A bunker is a shelter.
Bunker is an English term that, in its original sense, referred to the coal deposit present on a ship. In the German language, the concept began to be used to name the place that provides protection against an attack .
This last meaning is what Spanish includes in the word bunker . We understand by bunker or bunker, therefore, a type of shelter or fortification that is used for defensive purposes.
For example: “The general believes that the enemies will reach our bunker in the next few days” , “Archaeologists were surprised to discover a hitherto unknown bunker beneath the center of Berlin” , “I will only leave the bunker when the danger has passed” .
Hitler's bunker
Bunkers are usually constructions made with very resistant materials . They are generally located in underground or hidden locations to minimize the possibility of bomb or missile impact.
Among the most famous bunkers in history, we must highlight what was called the Führerbunker , which was located under the city of Berlin and whose objective was to protect the high command of the Nazi government and army during World War II .
Adolf Hitler was the one behind the decision to launch that place, which was built about 9 meters deep, which interconnected with another called Vorbunker and which had spaces such as offices, conference rooms and even rooms or living rooms. of doctors.
What's more, in the last moments of said war, the Führer took refuge there on January 16, 1945 . There it was revealed that he married Eva Braun and later, when it was clear to him that the end of his power had come, he committed suicide in her company.
Currently that construction is closed and forgotten, located under what is now a plaza.
It is common for the bunker to be underground.
Refuge beyond a war
Although they are usually associated with the military (to be used in the middle of a war or in the face of an attack), a bunker can also be built and used by anyone in civil society. In this way, there are people who build bunkers in their homes to protect themselves from possible environmental catastrophes or even a possible nuclear tragedy .
This would be the case, for example, of the American actor Tom Cruise . And it has been made known that he has decided to build one in his house in order to protect himself from the end of the world. Specifically, he did it under his mansion in Beverly Hills , possibly influenced by the religion he professes: Scientology .
And in addition, the ecclesiastical institution that supports that one, which some consider a sect, has also created several bunkers in different remote corners of the big cities and in the middle of nature.
Construction of a bunker
Hiring a company specialized in the construction of bunkers capable of withstanding nuclear disasters not only requires an economic investment that is impossible for most pockets, but also entails a series of legal issues that not everyone can face. But there are many people who choose a simpler path, although not always as effective: building their own bunker.
First of all, it is necessary to identify the type of problem we want to combat by building a bunker: it is important to note that homemade options cannot offer us the degree of protection of a high-tech military bunker, but they are useful against certain catastrophes. natural and human attacks.
One of the first alternatives to the industrial bunker is to improvise one with already built elements , such as a warehouse or a parking lot. There are various ways to reinforce these spaces, such as through the use of wooden planks, bags of earth, steel beams and double walls; It is not only economically accessible but also takes advantage of easily available structures and materials.
Another very popular option is the corrugated steel bunker, a material used in civil works to manufacture safe structures. It can be obtained in sheets or bars, and is capable of absorbing the impact of a vehicle. Its use became popular in World War II ; In London , for example, the well-known Anderson Shelter (built with this same material) was distributed free of charge to protect the population, and saved the lives of thousands of people.
The marine containers commonly seen in ports are also a relatively inexpensive solution to having a sturdy structure when building a bunker. They can be found at a good second-hand price and are easy to transport and modify; For example, many transform them so that they can connect with other containers. A common practice in this case is to bury the bunker, either covering it and creating an access or leaving its roof at ground level.
symbolic use of the notion
Other uses of the notion of bunker are more symbolic and refer to the space where the members of a political party or other type of organization meet .
“The socialist candidate will wait for the results of the elections in his party's bunker” and “The militants gathered at the door of the Liberal Party bunker to celebrate the victory” are expressions that show this use.