Select Page

Southern Redoubt – 2010

 

Summer of 2010 and the “Southern Redoubt” is again visited by a group of intrepid Sharkhunters explorers who climbed mountains, slid into tunnel systems and walked in the footsteps of history. This history is rapidly crumbling and fading into the mists of time. It is critical that we go there now because it will not be long before none of this history will remain for us to visit.

Join us now as we travel through the tunnels of time, back to the history of the Third Reich and the “Southern Redoubt

Click on the photos below for the short cuts to the phases of our 2010 “Patrol to the Southern Redoubt“.

10BuPat20Begin the “Patrol” here and go all the way, or choose which section you wish to see again and again then use the short cuts on this page.
10BuPat52If you click this photo we visit the breathtakingly beautiful Königsee.

 

10BuPat62Now we get serious! Click here to see tunnels and bunkers.
Mein Kampf!” was Hitler’s book. Click this picture – we go where the house once stood where the book was written.
Many ruins in the forest to visit. Click here and join us. We visit the ruins of the Theater Hall and much more here.
 

SHARKHUNTERS International
Expedition to Trinidade Island, Brazil

October 2009, Sharkhunters founder and President HARRY COOPER (1-LIFE-1983) traveled to Brazil and with the help and cooperation of the Navy of Brazil, traveled to this mysterious island reported to have been occupied by the Third Reich as early as a year before the outbreak of World War II – and for as long as two years AFTER the war ended to assist thousands who were fleeing the collapsed Reich to new homes, new occupations, new identities and in many cases – new faces. We have already seen overwhelming evidence of that during our expeditions to remote regions of Argentina. The Third Reich did indeed, make a new beginning in Argentina — but what about this island? Come with us.

First however, let us begin our expedition in the fascinating city of Rio di Janeiro.

click on this picture of Christ the Redeemer to head for Rio

Or click on the photo of this very tall Carioca to visit the Navy Club
We board ship with the Navy of Brazil for our voyage to the island!

click on the photo of this mysterious island

 

The little village of Buchenhöhe holds more secrets.
 

2010 SHARKHUNTERS Patrol to the
Southern Redoubt‘ of the Third Reich
Buchenhöhe

Not far from there Hitler’s home stood is the quaint, picturesque little village of Buchenhöhe where was built to house a sanatorium for sufferers of a unique type of asthma. In the early days of the Reich, when this area was becoming the Reichsicherheits area, very nice homes and small apartment buildings were built here for the construction workers who would build everything in the area. Not slave laborers but highly skilled and well paid artisans. But before we dash off to Buchenhöhe, many people have wondered why the road in front of Hitler’s home (the Berghof) had a sort of bulge, making the road a bit wider in front of his house as we see in the photo below. Any ideas? Any guesses?

Photos above – Through his research, JEFF CARSON (7228-2007) has learned that the road was widened opposite the driveway out of the Berghof so that Hitler’s big Mercedes could make the turn out of the driveway without having difficulties.

Okay, now we head for nearby Buchenhöhe.

The town seen from the HolzkäferWe see this church from the deck of the Holzkäfer

Now we head for another fascinating section in this area where many ruins are to be found just up from the town.

FREE SAMPLE MAGAZINE – Sharkhunters Members get all this information and a whole lot more including a monthly Magazine with facts, veteran’s memories and stories you cannot get anywhere else – and when you join, you may select one of our hand-signed photos of veterans of the war as your free gift. Send us an email at sharkhunters@earthlink.net with your name and request a FREE sample of our KTB Magazine. You will love it – and there is NO obligation!

What is this? We should look closer.Still can’t figure it out.
As we said – just up from the town.Once a power transmission station.
Actually, this was near a parking lot in the little town.Naturally – we have to go inside.
These ruins were just up the mountain from the townas we see here. Look closely – town is just below.

There is much more to see in the area, not necessarily at Buchenhöhe but also nearby. The photos speak for themselves.

