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Narrator:
An american installation
That waged a cold war.
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Gough: it was so brazen.
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00:00:06,467 --> 00:00:10,333
It must have been a giant
Middle finger to the ussr.
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00:00:11,467 --> 00:00:15,633
Narrator:
An industrial site now lost
In impenetrable forest.
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Bell: without that production,
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Hitler's war machine
Would simply grind to a halt.
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00:00:24,900 --> 00:00:29,100
Narrator: and an abandoned
Tower teetering at the edge.
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It's a very strange picture
Because what was there before
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00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:31,000
It's a very strange picture
Because what was there before
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00:00:33,033 --> 00:00:34,367
Is no longer there now.
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00:00:38,267 --> 00:00:41,033
Narrator: once, they were some
Of the most advanced structures
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00:00:41,033 --> 00:00:43,567
And facilities on the planet,
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At the cutting edge
Of design and construction.
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Today, they stand abandoned,
Contaminated,
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00:00:51,167 --> 00:00:52,900
And sometimes deadly.
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But who built them?
And how?
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And why were they abandoned?
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-- captions by vitac --
Www.Vitac.Com
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-- captions by vitac --
Www.Vitac.Com
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Captions paid for by
Discovery communications
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*
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*
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In the western part of
Germany's capital city, berlin,
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A battered shell of a building
Sits atop a tree-covered hill.
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*
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*
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The hill is called
The teufelsberg,
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The devil's mountain.
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The name adds
A sinister touch
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To the weird structure
Rising out of the trees.
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Gough: at first sight,
All you're thinking is
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I don't know what this is,
But it's an eyesore.
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Narrator: towering 260 feet
Above the surrounding plateau,
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The block-shaped building
With its central tower
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The block-shaped building
With its central tower
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Is mysteriously topped
By a dome.
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Two other tattered domes
Flank the tower,
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And nearby a fourth rises
From the summit.
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Surrounded by a sprawling
Complex of derelict facilities,
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The tower and the
Four domes are covered
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In ragged, plastic sheeting
That exposes the ruined interior
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Of this extraordinary structure.
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Of this extraordinary structure.
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Gough: this thing is really
A hangout for rebels,
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Conspiracy theorists,
Counterculture intellectuals,
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And most definitely
Graffiti artists.
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And there's soft of an
Angry presence to it.
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Narrator: mystery surrounds
This strange ruin,
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00:02:54,567 --> 00:02:57,900
But what was
Its original purpose,
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And why was it abandoned?
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00:03:04,433 --> 00:03:08,267
In the 1960s, the city
Of berlin is the center
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Of cold war espionage.
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The city is split
Into four sectors.
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Three are run by the
Americans, british, and french,
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While the eastern quarter
Is run by the soviets.
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00:03:22,867 --> 00:03:26,067
However, this makes
Democratic west berlin
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Entirely surrounded by
Communist east germany,
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Making the west an easy target
For eavesdropping.
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Making the west an easy target
For eavesdropping.
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Nusbacher: the american embassy
In moscow is riddled
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With listening equipment.
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The american fleet at sea
Is constantly being tailed
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By soviet fishing trawlers
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Bristling with
Listening equipment.
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Everybody is
Shadowing everybody.
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Narrator: though encircled,
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America's national
Security agency, the nsa,
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America's national
Security agency, the nsa,
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Takes advantage of its
Proximity to the communists,
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Hoping to spy against
The soviet union.
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So they aim to build a
Cutting-edge listening station
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Called field station berlin,
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Known to its operators
As the hill.
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Corum: we had listening posts
With large antennas
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All around the periphery
Of the soviet union
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Collecting electronic
Intelligence.
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And it was especially
Well-placed
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And it was especially
Well-placed
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Because it's 150 miles
Inside the enemy lines
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In this enclave of west berlin.
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Teufelsberg was a place
Where we in the west
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Could listen in and get a
Look inside the operations
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Of the soviet armed forces.
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Narrator: in 1963,
Engineers begin work
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On a new permanent structure
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On the summit
Of the teufelsberg.
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The foundations for the new
Radio monitoring station
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Go deep, but not into bedrock.
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The teufelsberg is
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A 16-million-cubic-yard
Mound of rubble
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Created from the wartime ruins
Of nazi berlin.
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Beneath this devil's hill is
Something really interesting,
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A nazi technical college
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Designed and constructed
By albert speer.
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And it was designed so well,
They couldn't knock it down,
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And it was designed so well,
They couldn't knock it down,
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So they just buried it.
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Narrator: from the moment
The hill begins operating,
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The soviet union is
Desperate to shut it down.
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And that's because teufelsberg
Surveillance technology
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Is effective.
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In each of the hill's
Distinctive domes,
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A large rotating parabolic
Radio antennae intercepts
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The soviet force's
Radio communications.
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Monitoring this radio
Chatter gives the nsa
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00:06:07,533 --> 00:06:09,967
An invaluable
Intelligence insight
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Into military maneuvers
Behind the iron curtain.
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But to maintain the shape
Of the plastic sheeting
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Over the main dome, the whole
Structure has to be kept
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Under pressure, with
Life-threatening consequences.
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Gough: it's interesting that
The iconic ray domes
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Are still there today.
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Now, these were thin plastic
Put over frames
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In a highly pressurized room,
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And we're told,
Interestingly,
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That the men
Who worked there
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Had to go through
A decompression chamber
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Upon leaving
Or otherwise risk
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Getting decompression sickness.
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Narrator: the soviets
Constantly attempt to block
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Or interfere with the u.S.
Army's radio communications
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In a practice known as jamming.
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00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:01,000
In a practice known as jamming.
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00:07:03,233 --> 00:07:10,833
Now, jamming was a standard
Procedure of the soviet union.
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00:07:10,833 --> 00:07:14,900
But in this case,
There's not a lot you can do
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With an enclave that's
Deep inside your system
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Without jamming your own
Radio transmissions.
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This structure, high up on
The hill, it was so brazen.
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It must have been a giant
Middle finger to the ussr.
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00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:30,367
It must have been a giant
Middle finger to the ussr.
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Narrator: year by year,
The hill listening station
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Gathers intelligence
On the strength and capabilities
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00:07:39,967 --> 00:07:42,433
Of soviet
And east german forces.
