Hitler's Führerbunker Under Construction, September 1943

Coverage of Berlin on 6 September 1943 by a 542 Squadron Spitfire showed the city still unscathed by large-scale bombing. At the Reich Chancellery, Hitler's Führerbunker in the Chancellery garden was still under construction (Graphic 1 &2). The bunker was nearly finished, but remained uncovered within its excavation. A section of the roof for the main emergency exit was still open. The passageway to the larger Vorbunker (completed 1936), under a nearby building could also still be seen as could Old Chancellery and the New Chancellery. An entrance to and parking area under two barracks could also be seen.

The 6 September coverage showed other places of interest in the vicinity of the Chancellery, including the Brandenburg Gate, Gestapo Headquarters, the Reichstag and the United States Embassy (Graphic 3). Construction support buildings near the Reichstag may have been in use for repair of the building or to support major subway construction on the adjacent Konigsplaz (not shown). Evidence of subway construction could also be seen at other locations along the Unter den Linden. At the U.S. Embassy, the initials U.S.A. had been painted in two places on the roof of the embassy to identify its location (Graphic 4).