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All Germany Z-Hiag Former Chemical Plant
AO Edited

Z-Hiag Former Chemical Plant

Hidden in the forest are the remains of a former World War II chemical plant.

Altenmünster, Germany

Added By
Michael
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Former bunker gates.   Auxburg / Atlas Obscura User
Former bunker gates.   Auxburg / Atlas Obscura User
Former water tower.   Auxburg / Atlas Obscura User
Former water tower.   Auxburg / Atlas Obscura User
Former methanol bunker.   Auxburg / Atlas Obscura User
Former methanol bunker.   Auxburg / Atlas Obscura User
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About

In 1938, approximately 98 acres of this forest were dispossessed from the adjacent community by Nazi Germany to erect a secret chemical plant. All the buildings were scattered across the site to hide them from adversarial air reconnaissance. Most of the construction was done by forced labor. The German army used the area to produce and create enormous stockpiles of several chemical weapon munitions such as Tabun. 

Besides the unnumbered machine houses, there were also two air raid shelters, several pump houses, a water tower, a pumping system, and a sewage treatment plant to clear the chemicals. 

Some of the buildings are fenced off on private property today. Visitors to the site can still see the remains of two large bunkers in which methanol was stored.

After World War II, the site was first occupied by the United States Army, served later as a refugee camp, and then as a depository for hazardous substances. Today, it is used as warehouses for private companies and a dog training area for the police. 

Related Tags

War History Military World War Ii

Know Before You Go

Information board: 48.496290, 10.631140. Methanol bunker: 48.494253, 10.632887Water tower: 48.495578, 10.640125 (fenced off, but can be seen from outside).Bunker gates: 48.496157, 10.639688 (fenced off, but can be seen from outside).

Community Contributors

Added By

Auxburg

Edited By

Monsieur Mictlan

  • Monsieur Mictlan

Published

November 3, 2021

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  • https://www.landkreis-augsburg.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Kultur/Infotafel_Hochbunker_Hegnenbach_PDF_web.pdf
Z-Hiag Former Chemical Plant
27 Lerchenberg
Altenmünster, 86450
Germany
48.496001, 10.641391
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