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The all-important nuclear
Missile launcher units
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Are given top priority.
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*
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You can learn a lot
From military operations
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From just listening, even if
You haven't broken their codes.
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From just listening, even if
You haven't broken their codes.
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We understood that when
We were on the radio
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The other guys were listening,
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And they understood that,
As well.
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Narrator: but will
The soviets manage
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00:08:14,900 --> 00:08:17,233
To sabotage the hill?
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00:08:17,233 --> 00:08:20,067
And why was it abandoned?
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*
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Narrator: during the cold war
In west berlin,
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Surrounded by
Communist east germany
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Is an american-run listening
Station known as the hill.
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Though both sides eavesdrop
On their opponent's
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Radio communications,
For more than 30 years
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The hill's location in berlin
Gives the west
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The hill's location in berlin
Gives the west
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A crucial advantage.
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*
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You're surrounded by
A large number
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Of soviet east german divisions,
Which are holding maneuvers,
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Which are pushing
The radio traffic.
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00:09:09,567 --> 00:09:14,200
And it's a great place to
Listen to all of their patter,
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00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:17,567
Their tactical
Operational transmissions.
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Narrator: the soviets
Never managed to put an end
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To the nsa's surveillance,
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To the nsa's surveillance,
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And when the cold
War comes to an end
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With the collapse
Of the soviet union
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And the warsaw pact of 1989,
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The hill's mission ends.
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As soon as it's decommissioned,
The hill is stripped
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Of its secret
Monitoring equipment
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And left as an empty shell.
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*
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Today, the teufelsberg
Listening station lies in ruins
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Today, the teufelsberg
Listening station lies in ruins
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Overlooking the city of berlin,
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But its rebellious status
Remains intact.
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Gough: who wants to remember
That paranoia,
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00:10:02,933 --> 00:10:04,900
That imminent destruction?
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So now it's a graffiti gallery,
And maybe that's appropriate.
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00:10:08,900 --> 00:10:11,133
You know, maybe
That's even healing.
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Narrator:
Even today,
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The details of its surveillance
Work are classified,
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00:10:18,433 --> 00:10:20,700
But the knowledge
And experience gained
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00:10:20,700 --> 00:10:22,633
On this mountain
Of nazi rubble
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Gave the u.S.A. And its allies
A lead in signals intelligence
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00:10:23,069 --> 00:10:24,000
Gave the u.S.A. And its allies
A lead in signals intelligence
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That has never been lost.
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Corum: we are looking at
Peoples' bandwidths
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And transmissions all the time,
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And it's still a very, very
Big part of intelligence.
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00:10:37,367 --> 00:10:40,733
In fact, it's probably a
Bigger part of intelligence
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Today than it was before.
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Gough: the sight now has been
Completely stripped
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00:10:46,300 --> 00:10:49,500
Of all its equipment,
So there's no clue about
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00:10:49,500 --> 00:10:51,867
What it actually found.
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00:10:51,867 --> 00:10:53,069
And to this day,
It remains highly classified,
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00:10:53,069 --> 00:10:54,000
And to this day,
It remains highly classified,
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In fact, top secret.
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*
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00:11:04,667 --> 00:11:08,067
Narrator: over 4,000 miles
Away in the united states
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00:11:08,067 --> 00:11:12,300
In the heart of baltimore,
Maryland, looms an incredible
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00:11:12,300 --> 00:11:14,733
And practically
Unknown structure.
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00:11:18,633 --> 00:11:21,200
Hemmed in by towering
Office blocks,
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00:11:21,200 --> 00:11:23,069
This building is
From a bygone era,
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00:11:23,069 --> 00:11:23,833
This building is
From a bygone era,
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00:11:23,833 --> 00:11:24,000
And many
Of the city's inhabitants
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00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:28,067
Have no idea what it is.
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00:11:29,733 --> 00:11:33,500
Dickrell:
It was the tallest structure
In the united states.
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00:11:33,500 --> 00:11:34,800
Not only was it made of brick,
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00:11:34,800 --> 00:11:37,167
But it was made of
So many bricks.
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00:11:40,567 --> 00:11:43,900
Narrator: pierced only
By a few deep-set windows,
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00:11:43,900 --> 00:11:48,733
This massive brick tower
Soars to a height of 215 feet
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00:11:48,733 --> 00:11:50,667
Above the surrounding streets.
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00:11:54,267 --> 00:11:57,833
At the base of the tower,
An iron door set in
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00:11:57,833 --> 00:12:02,933
Its 4-1/2-feet thick wall leads
Into a hollow shaft.
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00:12:04,200 --> 00:12:05,467
Gilman-forlin:
It is quite a climb.
216
00:12:05,467 --> 00:12:07,967
I mean, going 215 feet,
You know,
217
00:12:07,967 --> 00:12:10,833
It's over 13, 14 stories high.
218
00:12:13,767 --> 00:12:16,967
It really is
An engineering masterpiece,
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00:12:16,967 --> 00:12:20,333
And this really was
Untrodden ground.
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00:12:23,433 --> 00:12:24,000
Narrator: inside,
Old wood planks rise straight up
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00:12:27,400 --> 00:12:30,233
Out of sight,
Supporting bizarre,
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00:12:30,233 --> 00:12:33,167
Zig-zag-shaped iron brackets,
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00:12:33,167 --> 00:12:36,800
And around the walls,
A creaking, wooden staircase
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00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:38,267
Leads to the summit.
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00:12:42,533 --> 00:12:45,433
The smooth surface
Of the tower's interior
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00:12:45,433 --> 00:12:47,433
Is testament to
The skilled laying
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00:12:47,433 --> 00:12:50,267
Of the kiln-fired clay bricks,
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00:12:50,267 --> 00:12:53,067
And the intricate wooden
Framework lining it
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00:12:53,067 --> 00:12:53,069
Reveal the complex engineering
That went into its construction.
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00:12:53,069 --> 00:12:54,000
Reveal the complex engineering
That went into its construction.
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00:13:00,833 --> 00:13:02,500
So what happened here,
232
00:13:02,500 --> 00:13:06,433
And why is this mighty
Building now abandoned?