While walking here, HARRY COOPER found a great pair of aviator sunglasses……………..post war, of course.
As we see in the two photos below, thisbridge was built in 1941 and is in excellent condition today.
The Third Reich was very conservation conscious and as we see here, the spillway they built about 70 years ago is still functioning to prevent rushing water from eroding the hillside.


…………we find more and more old tunnels and bunkers! Join us.

Click on our emblem here to see all the benefits of Membership including a FREE photo that has been hand-signed by the veteran. Almost 100 veterans, all Sharkhunters Members, hand-signed 100 each of their photos for us to give to new Members. Most of these are not available anywhere else in the world. Don’t miss your opportunity – join now.

 

We find more old tunnels and bunkers.
 

2010 SHARKHUNTERS Patrol to the
Southern Redoubt‘ of the Third Reich
More Old Tunnels & Bunkers

This area is not only breathtakingly beautiful – it is shot through and through with tunnels, bunkers, historic old buildings and a tremendous amount of Third Reich history. Put on your grubby clothes, your hiking boots and let’s go!

Look very closely at each photo as there is something unique to see in each one. Some are easily seen – others quite difficult.

Did you spot the wall in the background?
Look closely…………..there may be something just over that rise.

FREE SAMPLE MAGAZINE – Sharkhunters Members get all this information and a whole lot more including a monthly Magazine with facts, veteran’s memories and stories you cannot get anywhere else – and when you join, you may select one of our hand-signed photos of veterans of the war as your free gift. Send us an email at sharkhunters@earthlink.net with your name and request a FREE sample of our KTB Magazine. You will love it – and there is NO obligation!

In some of the following photos you will see what appear to be eerie ‘orbs’ that some would perceive to be supernatural. They are not. We are deep underground where the temperature is quite cool and thanks to the standing water in these places, the air is quite damp so our breath is turned into mini-fog. We had to hold our breath before shooting a picture. It didn’t always work and we got the ‘orbs’ which is just our breath.

What can be ahead of us?There just HAS to be something through this opening………
Remember, we are deep underground here.JEFF points to part of a large door hinge.
While it is not easy to see, the icy water (REALLY icy!!!) on the floor is over the tops of our boots………and we are still deep underground.

Join us when we return in summer of 2011. You’ll love it.

Click on our emblem here to see all the benefits of Membership including a FREE photo that has been hand-signed by the veteran. Almost 100 veterans, all Sharkhunters Members, hand-signed 100 each of their photos for us to give to new Members. Most of these are not available anywhere else in the world. Don’t miss your opportunity – join now.

Our exploration was fantastic – JEFF was a great guide and we had the opportunity to see a great deal of Third Reich construction that is rarely seen be anyone any more – and with the ravages of time, one must wonder how much longer these sites will remain.
There was much climbing of mountains followed bya lot of slipping down into underground construction.
THIS was the entrance we went through.…..and again, we are in ice water halfway to our knees.
We are looking at this – whatever – through a foot of ice waterIce water well above KRIS’s boots.
JEFF finds another branch of the tunnel……….….and naturally, we go in.

As we have said, this was not a walk in the park – it was a rugged ‘Patrol‘ but the things our group saw and experienced defies description. It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words, but being there to take those yourself in worth a thousand pictures. Join us in 2011.

This is how the guard gate looked at the Hotel zum Türken back at the time Hitler lived on the mountain.
 


2010 SHARKHUNTERS Patrol to the
Southern Redoubt‘ of the Third Reich
More – Even MORE Old Tunnels & Bunkers

This area is not only breathtakingly beautiful – it is shot through and through with tunnels, bunkers, historic old buildings and a tremendous amount of Third Reich history. Put on your grubby clothes, your hiking boots and let’s go!

The entrance to this tunnel complex is easily seen from the windows of our host hotel, the Hotel zum Türken. Like so many other tunnel entrances, this one is locked – for the safety of the public………….politicians think people believe this crap

Look very closely at each photo as there is something unique to see in each one. Some are easily seen – others quite difficult.

