U-Boot-Bunker Hornisse

The origins of the Hornisse bunker date back to 1939, when the large shipyard AG Weser received an order for two battleships as part of the rearmament of the Kriegsmarine. Due to high capacity utilization and the demand for U-boats, the construction of a large building dock was decided. This was to be 370 meters long and 65 meters wide, but war-related influences and material shortages delayed the project. By the end of 1942, the building dock was approximately 95 percent complete when construction was halted. In mid-1944, it was decided to convert the unfinished building dock into a bomb-proof U-boat section bunker to secure the production of the new Type XXI U-boats. Construction began in spring 1944. A heavy air raid on March 30, 1945, damaged the bunker roof, and work ceased on April 6, 1945. At this point, the bunker was only about a quarter complete. Numerous forced laborers were used in the construction of the building dock and the bunker, many of whom suffered and died under inhumane conditions. After the war, the bunker was not demolished because the costs were too high. Instead, parts of the unfinished dock were converted into a harbor basin in the 1950s.

The U-Boat Bunker Hornisse is located in Bremen, in the Häfen district, on a peninsula called “Kap Horn” between the Weser River and the “Hafen A” canal of the industrial ports. It lies at approximately 12 m above sea level.

The bunker is partially preserved today and belongs to the company premises of Lexzau, Scharbau, which has its headquarters in an office building erected on the bunker roof. Visiting the bunker is not possible.

• Weyhausen Manor House (manor and estate house), approx. 6.1 km away
• Bremen Cathedral (sacred building), approx. 6.8 km away
• Ritterhude Castle (castle), approx. 7.4 km away
• Riensberg Manor House (manor and estate house), approx. 9.1 km away