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00:13:06,433 --> 00:13:11,900
*
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00:13:11,900 --> 00:13:16,300
Throughout the revolutionary war
And even the war of 1812,
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00:13:16,300 --> 00:13:20,567
The american military has to
Rely on imported ammunition
236
00:13:20,567 --> 00:13:23,069
From holland, france, and spain.
237
00:13:23,069 --> 00:13:23,367
From holland, france, and spain.
238
00:13:25,367 --> 00:13:28,333
The united states has
No way of manufacturing
239
00:13:28,333 --> 00:13:30,467
The huge quantities needed,
240
00:13:30,467 --> 00:13:33,700
And this is a crucial
Weakness in its defenses.
241
00:13:35,967 --> 00:13:38,100
Gilman-forlin:
The united states at
The time this was built
242
00:13:38,100 --> 00:13:40,133
Was still a relatively
Young country
243
00:13:40,133 --> 00:13:42,833
That was trying to come onto
Its own on the world stage,
244
00:13:42,833 --> 00:13:44,967
And therefore, it needed
A way of producing
245
00:13:44,967 --> 00:13:48,433
Military armaments
Quickly and inexpensively.
246
00:13:51,167 --> 00:13:53,069
Narrator: so how
Will this unusual tower
247
00:13:53,069 --> 00:13:53,400
Narrator: so how
Will this unusual tower
248
00:13:53,400 --> 00:13:54,000
Help the american military,
And why was it abandoned?
249
00:14:01,367 --> 00:14:02,000
*
250
00:14:07,733 --> 00:14:09,600
Narrator:
By the early 1800s,
251
00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:13,800
The u.S. Military is desperate
To produce its own ammunition.
252
00:14:15,100 --> 00:14:20,200
So in 1828 in baltimore,
Charles carroll iii,
253
00:14:20,200 --> 00:14:21,700
A surviving signatory
254
00:14:21,700 --> 00:14:23,967
Of the u.S. Declaration
Of independence,
255
00:14:23,967 --> 00:14:29,333
Lays the foundation stone for
This, the phoenix shot tower.
256
00:14:29,333 --> 00:14:31,073
*
257
00:14:31,073 --> 00:14:32,000
*
258
00:14:34,567 --> 00:14:37,333
It's an incredible
Vertical factory
259
00:14:37,333 --> 00:14:40,067
Designed to produce 100,000
260
00:14:40,067 --> 00:14:42,700
25-pound bags
Of lead musket balls
261
00:14:42,700 --> 00:14:46,300
And round bullets
Called shot every year.
262
00:14:48,567 --> 00:14:50,767
But to construct
The mighty building,
263
00:14:50,767 --> 00:14:52,633
A local company has to produce
264
00:14:52,633 --> 00:14:56,767
An astonishing
1,100,000 bricks.
265
00:14:59,433 --> 00:15:01,073
Dickrell: the limitation of
The structure was probably due
266
00:15:01,073 --> 00:15:02,000
Dickrell: the limitation of
The structure was probably due
267
00:15:02,433 --> 00:15:05,567
To the compressive strength of
The brick at the bottom, right?
268
00:15:05,567 --> 00:15:06,633
You can only make it so high
269
00:15:06,633 --> 00:15:08,700
Before the weight
Of the structure above
270
00:15:08,700 --> 00:15:11,267
Just crushes
The bricks at the bottom.
271
00:15:13,867 --> 00:15:15,233
Narrator: but despite this,
272
00:15:15,233 --> 00:15:19,500
Soon this extraordinary new
Building begins to take shape.
273
00:15:19,500 --> 00:15:21,933
Yard after yard,
It grows upward.
274
00:15:23,600 --> 00:15:27,967
And there's a reason engineers
Must build it so high.
275
00:15:27,967 --> 00:15:31,073
Dickrell:
At the time when the shot
Tower was constructed,
276
00:15:31,073 --> 00:15:31,300
Dickrell:
At the time when the shot
Tower was constructed,
277
00:15:31,300 --> 00:15:32,000
Guns would shoot spherical,
278
00:15:33,500 --> 00:15:35,600
Basically lead projectiles
Out of them,
279
00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:38,067
And the most efficient way
To do that
280
00:15:38,067 --> 00:15:41,733
Is to pour molten lead
From a height, which,
281
00:15:41,733 --> 00:15:45,333
As it falls, the molten lead
Coalesces into a sphere,
282
00:15:45,333 --> 00:15:46,933
Almost like a perfect sphere.
283
00:15:49,900 --> 00:15:52,567
Narrator: this technique
Might sound bizarre,
284
00:15:52,567 --> 00:15:55,867
But it actually relies on
An ingenious use of physics
285
00:15:55,867 --> 00:15:58,600
To achieve the
Perfectly round bullet.
286
00:16:00,633 --> 00:16:01,073
Tons of lead are hauled
To the top of the tower
287
00:16:01,073 --> 00:16:02,000
Tons of lead are hauled
To the top of the tower
288
00:16:03,933 --> 00:16:06,967
And heated to
620 degrees fahrenheit
289
00:16:06,967 --> 00:16:08,533
To create molten lead.
290
00:16:10,667 --> 00:16:13,067
This is poured through
A copper sieve,
291
00:16:13,067 --> 00:16:15,100
And the combination
Of surface tension
292
00:16:15,100 --> 00:16:18,233
And friction with the air
Turns the falling drops
293
00:16:18,233 --> 00:16:20,800
Of molten lead into
Perfect spheres
294
00:16:20,800 --> 00:16:23,467
By the time they hit a
Cooling pool of water
295
00:16:23,467 --> 00:16:25,067
At the bottom of the tower.
296
00:16:28,067 --> 00:16:31,067
You're basically using gravity
Or using physics
297
00:16:31,067 --> 00:16:31,073
To create a sphere,
So it makes perfect sense.
298
00:16:31,073 --> 00:16:32,000
To create a sphere,
So it makes perfect sense.
299
00:16:33,733 --> 00:16:36,800
But clearly what you need
For that is a lot of height.
300
00:16:36,800 --> 00:16:38,067
And how do you get height?
301
00:16:38,067 --> 00:16:40,767
It's by building
A massive brick tower.
