Original subtitles

NARRATOR: Across Albania's mountainous landscape

lie entry points to countless underground bunkers,

a reminder of its dark past.

a reminder of its dark past.

- Albania was a nation held completely captive

by fear and by paranoia.

by fear and by paranoia.

NARRATOR: The country had become increasingly isolated.

- And at the heart of it all is just one man,

Enver Hoxha.

Enver Hoxha.

- Hoxha's regime is actually marked with him cutting ties

with just everybody.

with just everybody.

He had absolutely no allies left.

NARRATOR: This devolved into a maniacal obsession with defence.

- Hoxha built over 170,000 bunkers.

It was unique in world history.

NARRATOR: The elusive dictator built secret, private bunkers,

hidden from the world and his people.

hidden from the world and his people.

- Deep in the mountains and kilometres of tunnels

and situation rooms and conference rooms

and bedrooms and everything else.

- They're supposed to be the cutting edge of technology

- They're supposed to be the cutting edge of technology

as bunkers, and they're meant to protect Hoxha and all his cronies

in the event of some nuclear strike.

in the event of some nuclear strike.

NARRATOR: Was there truly a credible external threat to Albania,

NARRATOR: Was there truly a credible external threat to Albania,

or were the bunkers merely the result of a paranoid mind run amok?

Even then, would the bunkers manage to protect Hoxha

Even then, would the bunkers manage to protect Hoxha

in the event of a major attack?

Underground tunnels.

Nuclear bunkers.

Nuclear bunkers.

Architectural madness.

Lavish headquarters.

For dictators,

the cost did not matter,

only their desires,

power and security.

power and security.

What secrets hide in these grand structures?

Dictator's Hideouts.

Dictator's Hideouts.

Shadows of the past loom over the Albanian hills,

where concrete guardians gaze back through time.

where concrete guardians gaze back through time.

Yet within the seclusion of the communist dictator,

Enver Hoxha's opulent villa, one question arises,

Enver Hoxha's opulent villa, one question arises,

how could a man surrounded by luxury

harbour such deep-seated paranoia?

Could the grand halls and velvet drapes

Could the grand halls and velvet drapes

conceal the unease of a ruler?

What secrets does the opulence hide,

What secrets does the opulence hide,

alienating him to a world of concrete complexes?

Hoxha's bunkers casts new light on this complicated despot,

as we peel back the layers of history.

as we peel back the layers of history.

From luxurious villas to secret hideouts,

in search of the man who ruled Albania with an iron fist

for more than four decades.

for more than four decades.

Located in Europe's south, among the Baltic States,

Albania is a small country with a population of around three million.

Albania is a small country with a population of around three million.

It features stunning coastal beaches,

a rich, diverse culture,

a rich, diverse culture,

and sophisticated architecture.

Yet beneath this tranquil facade,

lies a history steeped in blood and mystery,

lies a history steeped in blood and mystery,

courtesy of the nightmarish reign of a cruel tyrant,

Enver Hoxha.

Enver Hoxha.

- Hoxha was an interesting character because he was brought up

and educated in Albania, but he did spend some time abroad.

He spent time in France, spoke French.

He spent time in France, spoke French.

- (speaking Albanian)

RICHIE: During the war, he became the eventual head

of the Communist Party in Albania.

And so, when the Germans were pushed out of Albania,

he was a natural selection

to be the leader of the country.

- Hoxha was a firm believer

- Hoxha was a firm believer

in the perpetual revolution,

with him leading the dictatorship of the proletariat.

NARRATOR: Despite his unassuming nature,

Hoxha was devious and power-hungry,

with his uncompromising brand of Marxism

with his uncompromising brand of Marxism

bringing Albania to the brink of economic and political collapse.

He would need a luxurious residence to match his ego

and he'd find it among the network of streets

in Tirana, Albania's capital.

in Tirana, Albania's capital.

How he came to own the property typified his gangster regime.

- In November 1944, when the Communist government

- In November 1944, when the Communist government

found that in the area of the new Tirana built by the Italians

there were three or four beautiful houses.

And they found that a villa built by an Italian architect engineer

Bellotti, it was the largest house in Albania at the time.

Bellotti, it was the largest house in Albania at the time.