The original guard gate at the Hotel zum Türken when it
served as headquarters for Hitler’s personal guard troops.
We are on the march again and naturally, UP the mountain!
Didn’t the Reich build anything DOWN the mountain?
As we have said before – keep your eyes open.There is always SOMETHING new to discover.
We even see Speer’s studio from high up the mountain.
What can be down here?Hello! Hello! Is anyone home?
.
AHA! This looks promising!Take a few photos – then let’s go in.

FREE SAMPLE MAGAZINE – Sharkhunters Members get all this information and a whole lot more including a monthly Magazine with facts, veteran’s memories and stories you cannot get anywhere else – and when you join, you may select one of our hand-signed photos of veterans of the war as your free gift. Send us an email at sharkhunters@earthlink.net with your name and request a FREE sample of our KTB Magazine. You will love it – and there is NO obligation!

In some of the following photos you will see what appear to be eerie ‘orbs’ that some would perceive to be supernatural. They are not. We are deep underground where the temperature is quite cool and thanks to the standing water in these places, the air is quite damp so our breath is turned into mini-fog. We had to hold our breath before shooting a picture. It didn’t always work and we got the ‘orbs’ which is just our breath.

As usual, we enter like moles.We go down to the interior.
Looking into the darkness – what can be ahead?It ill get better in here……….really it will.
This tunnel is kinda’ low in some places.
10BuPat14810BPJC92
Now we can stand up with the high ceilings…….…..and again, icy water halfway to our knees.
10BPJC9910BPJC98
10BPJC9710BPJC96
The hooks on the wall once held piping and wires.They are made of REAL HARD steel! We each cracked
our heads at least once while in this facility.

Click on our emblem here to see all the benefits of Membership including a FREE photo that has been hand-signed by the veteran. Almost 100 veterans, all Sharkhunters Members, hand-signed 100 each of their photos for us to give to new Members. Most of these are not available anywhere else in the world. Don’t miss your opportunity – join now.

10BPJC10510BPJC104
Wherever you go, wherever you look…..…..there are bunkers and tunnels everywhere!
10BPJC10310BPJC106
10BuPat167Very near to our host hotel, the Hotel zum Türken, are the gigantic coal bunkers. Coal to heat all the buildings in this complex was brought by truck along the roadway above then dumped into the coal bins from the top. When coal was needed in the homes and buildings, trucks would come along the lower roadway, fill with coal and take to the respective homes and administrative buildings.

At the rear of the last bunker seen to the left in this photo, there is a door leading into another maze of tunnels. Sorry to say, it has been welded shut and the tunnels are no longer accessible but there are other doors into this tunnel system – also welded shut.

10BuPat16910BuPat170
Yep – it is welded shut.
10BuPat172
We agree – it is REALLY welded shut!
10BuPat16410BuPat163
10BuPat16310BuPat162

As we have said many times – this was not a walk in the park – it was a rugged ‘Patrol‘ but the things our group saw and experienced defies description. It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words, but being there to take those yourself in worth a thousand pictures. We were in bunkers and tunnels unseen and unknown to most of the rest of the world; we put fresh footprints where none had been for decades.

Join us in 2011 and add your footprints to history.

Here are a few more before we go on to the next fascinating location.

10BPJC11310BPJC114

 

Click on this photo of Eva Braun for photos of this “Patrol” shot by KRIS MANN (5709-C-2008).

 

Eingang Verboten“…..and Sharkhunters are there!At the majestic Königsee and Übersee
Königsee and ÜberseeKönigsee and Übersee
Königsee and ÜberseeKönigsee and Übersee
Königsee and ÜberseeKönigsee and Übersee
Königsee and ÜberseeKönigsee and Übersee
Königsee and ÜberseeKönigsee and Übersee
Königsee and ÜberseeKönigsee and Übersee
In this series we see the beautiful Königsee with St. Bartholomé chapel, the silent electric tour boats and after hiking maybe one kilometer, we are at the Übersee that had at one time been the end of Königsee until there was a shift in the land and it rose abut 100 feet making a second lake. Adolf Hitler especially loved the Übersee and there is a famous rock where he liked to have his photo taken.