302
00:16:42,867 --> 00:16:46,067
Narrator: but to build
A 215-feet tower
303
00:16:46,067 --> 00:16:48,333
Presents a major challenge.
304
00:16:52,200 --> 00:16:54,333
They didn't really know entirely
305
00:16:54,333 --> 00:16:58,567
What they were getting
Themselves into.
306
00:16:58,567 --> 00:17:01,073
Incredibly, no scaffolding
Was used to build this.
307
00:17:01,073 --> 00:17:01,167
Incredibly, no scaffolding
Was used to build this.
308
00:17:01,167 --> 00:17:02,000
It was built entirely
One level at a time,
309
00:17:04,600 --> 00:17:08,167
Slowly building bricks
As they went up.
310
00:17:08,167 --> 00:17:11,933
It's really, really sturdy,
Almost over-built walls
311
00:17:11,933 --> 00:17:13,767
Because they were
Afraid of a collapse
312
00:17:13,767 --> 00:17:16,167
From wind or some
Other natural disaster.
313
00:17:16,167 --> 00:17:18,900
And so this tower is
Really strong as a rock
314
00:17:18,900 --> 00:17:22,300
Because of those super thick,
Load-bearing masonry walls.
315
00:17:25,367 --> 00:17:27,467
Narrator: in addition
To its sheer height,
316
00:17:27,467 --> 00:17:30,967
Its construction poses other
Threats to life and limb,
317
00:17:30,967 --> 00:17:31,073
Which lead to the
Introduction of one
318
00:17:31,073 --> 00:17:32,000
Which lead to the
Introduction of one
319
00:17:33,100 --> 00:17:35,467
Of its most
Distinctive features.
320
00:17:37,433 --> 00:17:40,333
Gilman-forlin:
That cast iron metal track,
321
00:17:40,333 --> 00:17:43,400
It looks kind of strange and
A lot of people ask what it is,
322
00:17:43,400 --> 00:17:46,367
But it's actually
An early braking system
323
00:17:46,367 --> 00:17:48,067
For a kind of elevator.
324
00:17:48,067 --> 00:17:49,900
Agrawal: they didn't just put
Any old elevator in.
325
00:17:49,900 --> 00:17:51,900
They thought about,
Well, what happens
326
00:17:51,900 --> 00:17:54,067
If a rope actually snaps?
327
00:17:55,933 --> 00:17:58,400
Gilman-forlin:
There was a terrible accident
In which workers fell
328
00:17:58,400 --> 00:18:00,467
To the bottom
But thankfully survived.
329
00:18:00,467 --> 00:18:01,073
After that, they
Installed this track
330
00:18:01,073 --> 00:18:02,000
After that, they
Installed this track
331
00:18:02,433 --> 00:18:06,833
So that the box for the
Pulley system had spokes
332
00:18:06,833 --> 00:18:08,300
Which would fit into the track.
333
00:18:08,300 --> 00:18:11,633
So if there was a breakage,
It would very slowly
334
00:18:11,633 --> 00:18:14,833
Kind of shift its way down
To the bottom of the tower
335
00:18:14,833 --> 00:18:16,867
And hopefully
No one would get hurt.
336
00:18:19,733 --> 00:18:22,733
Narrator: only a year
After the first brick is laid,
337
00:18:22,733 --> 00:18:25,900
The phoenix tower goes
Into production in 1829.
338
00:18:28,933 --> 00:18:30,500
Dickrell: probably one of
The most effective ways
339
00:18:30,500 --> 00:18:31,073
That the united states
Had of making shot.
340
00:18:31,073 --> 00:18:32,000
That the united states
Had of making shot.
341
00:18:33,067 --> 00:18:34,800
It was a huge
Production facility
342
00:18:34,800 --> 00:18:39,167
That created hundreds of
Thousands of bags of shot.
343
00:18:43,100 --> 00:18:47,267
Narrator:
So will the tower meet the
U.S. Army's ammunition needs?
344
00:18:47,267 --> 00:18:49,633
And why was it abandoned?
345
00:18:52,833 --> 00:18:53,000
*
346
00:18:59,467 --> 00:19:00,867
Narrator:
In the heart of baltimore
347
00:19:00,867 --> 00:19:03,967
Stands the imposing
Phoenix shot tower,
348
00:19:03,967 --> 00:19:06,133
Which is designed
To produce ammunition
349
00:19:06,133 --> 00:19:07,767
For the american military.
350
00:19:08,800 --> 00:19:11,933
And for over 30 years,
The phoenix shot tower
351
00:19:11,933 --> 00:19:15,500
Successfully produces
Spherical bullets for muskets.
352
00:19:16,833 --> 00:19:20,267
But in the 1850s, the
Development of more advanced
353
00:19:20,267 --> 00:19:22,564
Rifle ammunition
Deprives it of its role
354
00:19:22,564 --> 00:19:23,000
Rifle ammunition
Deprives it of its role
355
00:19:23,067 --> 00:19:24,633
In the nation's defense.
356
00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:27,333
So the tower creates bullets
357
00:19:27,333 --> 00:19:30,267
For the nation's
Civilian game hunters instead.
358
00:19:34,167 --> 00:19:36,933
But in september, 1878,
359
00:19:36,933 --> 00:19:39,333
Production comes
To a dramatic halt
360
00:19:39,333 --> 00:19:42,600
When the tower's wooden
Interior catches fire.
361
00:19:44,967 --> 00:19:46,933
Dickrell: the flames were
Shooting out so much
362
00:19:46,933 --> 00:19:49,800
That the fire itself could
Be seen from miles away.
363
00:19:49,800 --> 00:19:51,667
The fire burned out all
Of the internal structure
364
00:19:51,667 --> 00:19:52,564
Of the shot tower, but the
Bricks itself remained intact
365
00:19:52,564 --> 00:19:53,000
Of the shot tower, but the
Bricks itself remained intact
366
00:19:55,433 --> 00:19:57,700
Due to their inherent
Resistance to fire.
367
00:19:59,333 --> 00:20:02,133
Agrawal: well, brick is actually
A really good insulator.
