Regan West - Cold War bunker.

[Muhler]

Regan Vest = Regeringsanlæg vest = Government facillity West.

Build in 1963-69, this is where the Danish government and the DRF would seek shelter in case of war.
It is located in north-central Jutland i Rold Forest, 50-60 meters below ground.
In the grey period before a war, the top government ministers and the Regent Couple would be evacuated to this bunker.
In case of a conventional war, Zealand would be lost and it was hoped that the government and QMII would be able to fly out of Denmark via the nearby air base Karup - as East German divisions rolled up through Jutland a few days into the war.
In case a nuclear war, it was hoped, the bunker would survive (the Soviets knew perfectly well where it was) and it was hoped it would be possible to establish some sort government of the whole of what was left of Denmark afterwards.
The Danish system was very much like the British, in the sense that the country was divided into regions, each administrated from a bunker. In these bunkers were representatives of the government and parliaments, local politicians, military, rescue and civil defence leaders, as well as seleted experts. And most likely members of the DRF would also be housed in some of these bunkers.
The loal administrations would have practically totalitarian political control in the aftermath of a nuclear war.
When I was in the Home Guard in the late 1980's, one of our tasks was to protect and carry out the orders coming from the local regional bunker. (The Soviets again knew perfectly well where it was - under a school. - In fact the Communist Party had an office right across the street from our company HQ. They had even jokingly placed a camera in the window, directed at our entrance).

But back to Regan Vest. (There is an Regan East too, but more on that later).
The bunker has a area of about 5.500 square meters.
It was able to house 350 persons in 160 rooms.
It is contructed as two two-storey circles at the end of a long bend corridor 50-60 meters down in a layer of chalk.

The bunker is now long out of use and in fact it is now to be opened to the public as a Cold War museum.

However, there is another, still secret, bunker ready to be used just in case. Regan Øst = Regan East.
This bunker will house the government and the DRF in case....
War, terrorist attack, a nuclear meltdown, lethal pandemic etc. It has been put on a heightend state of alert, ready to recieve key personel twice since in was constructed.
After 9/11 when the situation worldwide was still insecure and during COP15, where it would shelter government leaders from some of the visiting countries.
In the case of a terrorist attack, where the situation is still unclear, like in Oslo or Mumbai, it is also a place where the DRF and the government would seek shelter.

One of the jobs of the adjutants is to ensure military and police assistance in evacuating and protecting members of the DRF in case something happens. (We can return to that procedure later if there is a wish for that).

That's the background. The nexy post will deal with the details of Regan Vest.


Here is a link to a 20 pic gallery of the interior of Regan Vest and a filmclip at the bottom: Se alle billederne: Her skulle Dronningen overleve en atomkrig - dr.dk/Nyheder/Kultur

Let's go through the pics:

#1 - The entrance to the bunker. Located next to a gravel road, not far from a prepared landing site for helicopters and in the middle of a forest.

#2 - Once inside, you go through a 500 meter long tunnel.

#3 - The bunker is build in a layer of chalk to ensure maximum protection and stabillity.

#4 - The main corridor is bend, to deflect the pressure wave of a nuclear blast. (My guess is several 1 or 2 megaton warheads. The missiles targeting Denmark were mostly located in Eastern Germany).

#5 - At the end of the corridor, at the entrance to the actual fascility is a 2.5 tonnes door.

#6 - QMII's apartment.

#7 - QMII's desk.

#8 - QMII's toilet - with ashtray.

#9 - The Prime Minister's desk.

#10 - The PM's bunk. The PM was NOT to share the bunk with his/her wife/husband. That was reserved for head of the department in Statsministeriet (the PM's office).

#11 - An overview of the two two-storey rings.
Top inner ring (top right) would house living quarters for the DRF, government facillities, the Ministry of Defence.
Lower inner ring (right bottom) would house the Foreign Ministry, Police medical facillities, communications, offices for ministers and a priest.
Top outer ring (top left) would house kitchen and mess, the commander's office and living quarters.
Lower outer ring (bottom left) would house sleeping quarters, depots and maintanaince personel.

#12 - A cut-away of the rings with the hollow "shock-dome" on top as seen in pic #3.

#13 - There are alltogether two kilometres of corridors in the bunker.

#14 - The mess hall.

#15 - Conference room for the State Council.

#16 - Sitting room for all.

#17 - The medical clinic.

#18 - For radio broadcasts.

#19 - Emergency exit. Up the ladders of a 60 meter shaft.

#20 - The main entrance. - Most passers-by seeing that would think: "Oh, that's just a depot in an old German bunker".

An overview of the bunker: reganvest.dk

- You will notice there is no mentioning of the possible whereabouts of any crown Prince/ss. Because he/she was not supposed to be there.

Two Google maps of first North Central Jutland: https://www.box.com/s/saj1jdrr33nafrmaujn1

And a closer look at Rold Forest, where the bunker is located: https://www.box.com/s/hjmyh8z9kgyppc9bcnsi

Regan Øst = Regeringsanlæg Øst = Regan East = Government facillity East.

Finished in 1978, this is the current place of refuge for the government and the Regent Couple.
The exact location is a secret.

It is however known that it is dug into a hill somewhere on Zealand.
The bunker is three stories high/deep and slightly smaller than the now disused Regan Vest.
From here the civillian and government administration of Denmark will take place.

Here is a picture of the entrance to Regan Øst: http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Indland/2012/11/13/144942.htm

There is also another secret bunker called NATO Bunker 7.
That is presumably placed somewhere in Jutland and in case of an emergency, this is where Mary and Frederik will go.
As will the deputy Prime Minister and the Defence Chief.
It is from here the military defence of Denmark will be controlled.
- In my time this bunker HQ was located near Air Base Karup in Jutland. I don't know where NATO Bunker 7 is located.

[Jacknch]

Thank you so much, Muhler, for posting this. It's fascinating to read and to see the images.
This has promted me to look into whether there is a similar set-up in the UK.
One thing I found out was that back in the 1960's, the Royal Yacht Britannia was to be used as a floating bunker by the Queen, Duke of Edinburgh and the Home Secretary in the event of a nuclear attack.
It was to sailed up to Scotland and, during the day, would hide and lurk in various remote North West sea lochs. At night, the yacht would then secretly move location and because of the mountainous region, enemy radar would be unable to locate it. The primeminister and other governmental people would be hidden in other locations in the UK seperate from the Queen, because only the Queen could appoint a prime minister and presumably, if the prime minister died in the attack, she would be able to appoint the Home Secretary.

'Floating bunker' plan to help Queen escape nuclear attack - Telegraph

Looking forward to hearing more about Regan West and East!

[polyesco]

very interesting. thank you Muhler.
pic # 2 of the Tunnel is amazing

[Muhler]

That's very odd, I don't seem to be able to edit my previous post.

I would have added this BT gallery from the bunker: Se billederne: Her er den hemmelige bunker i Rold Skov | www.bt.dk

Pic #5, because the corridors were so long, there were also cycles at disposal.

Pic #21, The water supply. - The air could also be recycled for a period if need be.

Pic #22, An analog telephone. - If I placed that in front of my children they probably wouldn't know how to use it....

Pic #31, The lounge, rest room, sitting room. Notice the "psycoligal images of trees and nature on the wall. - It actually makes it even more depressing I think!

Pic #33, QMII's toilet. Practically everybody else had to share communal toilets. - And sleep in shifts like submarine crews.

Pics #34 & 35, The Prime Minister's (Statsministerens) office.

Pic #41, Briefing room.

Pic #44, The main escape corridor.