About us

At the historic Grebswarden anti-aircraft command post, we operate a military history museum focused on German military history and the Second World War. Across more than 500 m² of exhibition space – spread over 13 rooms and several corridors – visitors can explore an extensive collection of military and contemporary historical artefacts dating from 1870 to 1989. The original naval anti-aircraft command post from 1941/42 forms the authentic centre of the exhibition. It is a rare surviving relic of the air war at the mouth of the Weser River, as many comparable command posts in the region were demolished by the Allies after the war. Using original artefacts and accompanying documentation, we illustrate the development of anti-aircraft defence (Flak) as well as the historical background of the bombing war during the Second World War.

With the outbreak of the Second World War on 1 September 1939, the German North Sea coast quickly became a focal point of air-war planning. The ports and naval facilities in Wilhelmshaven, Bremerhaven, and along the Weser estuary were considered strategically important targets. While Allied air forces initially carried out mainly reconnaissance and leaflet missions over northern Germany, the region increasingly came under bombardment as the war progressed. This made it necessary to secure the coastline with a tightly interconnected anti-aircraft defence belt.

After the end of the Second World War, the former command post in Grebswarden was initially used for various civilian purposes. For a time, the building served as emergency accommodation for refugees and displaced persons. Later, the Technisches Hilfswerk (THW) — the German Federal Agency for Technical Relief — used the tower for its operations. Despite these post-war uses, the structure remained largely intact and still preserves many original features.