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Marchivum
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The name alone gives an indication of what is hidden behind the 1.40-meter-thick concrete walls.
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Namely, the city archives of Mannheim.
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Previously, this was located in the nearby Collini Center, until it was then moved to Mannheim's Neckarstadt and opened in 2018 under the new name Marchivum.
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The fact that the building was not newly constructed for this purpose cannot be overlooked.
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The high-rise bunker, also called Ochsenpferchbunker, was built between 1940 and 1943 and served as a refuge from air raids during World War 2.
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It is one of 56 bunkers in the city, of which a total of 20 were built as high-rise bunkers.
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It provided shelter for up to 7,500 people on six floors.
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Over 150 heavy air raids fell on Mannheim at this time, completely destroying most of the city.
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Due to the resulting homelessness of many residents, the bunkers served as housing after the war.
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Thus, the Ochsenpferchbunker was still inhabited until 1966 under the most catastrophic conditions.
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In the early 1980s, it was converted into an ABC bunker to withstand the threat of nuclear attack and provide protection during the Cold War.
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Fortunately, it did not come to that and thus, after years of vacancy, the high-rise bunker was listed as a historical monument in 2003.
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The plans for the conversion into an archive, which began in 2013, included further changes.
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After the completion of the reconstruction, the archival materials were moved and finally the Marchivum was opened.
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However, not only does the building have a lot to offer, but the Marchivum itself also has a wide range of services.
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For instance, one already has the opportunity to visit various temporary exhibitions on the first floor.
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There will be a **** Documentation Center on the floor above.
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It will maintain the memory of the National Socialist era and its victims.
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In addition to an exhibition, guests can make use of research stations and a seminar room.
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The so-called magazines are located on floors 2-4.
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This is where documents, deeds and files are stored.
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They are in cardboard boxes that can withstand fire for a long time because of their special material.
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In addition, their insides are coated with an alkaline layer that delays the natural decay process of paper.
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The boxes, in turn, are arranged in rolling racks according to a strict system.
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Despite the massive ceilings, special attention must be paid here to the weight distribution of the shelf contents.
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Probably the most valuable items in the archive are the council minutes of the city of Mannheim.
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The oldest existing one is from 1617.
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On the 5th and 6th floors, which are the supplemented floors made of glass, there are staff offices as well as lounges,
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rooms for the inspection of building records, urban history research, and historical person research.
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In addition, the in-house digitization center is located here.
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The basement houses the large ventilation system, which ensures an optimal climate in the building,
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as well as the housing of the photography and film collections.
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If you take a look at the Marchivum's flyer or website, you will also discover a variety of different events that regularly take place in the bunker.
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The Marchivum - Mannheim Archive and House of City History and Remembrance.
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Then as now, an embodiment of historical events and a source for anyone interested in Mannheim's past, present, but also future.