous tunnels dug into the surrounding mountains.
Barnton Quarry, Edinburgh, Scotland
This was the site of an underground bunker that coordinated the UK’s air defense in response to Soviet airspace intrusions during the 50’s.
Maunsell Sea Forts, North Sea
One of the most famous fortifications in the world, these sea fortifications off the coast of England were meant to protect the island from Nazi submarines.
Hitler’s Bunker...in Hollywood
We’re not even joking. In the 30’s, a US based Nazi group called the Silver Shirts built a bunker for Hitler thinking that one day he would come to the US. After World War II broke out, however, the Silver Shirts were all arrested and the bunker sits abandoned today.
Željava Air Base, Croatia
Back in the day this was one of the largest fortifications in Europe. Thanks to the wars in Yugoslavia, however, today it is a bunch of abandoned bunkers surrounded by land mines.
Stanley R. Mickelsen Safeguard Complex, North Dakota
You probably didn’t know there was a huge pyramid in the middle of North Dakota, did you? This enormous structure used to be part of a missile defense system called “Safeguard.”
Maginot Line, France
Built along the border with Germany, the Maginot Line was supposed to protect France from Germany (it failed). Today, its name has become synonymous with expensive efforts that give a false sense of security.
Alvira, Pennsylvania
What had once been a lively town was bought by the US government and turned into a munitions factory during World War II. The plan wasn’t exactly a success, but a lot of the infrastructure had already been built so it was left as is. Today, you can fill your abandoned-bunker-appetite here!
Flak Towers, Germany and Austria
These massive anti-aircraft structures were built by the Nazis. Today, some of them sit right where they were built as city residents go about their day on the surrounding streets.
Gare de l'Est, Paris
Deep under Gare de l’Est (one of France’s busiest rail stations) is an abandoned bunker that was originally designed by the French to be an air raid shelter. It was then used by the Germans, but its exact purpose has never been discovered.
Johnston Atoll, United States
Located in the middle of the Pacific, it used to be an airbase, then it was a nuclear testing ground. Today it is administered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
Diefenbunker, Canada
This was Canada’s answer to the Cold War. In 1958, Prime Minister John Diefenbaker ordered a bunker to be built that would allow the country to continue functioning in case of a nuclear emergency.
Saint Nazaire Submarine Base, France
This U-boat bunker built by the Nazis was just one of many that they constructed along the coast of France.
Martin Marietta SM-68A-HGM-25A Titan I, Colorado
While the name might not be very catchy, this nuclear silo near Dear Trail, Colorado is significant in that it held the first multi-stage ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) for the US military.
RAF Hethel, England
This abandoned British air force station is now the home of Lotus Cars.
Cape May, New Jersey
You can find the remains of a hollowed out World War II bunker right here on the beach. It’s true, we were slightly worried that the Nazis might reach America’s shores.
Normandy, France
Left over from the battles surrounding D-Day, some of these bunkers are still surrounded by pocked Earth.
Switzerland
Switzerland’s defense system is borderline legendary. Throughout both World Wars this small alpine country remained an island of neutrality. Part of its strategy was to build what it called the “National Redoubt.” Basically, it was a huge network of bunkers built into the Alps. They’re still there today.
Vogelsang Missile Base, Germany
This was one of the Soviet Union’s main storage facilities for its westward-pointing nuclear arsenal. The base was so well hidden in the east German forest that parts of it are still being found today.
Albania
The entire country is scattered with former military bunkers that are left over from the dictatorial regime of Enver Hoxha. They were the result of Hoxha’s extreme paranoia.
Note: his paranoia was partially justified because he was enemies with everybody (both sides during the Cold War).
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Featured Image: https://pixabay.com (public domain), 25. Lawrence Lansing, Bunker at devils slide california, CC BY 3.0, 24. Bobak Ha’Eri, 2008-0831-TheGreenbrier-North, CC BY 3.0, 23. Ingmar Runge, DUGA Radar Array near Chernobyl, Ukraine 2014, CC BY 3.0, 22. McGhiever, Fort Ord Dunes 2013, CC BY-SA 3.0, 21. commons.wikimedia.org (public domain), 20. BUSHA, Вход на Объект 825 ГТС, CC BY-SA 3.0, 19. Kim Traynor, Arthur’s Seat from Edinburgh Castle, CC BY-SA 3.0, 18. Russss, Redsandsforts, CC BY-SA 3.0, 17. Roto3’14, Adolf Hitler 45, CC BY-SA 4.0, 16. Ballota, Željava, Underground 2, CC BY-SA 4.0, 15. commons.wikimedia.org (public domain), 14. en.wikipedia.org (public domain), 13. User:Ruhrfisch, Susquehanna Ordnance Depot Bunker, CC BY-SA 3.0, 12. commons.wikimedia.org (public domain), 11. commons.wikimedia.org(public domain), 10. commons.wikimedia.org (public domain), 9. SamuelDuval, Diefenbunker Tunnel, CC BY-SA 3.0, 8. Rama, Saint Nazaire submarine base mg 7840, CC BY-SA 2.0, 7. en.wikipedia.org (public domain), 6. © Copyright Evelyn Simak and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence, 5. commons.wikimedia.org (public domain), 4. Frédéric Degives, Cratères à la pointe du Hoc, CC BY-SA 3.0, 3. Clément Dominik, Bunker-jaun, CC BY-SA 2.5, 2. Doris Antony, Berlin, Gleichen Vogelsang UTafel, CC BY-SA 4.0, 1. Elian Stefa, Gyler Mydyti, Albania triple bunker, CC BY-SA 3.0