NARRATOR: Inside, the villa hid splendour and opulence

unimaginable to Albanians living in Europe's poorest country.

FEVZIU: Villa seems to be something like 2,400 square metres.

NARRATOR: Comprising three floors and a basement,

NARRATOR: Comprising three floors and a basement,

the villa included six small apartments,

each featuring bedrooms and bathrooms.

Its interior holds a private cinema,

Its interior holds a private cinema,

while the exterior includes a swimming pool.

Blloku, the Villa's neighbourhood in central Tirana,

Blloku, the Villa's neighbourhood in central Tirana,

is geographically modest,

but held great significance as the district housing Albania's elite.

Under Hoxha, the enclave would come to represent

Under Hoxha, the enclave would come to represent

the dictator's power, as well as his isolation.

- Now, in The Block, Hoxha and his cronies and his acolytes,

- Now, in The Block, Hoxha and his cronies and his acolytes,

they've got all the best stuff from the West.

They've got great medicine,

they got great food, they've got great tech, you name it.

they got great food, they've got great tech, you name it.

They can have whatever they want.

And of course, when you put yourself into a block like that

And of course, when you put yourself into a block like that

and you enclose yourself from the rest of the population,

what's going to happen?

You're going to get more and more paranoid.

You're going to get more and more paranoid.

NARRATOR: Hoxha claimed he wanted to strike international partnerships

to help Albania grow and flourish in the post-war era.

to help Albania grow and flourish in the post-war era.

Instead, he led the country even further into isolation.

First, by cutting ties with the West.

First, by cutting ties with the West.

RICHIE: Saying anything about a Western newspaper

or some sort of western news was enough to get you killed.

Even having relatives in the West was enough.

Even having relatives in the West was enough.

This man was cruel, vindictive and horrifying.

NARRATOR: Unnerved by Hoxha's ruthlessness,

the West sprung into action.

American and British intelligence agents were airdropped into Albania

American and British intelligence agents were airdropped into Albania

to support anti-communist opposition

and undermine Enver Hoxha's regime.

and undermine Enver Hoxha's regime.

The operation failed

and is widely considered the juncture that catalysed

and is widely considered the juncture that catalysed

Hoxha's tailspin into paranoia and seclusion.

NARRATOR: Following the West's failed coup attempt in Albania

in the late 1940s, early 1950s,

Enver Hoxha began to fortify his villa.

Enver Hoxha began to fortify his villa.

- There were a number of attempts to kill Hoxha.

Nevertheless, by the end of his rule there were

a few known attempts on his life,

a few known attempts on his life,

but one of the reasons for this was that he guarded himself so well

and he'd killed off so many opponents that it was very difficult

for anybody to actually mount any kind of insurrection against him.

- He had some rings of security.

They put it a second security checkpoint,

something like 50 metres from the villa.

something like 50 metres from the villa.

Then, at the end, they circulated an area

of some hectares to protect the villa of the Hoxha,

of some hectares to protect the villa of the Hoxha,

which was on the centre.

For four years, never a man of Politburo, or the government,

For four years, never a man of Politburo, or the government,

passed in the front of the Hoxha's villa.

For the protection of Blloku,

it was a group of 5,000 armed men,

it was a group of 5,000 armed men,

with ten tanks.

They were in the basement of Central Committee.

And also some anti-rocket batteries,

not very modern and sophisticated.

First of all, it was the security.

Villa had inside 12 people, for the security.

It was one, let's say, bodyguard for every place,

including the bedroom.

including the bedroom.

In the front of the bedroom is a small kind of garderoba,

where a guy was standing 24 hours a day there,

where a guy was standing 24 hours a day there,

changed every three hours.

It was one of the personnels and more trusted bodyguards.

It was one of the personnels and more trusted bodyguards.

NARRATOR: For Hoxha, this was insufficient.

He required contingencies for every potential threat.

He required contingencies for every potential threat.

The ultimate solution was a clandestine, subterranean hideout.

- Then there were a system of bunkers under the house.

- Then there were a system of bunkers under the house.

Some bunkers connect the house of Hoxha

with the house of Mehmet Shehu, the Prime Minister.

They both connected the houses with the Central Committee

They both connected the houses with the Central Committee

and with the government building.