368
00:20:02,133 --> 00:20:05,100
What that means is
It doesn't get very hot
369
00:20:05,100 --> 00:20:07,033
Or very cold very easily.
370
00:20:07,033 --> 00:20:09,533
And because of the thickness
Of the brick,
371
00:20:09,533 --> 00:20:11,067
It actually contained the fire.
372
00:20:11,067 --> 00:20:13,067
The heat just couldn't penetrate
373
00:20:13,067 --> 00:20:15,367
Through this massive
Wall of clay.
374
00:20:15,367 --> 00:20:17,733
And also remember that this
Clay has actually been fired
375
00:20:17,733 --> 00:20:20,700
To much higher
Temperatures already
376
00:20:20,700 --> 00:20:22,564
Than the fire would
Have been producing.
377
00:20:22,564 --> 00:20:23,000
Than the fire would
Have been producing.
378
00:20:23,167 --> 00:20:27,967
Narrator:
Because of this, the tower rises
From the flames like a phoenix.
379
00:20:27,967 --> 00:20:32,467
And just a month after the fire,
It, again, opens for business.
380
00:20:36,367 --> 00:20:39,800
But by the late 1800s,
More efficient methods
381
00:20:39,800 --> 00:20:43,867
For making round lead bullets
Lead to the tower's demise.
382
00:20:47,800 --> 00:20:51,467
The effort of hauling tons
Of lead up a high tower
383
00:20:51,467 --> 00:20:52,564
Is now deemed too
Hazardous and uneconomic.
384
00:20:52,564 --> 00:20:53,000
Is now deemed too
Hazardous and uneconomic.
385
00:20:57,533 --> 00:21:03,267
So the phoenix tower closes its
Iron doors for good in 1892.
386
00:21:03,267 --> 00:21:08,567
*
387
00:21:08,567 --> 00:21:12,267
Today, the phoenix shot tower
Stands as a monument
388
00:21:12,267 --> 00:21:16,633
To a bygone era that helped
Deshackle the american military
389
00:21:16,633 --> 00:21:18,500
From foreign-made ammunition.
390
00:21:21,800 --> 00:21:22,564
But without concerted effort,
391
00:21:22,564 --> 00:21:23,000
But without concerted effort,
392
00:21:23,800 --> 00:21:27,233
This abandoned vertical factory
Would have vanished
393
00:21:27,233 --> 00:21:28,633
Without a trace.
394
00:21:31,300 --> 00:21:35,067
Gilman-forlin:
The tower had been purchased
By a gas and oil company,
395
00:21:35,067 --> 00:21:38,200
Which did propose
Tearing the tower down.
396
00:21:38,200 --> 00:21:41,067
However, the citizenry of
Baltimore loved it so much
397
00:21:41,067 --> 00:21:44,833
And cherished it as a landmark
That they rallied together
398
00:21:44,833 --> 00:21:46,800
And raised the money
To purchase the tower
399
00:21:46,800 --> 00:21:50,300
And then donated it to the city
Government for safekeeping.
400
00:21:51,700 --> 00:21:52,564
Narrator: now open as a museum,
The phoenix shot tower
401
00:21:52,564 --> 00:21:53,000
Narrator: now open as a museum,
The phoenix shot tower
402
00:21:55,067 --> 00:21:58,500
Is more than just a symbol
Of outdated technology.
403
00:21:59,567 --> 00:22:02,167
Not only did
This incredible brick factory
404
00:22:02,167 --> 00:22:05,767
Help to revolutionize the
Production of ammunition,
405
00:22:05,767 --> 00:22:08,667
It was also a vital
Stepping stone towards
406
00:22:08,667 --> 00:22:12,067
The nation's world-leading
Military industries.
407
00:22:12,067 --> 00:22:19,733
*
408
00:22:19,733 --> 00:22:22,564
4,000 miles away,
Across the atlantic ocean,
409
00:22:22,564 --> 00:22:23,000
4,000 miles away,
Across the atlantic ocean,
410
00:22:23,200 --> 00:22:26,867
On the baltic coast of poland,
Near the village of politz,
411
00:22:26,867 --> 00:22:31,233
Is a 450-acre
Fenced-off area of forest.
412
00:22:33,633 --> 00:22:37,800
Smashed concrete structures
Liter this desolate site.
413
00:22:39,400 --> 00:22:42,367
Skeletons of buildings,
Gaping tunnels,
414
00:22:42,367 --> 00:22:46,100
And blocked stairways
Are everywhere to be seen.
415
00:22:49,567 --> 00:22:51,600
Bell: hidden under the trees
In northern poland
416
00:22:51,600 --> 00:22:52,564
Is this labyrinth of
Concrete structures.
417
00:22:52,564 --> 00:22:53,000
Is this labyrinth of
Concrete structures.
418
00:22:55,133 --> 00:22:58,233
It's quite clearly something
That was industrial.
419
00:22:58,233 --> 00:23:01,233
And that kind of thing
Does not happen over night,
420
00:23:01,233 --> 00:23:05,867
And not without a vast
Investment of time and money.
421
00:23:09,133 --> 00:23:10,700
Narrator:
The largest remaining structures
422
00:23:10,700 --> 00:23:14,067
Are clustered together in the
Heart of the forest.
423
00:23:16,567 --> 00:23:19,067
Flanked by the
Partially-demolished remains
424
00:23:19,067 --> 00:23:20,933
Of two massive buildings,
425
00:23:20,933 --> 00:23:22,564
A bizarre, brick-colored tower
Soars over the trees.
426
00:23:22,564 --> 00:23:23,000
A bizarre, brick-colored tower
Soars over the trees.
427
00:23:25,733 --> 00:23:28,367
Bell: when you look closely,
There are clues
428
00:23:28,367 --> 00:23:31,167
To tell you exactly
What happened there.
429
00:23:32,400 --> 00:23:35,333
On the side of one building
Is marked in german,
430
00:23:35,333 --> 00:23:38,267
"Coal bunker four,"
And then not far away
431
00:23:38,267 --> 00:23:41,133
There's the remains of
What was, quite obviously,
432
00:23:41,133 --> 00:23:43,833
Large storage tanks.
433
00:23:43,833 --> 00:23:47,733
And right there, those
Two elements are the core
434
00:23:47,733 --> 00:23:50,700
Of the story that tells you
What happened there.
