Stalin’s Bunker
Between 1933 and 1939 the Soviets built a secret underground bunker complex at Izmailova, in the Eastern suburbs of Moscow, as a refuge from potential German air attacks. The bunkers are connected by a 15km tunnel to central Moscow, with various side connections into the metro network. The complex was abandoned in 1949, as it was far too shallow to resist nuclear weapons. It fell into disrepair and then after 1991, the Stalin Bunker section was restored and opened as a museum. Although it was built for Stalin, he never actually used it as his main base. Moscow’s Stalin Bunker is palatial, with faux marble columns, a large domed conference room which as impressive acoustics, and a paneled private office.