And from there, there is a third tunnel going now

at the extent Rogner Hotel

at the extent Rogner Hotel

and from there to the Royal Palace in order.

NARRATOR: With access to an ever expanding network of tunnels,

Hoxha was well prepared for any lethal threats

requiring immediate evacuation or disappearance.

requiring immediate evacuation or disappearance.

The underground structures remain a testament

to his meticulous planning.

As Albania continued to decline,

As Albania continued to decline,

the world watched the escalating delusions

of a dictator desperate for security.

- (speaking Albanian)

- (speaking Albanian)

- Dictators suffer from a number of illusions...

- Dictators suffer from a number of illusions...

..so they have this extreme conspiratorial mindset

that leads them to see danger at every corner

that leads them to see danger at every corner

and to isolate themselves in their defence.

NARRATOR: Terrified by the prospect of Albania

NARRATOR: Terrified by the prospect of Albania

becoming absorbed by Tito's Yugoslavia,

Hoxha cut ties with his neighbour.

- He always had that idea, the party will be consolidated,

killing the others.

If you don't have an enemy, you create an enemy.

If you don't have an enemy, you create an enemy.

You kill him and the other will be afraid.

NARRATOR: This paranoia culminated in the severance of relations

with the Soviet Union itself.

Whereas Hoxha regarded Stalin as a fellow Marxist ideologue,

Whereas Hoxha regarded Stalin as a fellow Marxist ideologue,

he derided Khrushchev as a charlatan.

On November 7th, 1961,

On November 7th, 1961,

Hoxha made a speech denouncing Khruschev as a revolutionist,

an anti-Marxist and a defeatist.

- Hoxha is a complete extremist.

- Hoxha is a complete extremist.

He is like the super, uber communist.

He is more of a communist even than Joseph Stalin.

He is more of a communist even than Joseph Stalin.

That is saying something.

Hoxha is more of a communist than anybody who's ever lived.

NARRATOR: Following the severance of relations with the USSR,

NARRATOR: Following the severance of relations with the USSR,

Hoxha received a message...

..that an attack was being prepared against him.

..that an attack was being prepared against him.

- He cut the borders, so that nobody could get in or out.

And he was convinced that there were enemies everywhere,

that Albania was going to be attacked.

that Albania was going to be attacked.

- Hoxha is completely terrified of losing power

and he's also projecting that terror,

and he's also projecting that terror,

of losing power, onto his own people.

He starts creating what is known as 'bunkerization'.

He starts creating what is known as 'bunkerization'.

NARRATOR: Bunkerization of this scale

was the most significant in world history.

was the most significant in world history.

The idea of a country so small and impoverished

undertaking such a task was incomprehensible.

- Dictators have a tendency to create

very large scale projects.

Monuments. Buildings.

Monuments. Buildings.

Underground bunkers.

And these great projects are a reflection of their own importance.

And these great projects are a reflection of their own importance.

- Hoxha got the idea of the bunkerization of Albania

- Hoxha got the idea of the bunkerization of Albania

from his own paranoia, this idea that this was the way

to protect individuals and to protect himself.

NARRATOR: In 1971,

the twelfth plenum of the ALP's Central Committee,

the twelfth plenum of the ALP's Central Committee,

led by Enver Hoxha,

enacted the process of Albania's bunkerization.

The strategy would be implemented from 1975 until 1983.

The strategy would be implemented from 1975 until 1983.

During this time,

173,371 bunkers were constructed

throughout the country.

throughout the country.

Varying in size, some were small, designed for civilians.

Others were large, concealing cannons and tanks.

Others were large, concealing cannons and tanks.

The plan was to have one bunker for every eleven inhabitants.

-They were in towns and cities and villages.

-They were in towns and cities and villages.

In playgrounds, in schools,

in hospitals, back gardens. It was unbelievable.

The number of bunkers spread all over the country

The number of bunkers spread all over the country

was astronomical.

WALTERS: The idea of creating bunkers for basically everybody

WALTERS: The idea of creating bunkers for basically everybody

is an expression, surely, of total paranoia.

Hoxha is making out to the Albanian people,

Hoxha is making out to the Albanian people,

that you could be invaded at any time.