435
00:23:53,067 --> 00:23:55,167
Narrator:
So what did happen here,
436
00:23:55,167 --> 00:23:57,367
And why was the site abandoned?
437
00:23:57,367 --> 00:24:04,167
*
438
00:24:04,167 --> 00:24:08,900
In the 1930s, the town of
Politz is part of nazi germany.
439
00:24:10,433 --> 00:24:14,067
Adolf hitler has ordered
That no expense be spared
440
00:24:14,067 --> 00:24:17,067
So that he can overcome
A critical obstacle
441
00:24:17,067 --> 00:24:18,667
In his plans for war.
442
00:24:21,600 --> 00:24:22,564
Very few people know
That germany really lacked
443
00:24:22,564 --> 00:24:23,000
Very few people know
That germany really lacked
444
00:24:24,367 --> 00:24:29,100
The natural resources
Required to fight a major war.
445
00:24:29,100 --> 00:24:31,400
Apart from coal and water,
At the time,
446
00:24:31,400 --> 00:24:34,433
Pretty much everything else
Was imported.
447
00:24:34,433 --> 00:24:38,233
And that critical lack
Played a huge role
448
00:24:38,233 --> 00:24:40,133
In hitler's preparations
For war.
449
00:24:42,233 --> 00:24:44,700
Narrator: and one
Crippling energy shortage
450
00:24:44,700 --> 00:24:47,167
Outweighs all the others.
451
00:24:47,167 --> 00:24:50,467
Without it, not a single
Aircraft will fly,
452
00:24:50,467 --> 00:24:51,667
Ship will sail,
453
00:24:51,667 --> 00:24:52,564
Or tank will roll
Across the battlefield.
454
00:24:52,564 --> 00:24:53,000
Or tank will roll
Across the battlefield.
455
00:24:55,667 --> 00:24:59,267
Corum: the germans suffered
From real constraints
456
00:24:59,267 --> 00:25:01,833
In all of their operations
From fuel.
457
00:25:02,767 --> 00:25:06,900
Through world war ii, the prime
Mover, or the main transport,
458
00:25:06,900 --> 00:25:10,133
Was the m1a1 horse
Pulling a wagon.
459
00:25:11,467 --> 00:25:15,533
Narrator: so germany sets out
To create its own fuel.
460
00:25:16,933 --> 00:25:20,200
The modern equivalent
Of over $1 billion
461
00:25:20,200 --> 00:25:22,367
Will be spent on
This site alone.
462
00:25:24,067 --> 00:25:28,800
Here, hitler aims to create
The politz synthetic oil plant.
463
00:25:31,933 --> 00:25:37,133
In 1937, construction starts
On the huge industrial site.
464
00:25:39,933 --> 00:25:43,700
And this place
Is no ordinary refinery.
465
00:25:43,700 --> 00:25:47,167
It is a state-of-the-art
Facility which plans to use
466
00:25:47,167 --> 00:25:51,633
A revolutionary new process
Called hydrogenation
467
00:25:51,633 --> 00:25:52,564
To turn germany's
Abundant coal into oil.
468
00:25:52,564 --> 00:25:53,000
To turn germany's
Abundant coal into oil.
469
00:25:59,800 --> 00:26:03,500
Nusbacher:
The germans used methods
To make fuel out of coal
470
00:26:03,500 --> 00:26:06,100
That were developed in
The early 20th century
471
00:26:06,100 --> 00:26:08,333
On to the mid-20th century.
472
00:26:08,333 --> 00:26:11,467
They produced beautiful fuels,
473
00:26:11,467 --> 00:26:14,333
But they produced fuel
That is very, very pure
474
00:26:14,333 --> 00:26:17,567
But mind-bogglingly expensive.
475
00:26:19,467 --> 00:26:22,564
Narrator:
The synthetic fuel is created
By liquefying powdered coal.
476
00:26:22,564 --> 00:26:23,000
Narrator:
The synthetic fuel is created
By liquefying powdered coal.
477
00:26:24,533 --> 00:26:28,467
In a reactor, a mixture of
Heavy oil, hydrogen gas,
478
00:26:28,467 --> 00:26:33,600
And a catalyst is heated to
Over 750 degrees fahrenheit
479
00:26:33,600 --> 00:26:36,233
And subjected to
The incredible pressure
480
00:26:36,233 --> 00:26:39,533
Of 10,000 pounds
Per square inch.
481
00:26:39,533 --> 00:26:43,600
This dangerous process makes
Politz a lethal environment
482
00:26:43,600 --> 00:26:46,067
For its thousands
Of slave laborers.
483
00:26:46,067 --> 00:26:51,567
*
484
00:26:51,567 --> 00:26:52,564
Bell: the economics of it
Really don't add up.
485
00:26:52,564 --> 00:26:53,000
Bell: the economics of it
Really don't add up.
486
00:26:54,467 --> 00:26:57,767
It's said that it takes
Six tons of coal to produce
487
00:26:57,767 --> 00:26:59,767
One ton of synthetic oil,
488
00:26:59,767 --> 00:27:02,433
And that's before you consider
The amount of coal it takes
489
00:27:02,433 --> 00:27:04,600
To ship everything around.
490
00:27:04,600 --> 00:27:07,767
And whilst for hitler that
May have served a purpose
491
00:27:07,767 --> 00:27:08,967
For nazi germany,
492
00:27:08,967 --> 00:27:12,300
In any other economy
That just won't fly.
493
00:27:14,133 --> 00:27:15,933
Narrator: after four years
Of construction,
494
00:27:15,933 --> 00:27:19,800
In 1941, politz begins
Fuel production.
495
00:27:21,367 --> 00:27:22,564
At the heart of the politz plant
Is the coal mill.
496
00:27:22,564 --> 00:27:23,000
At the heart of the politz plant
Is the coal mill.
497
00:27:25,533 --> 00:27:29,600
Packed around it are acre
After acre of storage tanks,
498
00:27:29,600 --> 00:27:33,433
Distillation plants, pressure
Chambers, and the hundreds
499
00:27:33,433 --> 00:27:36,567
Of miles of piping needed
To carry the vital fuel
500
00:27:36,567 --> 00:27:38,733
To trains and tankers offshore.
