Adventure Lab – Dalmine, the AirRaid Shelters

In July 1939, Dalmine began the construction of two airraid shelters in Garbagni district and in Leonardo da Vinci districts.

They are built outside the factory also for benefits the inhabitants of the city.

These days the Shelters still maintain their original appearance.

The works consist of two shelter galleries of 60 and 45 m; at a depth of 20 m.
Three other areas contain ventilation and gas machinery and bathrooms.

Each building has a double access, consisting of deep wells.
The stairs revolve around a core formed by a barrel made of reinforced concrete.

The construction of the two impressive shelters required a strong commitment both financially and the material and human resources required.

For the workforce, the use of prisoners of war from the Grumello camp was used, which welcomed soldiers of different nationalities: English, French, Greeks and Slavs.

So, the works where completed in June ’43.

On the 6^th July 1944, the factory and the city of Dalmine suffered a heavy bombardment from the Allied Forces.

But unfortunately, the two airraid shelters were not used because the signal of the alarm was not issued in time.

AirRaid Shalters — From https://www.pietredellamemoria.it/

The high number of victims, 278 and more than 800 injured, according to the investigation of the Prefectural Commission of August 1945 was due to the fact that the “alarm signal was not given because the Germanic office in Milan, which only he had the right to order it, he had given it with regrettable delay “