"You've got to protect yourself at all costs."

This is insanity.

NARRATOR: This rampant paranoia brought Albania

NARRATOR: This rampant paranoia brought Albania

to the brink of financial collapse,

but it served Hoxha's purpose of keeping his population

firmly under his control.

firmly under his control.

DERVISHI:

DERVISHI:

FEVZIU: Albanians spent, at the time, 28% of the GDP.

NARRATOR: As the deluge of capital flowed to turn

NARRATOR: As the deluge of capital flowed to turn

Hoxha's vision into a reality,

ordinary citizens were inundated by unrivalled poverty.

ordinary citizens were inundated by unrivalled poverty.

Their needs overshadowed by their leader's grandiose

and misguided vision.

- Albania becomes the third poorest country in the world.

- Albania becomes the third poorest country in the world.

Not just Europe, the world,

because the average wage is something like

15 US dollars a month.

15 US dollars a month.

The country is made bankrupt by building all these bunkers.

So, you've got the irony that these bunkers

So, you've got the irony that these bunkers

that are meant to protect Albania

end up being its biggest threat.

NARRATOR: While Albania faced financial and societal collapse,

NARRATOR: While Albania faced financial and societal collapse,

Hoxha's paranoia continued to dictate policy.

In 1978, having already distanced himself from the Soviet Union,

In 1978, having already distanced himself from the Soviet Union,

he cut ties with Communist China,

his last remaining ally.

MOGHADDAM: Hoxha turned away from both the Soviet Union and China

MOGHADDAM: Hoxha turned away from both the Soviet Union and China

because he believed that both of those systems

had turned away from

had turned away from

strict Marxist Leninism and Stalinist line.

NARRATOR: With his allies gone, Hoxha began to prepare Albania

NARRATOR: With his allies gone, Hoxha began to prepare Albania

for the war he believed would certainly come.

This would coincide with the construction of his most clandestine

and secure base yet, in the southern stronghold of Corovode.

and secure base yet, in the southern stronghold of Corovode.

- Hoxha had the idea that the war was going to come in two phases.

First phase would be a, kind of, conventional war

First phase would be a, kind of, conventional war

and so for that you needed conventional defence system,

including mortars, rockets and all the other things.

And then the second phase was going to be a guerrilla war

And then the second phase was going to be a guerrilla war

that was going to be perpetrated by the enemies from outside.

RICHIE: Corovode, which was huge complex,

which was dug into the mountains,

it was going to have about 100,000 spaces for people.

it was going to have about 100,000 spaces for people.

- What this was going to be was the ultimate place of safety, you know?

- What this was going to be was the ultimate place of safety, you know?

It was the ultimate hideout for Hoxha,

and it was known as The Capital of War.

and it was known as The Capital of War.

NARRATOR: Albania's so-called 'Capital of War'

was constructed in the city of Corovode.

was constructed in the city of Corovode.

Here, Hoxha made preparations for a final reckoning

between the last bastion of Marxist-Leninism

and his mounting enemies in the East and the West.

and his mounting enemies in the East and the West.

But how did the largest and most highly classified project

of Hoxha's regime maintain its secrecy?

of Hoxha's regime maintain its secrecy?

NARRATOR: Bardhyl Kalemi bore witness

as Enver Hoxha's imposing underground fortress

as Enver Hoxha's imposing underground fortress

took shape in Corovode.

Kalemi saw, first-hand, the juxtaposition

of the nation's aspirations and its haunting reality.

of the nation's aspirations and its haunting reality.

NARRATOR: The sheer audacity of constructing a structure this vast,

NARRATOR: The sheer audacity of constructing a structure this vast,

under the nose of an unsuspecting populace,

shows the iron grip Hoxha had over Albania.

shows the iron grip Hoxha had over Albania.

The project required not only total secrecy,

but also abundant resources.

- During the Cold War there were, of course,

- During the Cold War there were, of course,

more scared of nuclear attacks.

The best way to protect a bunker for a nuclear attack,

make it as strong as possible.

make it as strong as possible.

Use the high quality materials,

multiple layers of the best concrete.

The concrete that protects you already from the radiation.

The concrete that protects you already from the radiation.

Dig it into a mountain, deep underground.

