Inside Hamburg’s Uebel & Gefährlich Nazi Era Bunker Turned Nightclub

One of the largest Nazi-era bunkers in Germany said goodbye to its war fortress days and found a second life as a nightclub. Hamburg’s Flak Tower IV is now home to a wide array of nightlife entertainment hubs, such as music shops, private bars, and the Uebel & Gefährlich nightclub. 

Behind the bunker’s thick walls, Uebel & Gefährlich shelters ineffable electronic sessions and music concerts. Half nightclub, half event venue, this music mecca is divided into three main locations – a ballroom where EDM reigns supreme, a roof terrace, and a jazz-fuelled tower room. 

With a generous capacity of 1,000 music devotees, Uebel & Gefährlich seems to be a fan of Las Vegas’ infamous “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” motto. The thick concrete walls prevent the booming bass and heart-thumping beats from making contact with the outside world. 

Right in the heart of St. Pauli, the almost eight-decade-old flak bunker speaks of a dark German era through massive defensive structures. Back in the day, the fortress was designed to shelter 18,000 individuals from bombing raids. 

In World War II’s aftermath, Hamburg’s Flak Tower IV was left undisturbed since its massive structure required explosives to be demolished. The former anti-aircraft bunker experienced a radical repurposing as an urban electronic oasis. 

Future plans for the bunker-turned-nightclub include the installation of a futuristic rooftop garden.