501
00:27:41,767 --> 00:27:45,067
The sheer scale of politz
Is yet another drain
502
00:27:45,067 --> 00:27:48,800
On nazi germany's already
Overstreched resources.
503
00:27:53,333 --> 00:27:57,067
Will politz produce enough
Fuel for the third reich?
504
00:27:57,067 --> 00:28:00,100
And did this dangerous
Hydrogenation process
505
00:28:00,100 --> 00:28:01,933
Lead to disaster?
506
00:28:04,133 --> 00:28:09,767
*
507
00:28:09,767 --> 00:28:11,767
Narrator:
On the baltic coast of poland,
508
00:28:11,767 --> 00:28:15,200
Hidden amongst the trees,
Is a vast, crumbling,
509
00:28:15,200 --> 00:28:19,067
Industrial complex that
Fueled the nazi war machine.
510
00:28:22,067 --> 00:28:26,267
By 1943, the politz
Synthetic oil plant alone
511
00:28:26,267 --> 00:28:30,500
Is producing a staggering
700,000 tons of it --
512
00:28:30,500 --> 00:28:33,400
15% of germany's fuel.
513
00:28:35,467 --> 00:28:39,800
The synthetic fuel plants
Kept germany in the war.
514
00:28:40,867 --> 00:28:43,967
Without that production
Coming out from politz,
515
00:28:43,967 --> 00:28:48,333
Hitler's war machine would
Simply grind to a halt.
516
00:28:48,333 --> 00:28:53,333
Narrator:
But politz's increased output
Comes at a terrible cost.
517
00:28:53,333 --> 00:28:55,833
30,000 slave laborers
Are brought in
518
00:28:55,833 --> 00:28:59,167
From all over occupied europe
And the soviet union
519
00:28:59,167 --> 00:29:03,300
To operate it's complex
And dangerous machinery.
520
00:29:05,700 --> 00:29:07,767
Nearly half of
These prisoners die
521
00:29:07,767 --> 00:29:10,400
From the brutal treatment
And the terrible
522
00:29:10,400 --> 00:29:13,433
And toxic working
Conditions at the plant.
523
00:29:17,067 --> 00:29:20,100
13,000 slave laborers
Gave their lives
524
00:29:20,100 --> 00:29:22,433
At politz alone,
And that's something
525
00:29:22,433 --> 00:29:25,067
That should never be forgotten.
526
00:29:25,967 --> 00:29:28,467
Narrator: despite these
Dangerous conditions,
527
00:29:28,467 --> 00:29:30,233
The war carries on.
528
00:29:30,233 --> 00:29:32,667
And synthetic fuel
From plants like politz
529
00:29:32,667 --> 00:29:33,948
Becomes even more vital
For hitler's armies.
530
00:29:33,948 --> 00:29:34,000
Becomes even more vital
For hitler's armies.
531
00:29:38,167 --> 00:29:42,067
Corum:
The germans are really dependent
532
00:29:42,067 --> 00:29:44,867
Upon these synthetic
Fuel plants.
533
00:29:44,867 --> 00:29:48,500
And when those
Plants are attacked,
534
00:29:48,500 --> 00:29:53,067
Then there will be a huge
Drop off in the capability.
535
00:29:53,067 --> 00:29:56,833
For example, there is
No fuel to train pilots.
536
00:29:56,833 --> 00:29:59,067
They're producing airplanes
But there's no fuel,
537
00:29:59,067 --> 00:30:01,800
And it would become
Progressively worse.
538
00:30:04,233 --> 00:30:08,000
Narrator: and this critical
Weakness does play a role.
539
00:30:08,000 --> 00:30:10,900
The coal the nazis rely on
Is desperately needed
540
00:30:10,900 --> 00:30:12,400
By other industries,
541
00:30:12,400 --> 00:30:15,233
Like transportation
And steel production.
542
00:30:16,667 --> 00:30:19,967
There just isn't enough
To go around.
543
00:30:22,333 --> 00:30:25,833
Nusbacher: the german war effort
Has to got to expend
544
00:30:25,833 --> 00:30:29,467
A lot more resource
On burning one liter
545
00:30:29,467 --> 00:30:33,667
Of high-test aviation gas
Than the british
546
00:30:33,667 --> 00:30:33,948
Or the americans
Or the russians.
547
00:30:33,948 --> 00:30:34,000
Or the americans
Or the russians.
548
00:30:35,967 --> 00:30:38,667
The germans are fighting
A much more expensive war
549
00:30:38,667 --> 00:30:42,133
Because they haven't got
Key resources.
550
00:30:44,067 --> 00:30:47,733
Narrator: in january 1945,
Allied bombers run
551
00:30:47,733 --> 00:30:52,200
A devastating 14 minute air
Raid that saturates the plant
552
00:30:52,200 --> 00:30:55,033
With more than 1,600 bombs.
553
00:30:57,633 --> 00:31:00,067
Corum:
Once the campaign gets going,
554
00:31:00,067 --> 00:31:03,767
You see a dramatic drop
In german oil reserves,
555
00:31:03,767 --> 00:31:03,948
And in supplies available
For the german army.
556
00:31:03,948 --> 00:31:04,000
And in supplies available
For the german army.
557
00:31:06,200 --> 00:31:09,633
And this impacts the german
Operational effectiveness
558
00:31:09,633 --> 00:31:11,600
Quite severely.
559
00:31:11,600 --> 00:31:13,067
Narrator:
When the war ends,
560
00:31:13,067 --> 00:31:16,067
The soviet union loots
The remaining equipment
561
00:31:16,067 --> 00:31:19,467
And the ruins of politz
Are abandoned.
562
00:31:23,333 --> 00:31:26,533
Today, the remains of
The refinery at politz
563
00:31:26,533 --> 00:31:30,100
Are accessible and can be
Explored with care.
564
00:31:31,667 --> 00:31:33,948
They are a forgotten
Monument to oil production,
565
00:31:33,948 --> 00:31:34,000
They are a forgotten
Monument to oil production,
566
00:31:34,733 --> 00:31:38,467
The achilles heel of
Hitler's third reich.