NARRATOR: One labourer, managing to load 11 wagons,

meeting the standard requirement,

meeting the standard requirement,

would receive a wage of 166 lek.

At the exchange rate of that time,

this amounted to approximately two and a half dollars per day.

this amounted to approximately two and a half dollars per day.

The Capital of War is the name attributed to the bunker network

scattered across the city of Corovode.

In the event of war,

everything would be moved to this one vast labyrinth.

- All the gold from the Albanian bank would be housed there,

in a secret tunnel.

There were already these massive, huge, underground ovens

that would be able to bake bread for thousands of people.

that would be able to bake bread for thousands of people.

Also there would be the state archives,

the press and, of course,

the press and, of course,

what all dictators need in their hideouts is a lot of weapons.

Now, on top of this, high in the mountains,

Now, on top of this, high in the mountains,

the dictator installed his command post.

NARRATOR: What secrets lurk deep within his personal hideout?

Amidst the sprawling labyrinth of tunnels and bunkers

stands a unique two-story edifice.

Here, the nation's supreme leader

would be able to rest and rejuvenate,

before leading his forces below ground.

Ferdinand Dervishi is an investigative journalist

who had chronicled Albania's bunkerization for years.

who had chronicled Albania's bunkerization for years.

Through his tenacious commitment,

Dervishi has become a leading voice

on the intricate mysteries surrounding Albania's

on the intricate mysteries surrounding Albania's

extensive bunker network.

NARRATOR: Ascending to the building's second floor,

we find the intended quarters for Hoxha and his family.

A sanctuary for resting, meals and daily life.

A sanctuary for resting, meals and daily life.

With the rest of the structure housing conference rooms

and offices, this level was designed for moments of repose.

Beneath this building's edifice, a nuclear bunker was concealed,

Beneath this building's edifice, a nuclear bunker was concealed,

between 20 and 80 metres underground.

This was the most secure place in the entirety of the Capital of War,

This was the most secure place in the entirety of the Capital of War,

with walls 2.5 metres thick.

- It was a complex system of engineering,

- It was a complex system of engineering,

as well as anything else,

and Hoxha thought that if you had a bunch of concrete above you,

that this would be enough to protect you.

- There were several tunnels dug

- There were several tunnels dug

and they were about 200 or 300m long,

but they were in a U shape.

Now, the U shape is related to the ventilation system

Now, the U shape is related to the ventilation system

because you have one generator sucking in air

and the other one pulling it out through.

NARRATOR: The decontamination room was the final line of defence

against nuclear annihilation.

Without it, even the bunker's thick walls would serve no quarter.

A slow, agonizing death would await those inside,

A slow, agonizing death would await those inside,

including the dictator himself.

The decontamination room featured six heavy armoured doors

The decontamination room featured six heavy armoured doors

lined in a row, creating a formidable barrier

against any potential hazards.

WALTERS: Inside, you have rooms almost like

really quite nice apartments for Hoxha

really quite nice apartments for Hoxha

and his family and his staff.

And there were living rooms and bedrooms and bathrooms.

NARRATOR: Hoxha allocated a suite of rooms for himself,

NARRATOR: Hoxha allocated a suite of rooms for himself,

a bedroom, a rest area and a bathroom.

Although the complex was completed,

only some of the rooms were furnished,

only some of the rooms were furnished,

while others remained untouched.

For example, the main tunnel, which was meant to house Hoxha,

For example, the main tunnel, which was meant to house Hoxha,

would have also served as a hospital.

NARRATOR: Within the bunker's confines,

NARRATOR: Within the bunker's confines,

a staggering arsenal emerged.

Thousands of weapons were stored,

with thousands of soldiers stationed,

ever vigilant and at the ready.

It seemed that the Capital of War was Hoxha's ultimate hideout,

but would it be enough to guarantee his safety?

In any event, Enver Hoxha never had to resort to the Capital of War.

In any event, Enver Hoxha never had to resort to the Capital of War.

Though he was convinced that an attack would come,

he remained at his private villa in Tirana,

he remained at his private villa in Tirana,

beneath which he had also made extensive preparations

for an enemy attack.

In the depths of the capital, he cunningly hid the largest

In the depths of the capital, he cunningly hid the largest

and most technologically sophisticated

of his underground facilities.

