Notice
This is not an official website of the Federal Republic of Germany.
All information is provided without guarantee.
Use at your own risk.
Schutzraum helps people in Germany find potential shelters nearby. Whether it's a bunker, subway station, or underground garage — this map provides an overview of places that could offer protection in an emergency. It does not replace official emergency planning and is not a recommendation for action.
The shelters listed on this platform do not provide guaranteed or complete protection. The actual level of protection varies significantly — from massive concrete bunkers to simple basement rooms. No shelter can guarantee absolute safety. In an emergency, each person must assess which location is safest to reach. This map is an information resource, not a guarantee of protection.
Germany currently has no active public shelter program. The Federal Republic discontinued its civil shelter program after the end of the Cold War. Most bunkers listed on this platform date back to World War II or the post-war era and have since been decommissioned, repurposed, or are no longer maintained. Their structural condition is often unknown or poor. They are typically not equipped for occupation (no water, ventilation, or power supply). Whether and how these structures could be used in an emergency is unclear.
Since there are hardly any active bunkers, this platform also lists other underground or solidly built locations such as underground garages, subway stations, and tunnels. While these offer some protection from debris and blast waves, they are not designed as shelters and have corresponding limitations. In an emergency, however, they may be the safest reachable option.
This platform does not replace official instructions. In an emergency, follow the instructions of the responsible authorities (e.g., Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance, local disaster management authorities). Stay informed through the NINA warning app and follow official emergency preparedness recommendations.
In an emergency, these official resources should be your first point of contact:
Schutzraum offers a free REST API for developers and researchers. With the API, you can integrate shelter data into your own applications, perform analyses, or create custom visualizations.
API Documentation
Endpoints, parameters, and examples for the Schutzraum API
Currently, there is no official map or database from German authorities that shows citizens where shelters are located. We want to fill this gap. Schutzraum was created to give people a quick overview of potential shelter locations nearby — so that no valuable time is lost searching in an emergency. Even though no shelter can guarantee perfect protection, knowing about available options is an important first step.
The data on this platform comes from various publicly available sources, including official publications, OpenStreetMap, media reports, and community research. The information is compiled to the best of our knowledge but does not claim to be complete or accurate. In particular, the condition and accessibility of shelters may change at any time.
Capacity figures are based on official data when available. For underground garages, the capacity is calculated from the number of parking spaces multiplied by a factor for persons per parking space. For other shelter types, we use official or estimated figures. All capacity values are approximate and may differ from the actual intake capacity.
This platform relies on community contributions. If you discover incorrect information, have verified the condition of a shelter on-site, or know of additional shelters, please report them via email. Every contribution helps improve data quality.
