The city of Durrës holds a celebrated cultural heritage, encompassing both visible and hidden treasures. Beneath its familiar surface, however, lies a concealed narrative – a secret defense project built during the dictatorship’s era, intended for wartime contingencies. An extensive underground complex of structures was constructed after 1981, representing a significant undertaking.
This complex included a crucial command center, a hospital for medical care, a bakery for sustenance, a clothing factory for essential supplies, and facilities for food refrigeration. Furthermore, numerous supporting environments were incorporated into the design. The entire infrastructure was meticulously planned to ensure the city could continue operating even if subjected to an attack.
Lutfi Shehu, a graduate in coastal artillery from the Soviet Union and previously the head of Civil Defense in Durrës before the 1990s, elucidates the project’s origins. He explains that funding was secured through the compulsory contributions of state enterprises. The project remained classified throughout its development.
The facilities were nearly completed at the beginning of the 1990s, but subsequent changes within the system ultimately led to its abandonment beneath the city.
Topics: #city #beneath #secret
The coastal city of Durrës boasts a rich cultural legacy, featuring well-known landmarks alongside unseen aspects. Remarkably, a clandestine defense initiative, constructed during the previous regime,