Off to the Soviet bunker

Lithuania, like the entire Baltic region, has a very tumultuous history. Until 1990, it was part of the Soviet Union and, of course, right in the middle of the Cold War. Since the Russians also feared a nuclear attack from the West, many civil defense bunkers were built. Every larger factory was equipped with one. This was also the case in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. One of them is now a museum and you can visit it; we were there.

The “Cold War Bunker AUTOMATIKA” can only be visited as part of a guided tour and prior registration is necessary. You can choose either a guided tour or the "Discover-It-Yourself" tour with an APP. We opted for the latter, but the mobile data on our phones was acting up, so it spontaneously turned into a guided tour on-site, thankfully without any extra charge. You can choose whether to start the tour with "lights on" or just with a flashlight.

The entrance to the bunker is unassuming and does not differ from Western bunkers. Lots of reinforced concrete and thick steel doors. Only the Cyrillic writing indicates that you are now in the East.

The bunker itself consists of a large room where up to 100 people sought shelter. There are also two original toilets, even with original Soviet toilet lids, which was a rarity. The ventilation systems are still original and operational.

Since the bunker itself does not have much else to offer, the owners have gathered many rare and exciting exhibits from other bunkers and countries.

One of the aspects was the “entertainment program” of the bunker, so that one doesn't have to spend time in absolute silence.

Some original supplies were also gathered, such as bandages, medications, and food. Super rare Soviet toilet paper is included as well. By the way, it is more comparable to baking paper.

Our personal favorite was canned water.

The complete range of Soviet gas masks and filters. It's rare to see them all in one place like this in our regions.

There are also numerous educational posters on display. In this case, a civil defense poster.

But there are also some military display boards. At the core of the matter, the content is the same as what was taught in the West.

The bunker operators are particularly proud of their collection of telecommunication receivers and bunker control equipment. Theoretically, all of them still work if you re-establish the connections.

There is also a current exhibit, the remnants of a rocket from the BM-30 Smerch system. This rocket can and will be equipped with cluster munitions and is actively used in the Ukraine war.

Overall, we found the visit to the “Cold War Bunker AUTOMATIKA” very fascinating and informative. So if you ever find yourself in Vilnius, a detour is worth it.

Cold War Bunker AUTOMATIKA on the internet