BunkerArchive - Mapping History, One Bunker at a Time
History is embedded in concrete and steel, hidden in forests, buried beneath the landscape, scattered
across the dunes, and sometimes visible in plain sight. BunkerArchive was founded in 2020 to document
and preserve these remnants of military history, but the fascination with military fortifications behind
the project began long before the archive itself. Today, BunkerArchive is a platform that
reconstructs historical fortifications from original archival maps, technical drawings, aerial
photography, field research, and modern surveying techniques. Since 2020, we have documented more than
30,000 individual locations, with hundreds more added every month.
Rather than simply mapping surviving bunkers, we document individual defensive works and place them
within the wider defensive systems of which they were once a part, from MG positions and gun
emplacements to Regelbau bunkers,
observation posts, armoured positions, and other fortifications. By connecting these sites to their
original defensive positions and historical context, BunkerArchive is building a comprehensive and
accessible digital record of the fortifications that shaped the landscape.
BunkerArchive was developed by Mees van
der Wijk, who has spent years researching archival material, digitizing records, and
building the platform. While it started as a solo project, it has grown into a collaborative
platform where others can contribute new locations, photographs, knowledge, research, and
discoveries to help expand and enrich the archive.
How BunkerArchive Works
BunkerArchive aims to move beyond a simple collection of locations and build a structured,
research-driven historical record of military fortifications. Each site is placed within its broader
defensive system and enriched with multiple layers of contextual data, ensuring that fortifications
are not only documented, but understood within their historical and operational framework.
BunkerArchive combines multiple sources and methods to document and reconstruct these
fortifications:
Defensive Positions
Fortifications are organized within their original defensive structures and military hierarchies,
recreating how these systems functioned historically rather than presenting isolated locations.
Digitized Archive Maps
Historic military maps are digitally restored and integrated into the platform. Many maps are
already available as fully georeferenced overlays on the interactive map, while others remain
available in their original archival form and can be freely requested for georeferencing.
Aerial Reconnaissance Photography
WWII-era aerial reconnaissance imagery provides insight into how fortifications and defensive
systems appeared during active operation, helping verify locations and analyze historical
landscapes.
Field Photography
Original field photography documents the current condition of fortifications and military remains,
capturing details that are often absent from archival sources.
3D LiDAR Scans
High-resolution 3D LiDAR scans preserve structures in precise digital form, enabling detailed
documentation and long-term preservation of fortifications and underground structures.
Building a Collaborative Archive
BunkerArchive is a collaborative platform for researching,
documenting, and preserving military heritage. Users can contribute directly to the archive by
submitting new locations, adding photographs, sharing historical information, uploading
documentation, and expanding existing records. Contributions can be made to individual locations,
defensive positions, construction types, and other parts of the archive, helping to build a more
complete and detailed record over time.
Contributions to BunkerArchive are currently available to registered users only, and accounts are
provided on request rather than through open registration. If you are a researcher, have historical
material or knowledge to contribute, or would like to become actively involved in the project,
please get in touch to request an account. We are also always interested in
feedback, ideas, suggestions, and help with improving the platform itself.
Preservation and Responsible Access
BunkerArchive is committed to documenting and preserving military heritage while respecting the
places and communities in which these remains are found. Many defensive positions are located on
protected land, private property, or in areas where access is restricted. For this reason, precise
coordinates and access information for individual locations may be limited.
Responsible access is an important part of preserving these sites for the future. Abandoned
fortifications can be fragile, unstable, or hazardous, and increased attention can also expose them
to vandalism, theft, graffiti, and other forms of damage. We therefore encourage everyone to respect
property rights, protected areas, local regulations, and the historical structures themselves.
Researchers and individuals with a genuine interest in documenting and preserving military heritage
are welcome to get in touch. Access to additional information may be possible
for legitimate research, documentation, or preservation purposes.