- Hoxha's secret facility in Tirana was known as Bunk'Art 2.

- Hoxha's secret facility in Tirana was known as Bunk'Art 2.

This was a massive nuclear bunker in the very centre of Tirana.

It was undetectable because it was hidden

It was undetectable because it was hidden

within the fabric of the city itself.

It was hidden in plain sight, as it were.

NARRATOR: Beneath this unassuming, small structure, in the city centre,

NARRATOR: Beneath this unassuming, small structure, in the city centre,

lies a colossal secret.

From 1981 to 1986,

From 1981 to 1986,

under the guise of the Ministry of Internal Affairs building,

a clandestine bunker was constructed

for the highest dignitaries of the Albanian security forces.

for the highest dignitaries of the Albanian security forces.

This fortress, shrouded in secrecy,

marked the last grand edifice of the regime.

- Whole system of tunnels and other connected buildings,

is that it's almost inaccessible, or at least large parts of it are,

and so it's impossible to know, really, what's down there.

and so it's impossible to know, really, what's down there.

There have been lots of speculations, lots of urban myths,

lots of ideas as to what was built there.

If Bunk'Art 2 exists,

should there not also be Bunk'Art 1?

WALTERS: Albania had a war doctrine

WALTERS: Albania had a war doctrine

and in case of open war,

Albania would start to fight, kind of guerrilla style,

in the mountains.

in the mountains.

But, in case of a sudden external attack,

Hoxha would hide in Object 0774.

- Very close to Tirana, just minutes away,

- Very close to Tirana, just minutes away,

is another secret bunker that Hoxha built.

- It was not discovered until the late 1990s.

- It was not discovered until the late 1990s.

You can be very, very comfortable when you describe

what was found there as being completely insane.

- There are no traces of the existence of the bunker.

It's just too hard to get the idea.

Once you get to the doors, only in that moment,

Once you get to the doors, only in that moment,

you can realise that you are in front of a bunker.

Official information is like 2,685 metres square.

Official information is like 2,685 metres square.

Is five floors, with 106 rooms.

The structure itself contains a lot of steel.

The walls deep inside, under earth,

start by one metre, up to ten, eleven metres

start by one metre, up to ten, eleven metres

in the most external parts of the bunker.

So, as more exposed it is to the open air,

more volume of concrete we have thrown over there.

more volume of concrete we have thrown over there.

Each tunnel has a wall shielding the doors

Each tunnel has a wall shielding the doors

by any strong mean of explosion,

like missiles or rockets.

It is a wall of concrete of six metres per two metres.

It is a wall of concrete of six metres per two metres.

- What they're supposed to be is the cutting edge of technology

- What they're supposed to be is the cutting edge of technology

as bunkers and they're meant to protect Hoxha and all his cronies,

in the event of some anticipated nuclear strike.

in the event of some anticipated nuclear strike.

NANAJ: The doors were built on place

because they were too heavy and they could not transport.

because they were too heavy and they could not transport.

All are standard 16 centimetres width, armoured with steel inside,

very dense and heavy stuff, like four tons.

very dense and heavy stuff, like four tons.

NARRATOR: But even the most formidable nuclear-proof doors

NARRATOR: But even the most formidable nuclear-proof doors

offer minimal defence against chemical and biological weapons.

Here, the solution lies beyond the door system,

Here, the solution lies beyond the door system,

in a small room with an essential purpose.

ANGELIER: Then you have the decontamination room.

That is basically the specific closed area.

That is basically the specific closed area.

You get showers, your clothes are taken off.

You're cleaned up and then you get into a second section,

You're cleaned up and then you get into a second section,

where they put up new clothing and then you enter,

finally, into the bunker.

To prevent chemicals going into your bunker

and biological, you need to have a proper NBC filter.

NARRATOR: There were multiple methods of communication,

NARRATOR: There were multiple methods of communication,

telephony, telegraphy, radio and German manufactured computers,

all alongside technology which was powered

all alongside technology which was powered

by energy generated within the bunker itself.

The bunkers had a three phase system for providing energy,

The bunkers had a three phase system for providing energy,

an external network, an internal generator

and batteries in the event of a total blackout.

