Underground shelters, fortified structures and strategic bunkers were built during the interwar period, World War II and the Cold War. These facilities were designed to protect military personnel, civilians, essential equipment and command operations against aerial bombardment, nuclear threats and air raids.
The photographs reveal these subterranean places, showing air-raid shelters built to withstand explosions, imposing fortifications designed by Minister of War André Maginot, as well as secret strategic command posts and communication facilities created to ensure national defense during conflicts.
The following themes illustrate these underground defense structures.
Passive defense shelter
These photographs show air-raid shelters and passive defense structures built in the French capital to protect people from air attacks and debris.
The Maginot Line
These images present the imposing military fortifications designed during the interwar period under Minister of War André Maginot to protect France.
Strategic bunker
These pictures illustrate secret fortified underground structures that housed command posts and communications equipment from World War II to the Cold War.