Bunkers in Staatswald

In the 1950s during the Cold War, American forces constructed 28 above-ground bunkers throughout the Bunkerwald state forest. They were used as ammunition and supplies depots.

Around 60 workers were employed to build the bunkers. Initially, concrete was mixed at the base camp and laboriously transported to the construction site. Later, a concrete mixing plant was set up at the site and concrete was pumped through long pipes into the formwork walls of the bunkers.

After completion, the bunkers were immediately covered with bushes and trees to remain camouflaged from aerial reconnaissance. Since the bunkers were fenced in, they also remained hidden from the public. However, there was heavy military traffic through the area that put a strain on Waldstetten at night.

After American forces withdrew from Schwäbisch Gmünd, the bunkers were left abandoned. 

Nuclear warheads or rockets were never stored inside these bunkers, however, there were rumors of massive weaponry being housed at the facility. Today, the bunkers can be easily visited and were repurposed for various bat species.