Besides the task of preparing the bunker for security,

Besides the task of preparing the bunker for security,

Hoxha pursued the creation of an underground villa.

A self-contained city where one could live,

A self-contained city where one could live,

oblivious to the outside world.

NANAJ: They had the concept that with no communication,

there is no command, and with no command,

there is no command, and with no command,

there is no victory in the front.

- You could have a building that can house up to 250 people,

including the country's general staff.

There was enough food, water, fuel,

There was enough food, water, fuel,

to keep hundreds of people locked up there for a whole year.

- In general terms, there were dormitories, or barracks,

rooms where the personnel, the staff, has to sleep.

rooms where the personnel, the staff, has to sleep.

Besides the sleeping rooms, you have the offices.

- Obviously all dictators need a luxury bed

- Obviously all dictators need a luxury bed

and then an office for his secretaries

and a bathroom with a shower.

And he, you know, it's a measure of Hoxha's ego and vanity that,

you know, even in his bunker he wants to show

how important he is by having his apartment really nicely designed.

how important he is by having his apartment really nicely designed.

And, you know, we have, in Hoxha's apartment,

we have metal covering the wall,

we have metal covering the wall,

so it's much more secure.

While for the general staff, their bedrooms are just made from wood.

- It was insane.

They were preparing themselves for some kind of apocalypse.

This complex is vast.

If the West or East had conquered,

Object 0774 would have been this very active place,

Object 0774 would have been this very active place,

you know, because the entire defence of the country

could be organized from here.

could be organized from here.

NARRATOR: But in the event of an all-out nuclear war,

NARRATOR: But in the event of an all-out nuclear war,

was Bunk'Art 1 Hoxha's ultimate hideout?

Or would the Capital of War serve as the superior fortress?

Or would the Capital of War serve as the superior fortress?

NARRATOR: Paranoid Albanian strongman, Enver Hoxha,

had built numerous hideouts throughout the country

during his 40 year reign.

His main bunkers were his villa in Tirana's centre,

His main bunkers were his villa in Tirana's centre,

Object 0774 on its outskirts

and the Capital of War in Corovode.

and the Capital of War in Corovode.

Which of these structures was the most sophisticated

for the insecure ruler?

Even the most fortified bunkers have weaknesses.

Even the most fortified bunkers have weaknesses.

How could Hoxha's super bunker be made vulnerable?

And could he have successfully withstood a full frontal assault

And could he have successfully withstood a full frontal assault

from a powerful enemy, either from the east or the west?

To find out, former British Army Intelligence Corps officer,

Andrian Weale, will put them to the test.

- In the 1970s and 1980s there's a kind of revolution

in military technology and it really comes from

miniaturization of electronics,

miniaturization of electronics,

transistors and things like that, which became-

came into common use in military equipment, in those times.

Consequently, the Yugoslavians were able to build

effective modern equipment,

fighter jets, tanks and so on

fighter jets, tanks and so on

to supplement the basic small arms,

rifles, artillery, which remain, more or less, the same technically.

There is this change and it means that

the United States, the Soviet Union,

are all in competition with each other, with peer or near-peer levels

are all in competition with each other, with peer or near-peer levels

of military technology,

which hadn't necessarily been the case before.

NARRATOR: If the USA were to attack Albania,

Hoxha, according to his escape plan,

would move from his luxurious villa to Bunk'Art 1.

would move from his luxurious villa to Bunk'Art 1.

In order to kill Hohxa while hidden there,

they would need to mount a surgical attack directly on the bunker.

they would need to mount a surgical attack directly on the bunker.

- The first stage of any aviation attack

is the suppression of enemy air defence.

Take out the radars, you take out the missile systems.

Take out the radars, you take out the missile systems.

You then send in the attack helicopters, the Apaches.

They use their heavy weapons, cannons,

air to ground rockets,

air to ground guided missiles,

to hit other targets which are going to offer you resistance.

to hit other targets which are going to offer you resistance.

Once those targets are suppressed,

helicopters continue to orbit around

making sure that nobody else pops up to open fire.

making sure that nobody else pops up to open fire.

That's when you bring in the transport helicopters,

Chinooks, which can carry up to about 60 troops.

Chinooks, which can carry up to about 60 troops.

