Bomb shelter 10-Z

Bomb shelter 10-Z (Czech: Kryt 10-Z) is a former underground shelter and nuclear bunker in Brno, Czech Republic, located on Husova street (opposite house number 12). It originated during the Nazi occupation as a Luftschutz air-raid shelter intended to protect against American and Soviet bombing of Brno. After World War II, in 1946–1948, the site housed a successful wine wholesale business, Löwy a Šmíd, which the communists seized from its owners two days after the 1948 coup. In 1959, during the communist era, the facility was rebuilt as a top-secret atomic shelter resistant to weapons of mass destruction, designed to hold up to 500 people for three days. It served as the coded, most classified bunker in Brno for the city and regional political leadership. The army managed it until 1993, and it remained strictly secret. Today, the shelter is being opened to the public by the nonprofit organization AMERFO. The main purpose of the project is to transform the former military space into a place of gathering and to make it accessible to the public. The site is presented as a museum and event venue, with the motto attributed to Hugo Marom: 'May this place never again serve the purpose for which it was intended. And may good jazz be played here.'

Bomb shelter 10-Z in Brno has a layered history spanning World War II, the communist era, and the present day. It was originally constructed during the Nazi occupation as a Luftschutz air-raid shelter, built to protect people from American and Soviet bombing raids on Brno. After the war, from 1946 to 1948, the space was used by a successful wine wholesale business called Löwy a Šmíd. That business was confiscated by the communist regime two days after the 1948 coup, when private property was seized from its owners. In 1959, during the communist period, the shelter was converted into a top-secret atomic bunker resistant to weapons of mass destruction. It was designed to accommodate up to 500 people for three days. The bunker carried a coded designation and was the most classified shelter in Brno, intended for the political leadership of the city and region. The army administered the facility until 1993, and throughout that time it was strictly secret. After the army relinquished it, the site eventually came under the care of AMERFO, a public benefit corporation. AMERFO is preparing to open 10-Z to the public, with the main aim of turning the former military space into a meeting place accessible to all. The shelter is now presented as a museum and event venue, and its motto, attributed to Hugo Marom, expresses a wish that the place never again serve its original purpose and that good jazz be played there.

• Built during Nazi occupation as a Luftschutz air-raid shelter against American and Soviet bombing of Brno.

• 1946–1948: Site housed the wine wholesale business Löwy a Šmíd.

• 1948: The business was confiscated by the communists two days after the coup.

• 1959: Converted into a top-secret atomic bunker for city and regional political leaders.

• Until 1993: Managed by the army and kept strictly secret.

• Present: AMERFO prepares to open 10-Z to the public as a meeting place and museum.

Historical Cold War heritage site and public cultural venue

• Guided tours of the former nuclear bunker

• Museum exhibitions on Cold War history

• Event and concert venue

1. 110-Z official website10-z.cz
2. 2Wikidata: Bomb shelter 10-Zwikidata.org