That's what we are
The GSVBw42 (switching center) of the Bundeswehr is located 'Auf dem Kesselberg' in the municipality of 55593 Rüdesheim. The facility was built during the Cold War in the years 1961 to 1963 and from then on served as a telecommunications switching center for the Bundeswehr's own telecommunications network. From here, Deutsche Post's own fixed lines and leased lines were connected to all GSVBw and other military facilities built in Germany. The lines were primarily used to switch telephone calls and transmit telexes.
After the end of the Cold War in the early 1990s, the system continued to be operated until 1996. After that, there was no longer any use for this type of exchange for the Bundeswehr, so the Federal Property Office sold the property to the highest bidder.
Why do you buy such a property?
I have often asked myself this question. The purchase of the property was primarily due to my amateur radio hobby, as I didn't have enough space on my private property for the antenna systems I had planned. The GSVBw42 has an area of approx. 5 acres and therefore offers enough space to erect several antenna masts and large antennas. Due to the excellent location for the shortwave bands from 1.8 to 30 MHz, I usually achieve the top places in many amateur radio contests held around the world. The ABC (nuclear, biological and chemical) bunker as part of the acquired property was initially a useless accessory and lay dormant for more than 20 years. Apart from a few repairs to the energy, ventilation and water supply, the facility was never entered.
Condition of the ABC bunker
The premises of the ABC bunker are in excellent condition. The Bundeswehr has handed over the facility in an orderly condition. All elements required for the operation of the facility are present. These include the emergency power generator, the air conditioning system with ventilation equipment and the entire electrical equipment. The facility has always been maintained and kept in good working order.
In recent months, we have had the opportunity to obtain components that are no longer available, such as emergency beds, shelves and much more, from other former GSVBw34 in Wilnsdorf and GSVBw29 Accum. These facilities are no longer usable. We painstakingly removed these components, transported them, cleaned them and installed them in the GSVBw42 over several weeks.
Room with 20 Emergency Beds
Once we had completed the installation work, the plan was to make the facility accessible to the wider public. To this end, we organized several “Bunker Open Days” over the Whitsun holidays in 2024. The response was overwhelming and the large number of tickets available via the Cortex Tickets booking portal sold out in a short space of time. We therefore decided to offer two more days for further bunker tours. These took take place on 06.06.2024 and 07.07.2024. As we have more request, additional "Bunker Open Days" will be available on June 8th and 9th 2025. Bookings for these events can be made via the Cortex ticket portal. The tours take place in a two-hour rhythm. Usually a tour lasts approx. 1.5 hours and we recommend wearing light winter clothing (even in summer), as the temperature is only approx. 11 to 14 degrees Celsius all year round.
The guided tours are also described at Bad-Kreuznach Tourist and Rheinhessen.de.
© 2025 Armin Sturm
The GSVBw42 (switching center) of the Bundeswehr is located 'Auf dem Kesselberg' in the municipality of 55593 Rüdesheim. The facility was built during the Cold War in the years 1961 to 1963 and from then on served as a telecommunications switching center for the Bundeswehr's own telecommunications network. From here, Deutsche Post's own fixed lines and leased lines were connected to all GSVBw and other military facilities built in Germany. The lines were primarily used to switch telephone calls and transmit telexes.
After the end of the Cold War in the early 1990s, the system continued to be operated until 1996. After that, there was no longer any use for this type of exchange for the Bundeswehr, so the Federal Property Office sold the property to the highest bidder.
Why do you buy such a property?
I have often asked myself this question. The purchase of the property was primarily due to my amateur radio hobby, as I didn't have enough space on my private property for the antenna systems I had planned. The GSVBw42 has an area of approx. 5 acres and therefore offers enough space to erect several antenna masts and large antennas. Due to the excellent location for the shortwave bands from 1.8 to 30 MHz, I usually achieve the top places in many amateur radio contests held around the world. The ABC (nuclear, biological and chemical) bunker as part of the acquired property was initially a useless accessory and lay dormant for more than 20 years. Apart from a few repairs to the energy, ventilation and water supply, the facility was never entered.
Condition of the ABC bunker
The premises of the ABC bunker are in excellent condition. The Bundeswehr has handed over the facility in an orderly condition. All elements required for the operation of the facility are present. These include the emergency power generator, the air conditioning system with ventilation equipment and the entire electrical equipment. The facility has always been maintained and kept in good working order.
In recent months, we have had the opportunity to obtain components that are no longer available, such as emergency beds, shelves and much more, from other former GSVBw34 in Wilnsdorf and GSVBw29 Accum. These facilities are no longer usable. We painstakingly removed these components, transported them, cleaned them and installed them in the GSVBw42 over several weeks.
Room with 20 Emergency BedsOnce we had completed the installation work, the plan was to make the facility accessible to the wider public. To this end, we organized several “Bunker Open Days” over the Whitsun holidays in 2024. The response was overwhelming and the large number of tickets available via the Cortex Tickets booking portal sold out in a short space of time. We therefore decided to offer two more days for further bunker tours. These took take place on 06.06.2024 and 07.07.2024. As we have more request, additional "Bunker Open Days" will be available on June 8th and 9th 2025. Bookings for these events can be made via the Cortex ticket portal. The tours take place in a two-hour rhythm. Usually a tour lasts approx. 1.5 hours and we recommend wearing light winter clothing (even in summer), as the temperature is only approx. 11 to 14 degrees Celsius all year round.
The guided tours are also described at Bad-Kreuznach Tourist and Rheinhessen.de.
© 2025 Armin Sturm