Blackhawks, which carry up to about 12, at any one time,

they bring the infantry in.

The targets will not have been destroyed at this point,

but once you've eliminated the defences around the targets,

but once you've eliminated the defences around the targets,

effectively they're sitting ducks.

Hopefully then you'd catch your target within the bunker.

If he's got away, he's going to go to The Capital of War,

in the mountains. Then you've got a different problem.

in the mountains. Then you've got a different problem.

NARRATOR: The attack would need to be swift,

as otherwise Hoxha could escape

through one of Bunk'Art's five emergency exits,

through one of Bunk'Art's five emergency exits,

attempting to flee to Corovode.

Once among the mountainous terrain,

an attack would be difficult,

preventing superiority from armoured weapons and heavy artillery.

preventing superiority from armoured weapons and heavy artillery.

The countless Albanian bunkers and minefields

would need to be identified,

would need to be identified,

then targeted by planes and artillery,

resulting in losses that no army could bear,

with some estimates claiming losses

with some estimates claiming losses

of hundreds of thousands dead and wounded.

- The only way you're going to get him out of there,

because it's a big structure, is to use a big weapon...

..in this case, a thermonuclear device.

So that's a megaton bomb,

So that's a megaton bomb,

or a multiple of megatons.

And that is- that's really capable of removing mountains

and that's what it's going to do.

and that's what it's going to do.

And you can use that in the mountains

because it's not close to centres of population

and though there will be collateral damage.

NARRATOR: Should the Soviet Union have decided to attack,

they could, as a last resort,

have deployed a tactical nuclear device against Hoxha.

have deployed a tactical nuclear device against Hoxha.

- The R-12 Dvina rocket, which was the most common, if you like,

- The R-12 Dvina rocket, which was the most common, if you like,

rocket and warhead combination with the Soviet forces,

would certainly be able to strike anywhere in Albania.

ANGELIER: The structure there, and the secret city

ANGELIER: The structure there, and the secret city

built inside the mountain,

it doesn't give any significant protection,

if you look at the construction in general.

if you look at the construction in general.

What we found was they had poor constructional design

and poor material because it needed to be cheap.

- The other problem with these big complexes was

it was really pointless because people might die immediately

in this mysterious bomb blast that was going to happen,

in this mysterious bomb blast that was going to happen,

but otherwise they would die in two weeks anyway,

locked in, underground, in the most horrible conditions.

So, the whole thing was a fantasy.

So, the whole thing was a fantasy.

FEVZIU: The idea that he was always a target of attack from outside,

FEVZIU: The idea that he was always a target of attack from outside,

it was a stupid idea.

It was a stupid idea because he made the fortification

of the country at the time when Hoxha was nothing for Italians,

of the country at the time when Hoxha was nothing for Italians,

nothing for Greeks and nothing for Yugoslavs.

It was not the beginning.

The beginning I understand, because it was still the Cold War,

The beginning I understand, because it was still the Cold War,

but in the beginning of 80s,

when we completed fortification of a country,

when we completed fortification of a country,

Albania had been isolated from the world,

but absolutely even the world forgot Albania.

but absolutely even the world forgot Albania.

He was just a corner of the world,

with a stupid man and with a crazy people staying there.

- Hoxha died of a heart attack in his villa,

all by himself, in 1985.

all by himself, in 1985.

After 41 years of rule.

- If it hadn't been for 41 years

- If it hadn't been for 41 years

of dictatorial rule by Hoxha...

..the country would have been very, very different

and much better probably.

NARRATOR: Despite his fate,

Albanians endure the scars of Hoxha's rule to this day.

Albanians endure the scars of Hoxha's rule to this day.

He effectively sealed the entire country in a timewarp,

isolated from the technological, economic

and cultural advances of much of the rest of Europe.

Had he ruled much longer,

Had he ruled much longer,

there might have been no hope for Albania.

As it stands, it is now rebuilding itself

as a vibrant, modern economy,

as a vibrant, modern economy,

connected to partners in the east and the west,

as it consigns the 40 years of Hoxha's reign

as it consigns the 40 years of Hoxha's reign

to the dustbin of history.

Subtitles by Sky Access Services

Subtitles by Sky Access Services