The Dutch Civil Defence Corps (Bescherming Bevolking – BB) built a command centre in Berg en Dal in the 1950s the darkest years of the Cold War. It is located on Watertorenweg road, housed in a nuclear bunker which was designed for providing assistance to the country’s civilian population in the case of nuclear war. The building has been well preserved and is periodically open to visitors.
Civil Defence Complex
The Civil Defence Complex in Berg en Dal was a command bunker and part of Gelderland’s wider bunker system. Dozens of these types of bunkers were set up throughout the country to serve as command centres during (nuclear) war, and this one was equipped with two telephones and a switchboard to be manned by the Civil Defence Corps. This part of Gelderland’s bunker system has been well preserved and stands to be listed as a municipal monument.
Civil Defence Corps
In the 1950s, fear of attack from the USSR was at its peak. As a result, the Dutch Civil Defence Corps (Bescherming Bevolking – BB) was founded in 1952 and had attracted around 160,000 volunteers by 1956. Its task was to offer support services to fire and rescue workers.
Toward the end of the 1950s, there was an increasing awareness of the threat of a limited nuclear attack. This threat required more specialised knowledge from the Corps, and a new division was added known as the Atomic Organic Chemistry Division (or Atomair Biologisch Chemie dienst, ABC Division in Dutch). This division was made up of special conscripts.
Training
In October of 1960, a training exercise was carried out in which a command team of 19 men and 6 women were isolated in the bunker for a week. Afterwards, the evaluation report revealed that the team had encountered a number of unforseen difficulties. ‘The switchboard operator, Miss Awater, had to be removed from the bunker due to an acute case of appendicitis.And while the tinned food was tolerable, many among the team suggested there should be less smoking due to the use of recycled air in the bunker and in order to avoid tension, teams should be assembled more carefully in future.’
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