After the end of the Second World War and the dropping of two atomic bombs on Japan, the nuclear arms race was to become a defining feature of the Cold War. How was the population to be protected from this threat?

The building of atomic bunkers was one of the solutions. The nuclear bunker under the central train station of Nuremberg is one such facility. It was intended to protect some of the city’s inhabitants and primarily travellers from an acute threat. The bunker was also designed to shield against biological and chemical attacks.

Since the end of the Second World War, special emphasis has been placed on developing civilian protection. The nature of the new threat, especially the risk of nuclear warfare, led to a rethinking of how to protect the civilian population. Numerous exhibits illustrate the means envisaged to confront the dangers.

How can we imagine the destructive force of nuclear weapons? How influential were the first atomic bombs compared to modern nuclear warheads? A computer simulation gives you an idea of the ominous development of the nuclear weapons arsenal.

Experience what life would have been like in the bunker. Lie down on a pallet or sit as you imagine how you would have felt cooped up with several hundred people. The detailed description and meeting point are at www.unterwelten-nuernberg.de.