Now we move on to some of the historic ruins of the Reich nearby………….

Here, Sharkhunters Member JEFF (Tunnel King) tells SharkhuntersFounder and President HARRY COOPER about the “Kampfhaus
It was here in the “Kampfhaus” where Hitler finished his book,MEIN KAMPF“, hence the name of the house.
BELOW – We now explore the area around the Theaterhall, the ammunition bunker and other buildings.
Giant stones that once supported the Theaterhall
Once upon a time, decades ago,a beautiful theater hall stood on these supports
The view from this mountain peak, looking down into the valley far below, will take your breath away. This is a magnificently beautiful area, and it is filled with the history of the Third Reich. Join us in Germany. You will be glad you did – and make sure to bring the camera!

Click on www.sharkhunters.com/tours.htm for details of upcoming “Patrols” to this and other places of history.

Now we move to another little town on another mountain for more history

Looking down at the little picturesquevillage far below
What have we here? A groundhog hole?Let’s go closer and see what is in here.
OOPS! Looks like we found the “groundhog”We look down on Speer’s former home
…….never know what you willfind out here in the field…..

Now it is time to take the highway to Italy that Hitler planned during the days of the 3rd Reich. There are other structures built by the 3rd Reich we see along the way.

The underpass was completed but not the roadway. It would
have gone from left to right over the top of this structure.
Tons of fill dirt would have been put where we are standing
and the roadway would have been paved on top. We are
standing on what would have been the side of the road.
The builder’s mark on a 3rd Reich built bridge.A closer look at this mark.
A longer range look at the bridge.Holzkäfer – a neat cafe with great food.
Exit door at Hitler’s bomb shelter bunker. He walked here.Closer look at this door. What history!

………..more history as we walk through the mountains……..

This was a smoke generator for obscuring the
targets on the mountain during air attack.
On the end of a building left over from the worker’s camp.
Entry to an outpost sentry bomb shelter.One or two men could ride out a bombing attack.
Climbing into the shelter.KRIS is ready for the attack.
…..all buttoned up and waiting for the bombers….Only a handful of these shelters remain.
Looking down from the mountain…..…..what incredible beauty!

Okay, let’s really look at this area – you just cannot take a bad photograph in this area!

We have said all along – it is impossible:
* to get a bad meal here;
* to get a bad beer here;
* to take a bad photo here.Okay, let’s get back to history…………..

Kehlsteinhaus!
Otherwise known as the “Eagle’s Nest

We first enter this long tunnelthen into the elevator here
This has not changed since the Kehlsteinhaus was built in 1934under orders of Martin Bormann for Adolf Hitler’s 50th birthday.
This is the emblem at the door into the main room. There are rooms inside that are now a restaurant – naturally, there is the obligatory gift shop, there is great dining on the terrace outside where we can literally can see the great castle in Salzburg, Austria!

 

…..on to Salzburg and the castle!

A tribute to those lost in the two World WarsOn our way up the mountain into the castle
A watchtower half a mile in the skyDropping coins into this rain spout is a tourist hobby
These courtyards arehalf a mile in the sky.
This chapel is not farfrom the wine press.
This castle is so massive it is like several smaller fortresses boundinto one; many individual and independently defensible bastions.
Each bastion can be closed off and defended.One has to be here to sense the magnitude.

Let’s take a moment and walk through this historic castle

One can spend hours in this massive castle exploring the history, visiting the gift shops or as we see in the photo above right, relaxing in one of the many cafes throughout the castle.

NOTE – Many Members have emailed us to say that these pictures taken by KRIS are super! We agree – KRIS took some great shots but as he always tells us………..it is impossible to take a bad photo here. But why merely look at the photos that KRIS and others shoot? Come with us and shoot great memories of your own.

 

We stay in this beautiful three-centuries old hotel that was the HQfor Hitler’s guard – tunnels are in the cellar and we go there!
When returning from patrol, the guard detachment came in this way.Hitler’s home, the Berghof, was about 100 meters around the corner.