Flandernbunker / Mahnmal Kilian

In the location's words:

History of the Kilian Memorial Association

The ruins of the "Kilian" bunker in the fog

In 1995, the Kiel journalist and art historian Jens Rönnau founded the "Kilian Memorial" association together with citizens of Kiel in order to preserve the ruins of the "Kilian" submarine bunker on Kiel's east bank as an impressive memorial from the Second World War. This was also intended to prevent efforts to demolish the registered cultural monument. For younger generations, such ruins are important places of contemplation, as they can authentically and unembellishedly convey a piece of past war truth.

The "Kilian" ruins were also a memorial in the sense that hundreds of forced laborers and prisoners of war were forced to build bunkers here. The bunker is also a war grave, as a submarine with five people on board was hit by a bomb in the final days of the war. It sank into the bunker and could not be salvaged before it was blown up by the Allies on October 25, 1946.

"Kilian" bunker ruins - shore side

The association began to make the "Kilian" remains accessible to interested people in guided tours: school classes were supported in their artistic and educational activities at the ruined memorial. A prayer service - accompanied by music - took place on the concrete blocks while the auditorium listened on a barge. Artists were invited to use light installations to visually alienate or highlight the bunker ruins. In order to raise awareness of the bunker ruins as war graves, the association placed five crosses on the ruins in consultation with relatives of the dead.

In 1999, the association was awarded the German Prize for Monument Protection for its commitment to preserving the "Kilian" submarine bunker as a memorial, memorial site and war grave.

Despite all efforts, economic interests ultimately decided the fate of this memorial.

From the "Kilian" to the "Flanders Bunker" - a new beginning

In 2000, the listed bunker ruins were leveled in favor of the expansion of Kiel's Ostuferhafen. Although the association made the bunker ruins the focus of a wide range of activities and made intensive efforts to preserve them, it was unable to prevent this. An impressive testimony to the madness of war was thus destroyed forever.

Flander bunker in July 2004

In 2001, the association acquired the so-called "Flanders Bunker", a former naval bunker at the end of the Kiellinie at Tirpitzhafen, at auction for around DM 30,000. The "Flanders Bunker" is now at the center of the association's activities as a meeting and educational site, museum, memorial and place of remembrance.

The "Mahnmal Kilian" association cooperates with many different people, associations and institutions in the planning and implementation of events. In addition to regular guided tours, scientific lectures, readings and discussions can be experienced in the Flanders Bunker. Art exhibitions, film and theater performances are held to raise awareness of war and violence.

The war witness project

War cannot really be grasped in abstract historical figures. What it means to have suffered in times of war can only be made comprehensible through the accounts of contemporary witnesses.

Interview with a contemporary witness

The "War Witness Project", which the association has been carrying out since 2005 in cooperation with the Jobcenter Kiel as part of "work opportunities" for the long-term unemployed, the Open Channel and the Kiel City Museum, encourages older people to talk about their personal fate during the Second World War so that younger generations can understand the horrors of war and recognize the value of peace, freedom and democracy. As part of this project, the stories are documented, evaluated and published with the consent of the eyewitnesses. In addition, historical documents from the eyewitnesses, such as pictures, letters etc., illustrate the events of the time.

The knowledge of a generation that knows the horrors of a world war from its own experience is thus preserved for future generations.

Learning from history for the future

The Kilian Memorial Association is not only concerned with the topic of the Second World War, but also with the current conflicts in many parts of the world. The association therefore advocates international understanding, the promotion of peace and the prevention of violence.

The War Witness Project and the Flanders Bunker as a place of education and international understanding set an example against war, oppression and violence. To this end, the association offers cooperation with all social institutions, cultural workers and interested parties.