567
00:31:40,933 --> 00:31:43,067
Bell: the allies pulled out
All the stops
568
00:31:43,067 --> 00:31:45,433
To try and bring production
To an end.
569
00:31:45,433 --> 00:31:46,767
And if you visit politz today,
570
00:31:46,767 --> 00:31:49,367
There's evidence
Of that everywhere.
571
00:31:49,367 --> 00:31:51,400
Huge craters in the ground,
572
00:31:51,400 --> 00:31:53,800
Roofs of all these
Buildings destroyed.
573
00:31:53,800 --> 00:31:56,133
Some buildings
Completely turned over.
574
00:31:56,133 --> 00:31:58,400
The devastation there
Was phenomenal
575
00:31:58,400 --> 00:32:01,433
Because it was so
Important for the allies.
576
00:32:01,433 --> 00:32:03,948
That was their means of
Bringing nazi germany to an end.
577
00:32:03,948 --> 00:32:04,000
That was their means of
Bringing nazi germany to an end.
578
00:32:06,433 --> 00:32:09,867
Nusbacher: politz reminds us
Of the horror of death.
579
00:32:09,867 --> 00:32:13,200
It reminds us of
Mass enslavement
580
00:32:13,200 --> 00:32:14,967
Under cover of war,
581
00:32:14,967 --> 00:32:19,500
And it reminds us
Of the nazi idea
582
00:32:19,500 --> 00:32:23,200
That cruelty and enslavement
583
00:32:23,200 --> 00:32:26,233
Could create fuel
Where there was none.
584
00:32:26,233 --> 00:32:31,367
*
585
00:32:31,367 --> 00:32:33,948
Narrator: over 300 miles north,
On the northern tip of denmark,
586
00:32:33,948 --> 00:32:34,000
Narrator: over 300 miles north,
On the northern tip of denmark,
587
00:32:35,133 --> 00:32:39,633
A solitary ruin stands in total
Isolation on the shoreline.
588
00:32:39,633 --> 00:32:44,767
*
589
00:32:44,767 --> 00:32:48,067
This derelict tower
On a huge sand dune
590
00:32:48,067 --> 00:32:50,967
Overlooking the sea would
Not look out of place
591
00:32:50,967 --> 00:32:53,067
On the coast of morocco.
592
00:32:53,067 --> 00:32:54,867
Bell: when you think
Of shifting sand dunes,
593
00:32:54,867 --> 00:32:57,533
You possibly conjure
Up images of the sahara
594
00:32:57,533 --> 00:32:59,867
Or vast desert landscapes.
595
00:32:59,867 --> 00:33:03,300
You certainly don't
Automatically think of denmark.
596
00:33:06,133 --> 00:33:08,067
The tower perches precariously
597
00:33:08,067 --> 00:33:10,067
On a desolate
Position overlooking
598
00:33:10,067 --> 00:33:13,067
The cold, gray waters
Of the skagerrak,
599
00:33:13,067 --> 00:33:17,633
The narrow strait that separates
Denmark, norway, and sweden.
600
00:33:20,967 --> 00:33:23,333
When you see this tower
Emerging out of the sand,
601
00:33:23,333 --> 00:33:25,667
I mean,
It's eerie, it's mysterious.
602
00:33:25,667 --> 00:33:27,567
Dougal: it's a very strange
Initial picture
603
00:33:27,567 --> 00:33:30,967
And that's primarily because
What was there before,
604
00:33:30,967 --> 00:33:33,067
Is no longer there now.
605
00:33:35,533 --> 00:33:37,833
Narrator:
The 75-foot masonry tower
606
00:33:37,833 --> 00:33:41,167
Is topped by
A glass-fronted turret.
607
00:33:41,167 --> 00:33:43,133
Scattered around its base
Are the remains
608
00:33:43,133 --> 00:33:46,867
Of other buildings
Submerged in the sand.
609
00:33:48,700 --> 00:33:51,333
The whole structure is
Precariously balanced
610
00:33:51,333 --> 00:33:55,967
On the lip of a sheer sand
Cliff 200 feet above the sea.
611
00:33:57,233 --> 00:34:01,300
What really stands out as
It rises up into the sky
612
00:34:01,300 --> 00:34:03,948
And looms over the cliffs,
Is when it was built,
613
00:34:03,948 --> 00:34:04,000
And looms over the cliffs,
Is when it was built,
614
00:34:04,667 --> 00:34:07,067
The tower was strong enough
To withstand
615
00:34:07,067 --> 00:34:09,533
Even the strongest gale.
616
00:34:09,533 --> 00:34:12,067
So why was this one abandoned?
617
00:34:12,067 --> 00:34:17,067
*
618
00:34:17,067 --> 00:34:19,600
Narrator: as far back
As the 16th century,
619
00:34:19,600 --> 00:34:22,467
The danish government realizes
That to become
620
00:34:22,467 --> 00:34:26,433
A global trading powerhouse,
The country must help ships
621
00:34:26,433 --> 00:34:29,067
Navigate through one of
The most dangerous stretches
622
00:34:29,067 --> 00:34:31,467
Of ocean in the
Northern hemisphere,
623
00:34:31,467 --> 00:34:33,500
The skagerrak straits.
624
00:34:33,500 --> 00:34:33,948
*
625
00:34:33,948 --> 00:34:34,000
*
626
00:34:38,433 --> 00:34:42,067
Kofoed: it were very dangerous
To sail at this sea.
627
00:34:42,067 --> 00:34:45,300
There was a lot
Of storm from the west
628
00:34:45,300 --> 00:34:49,200
And boats were often --
They come into trouble.
629
00:34:49,200 --> 00:34:51,900
So they want to make
Some lighthouses
630
00:34:51,900 --> 00:34:53,800
Along the coast line.
631
00:34:55,067 --> 00:34:57,367
Narrator: equipped with an
Equivalent modern budget
632
00:34:57,367 --> 00:35:01,267
Of $1 million, the danish lights
And buoy service
633
00:35:01,267 --> 00:35:03,948
Commissions a
Revolutionary lighthouse.
634
00:35:03,948 --> 00:35:04,000
Commissions a
Revolutionary lighthouse.
635
00:35:06,067 --> 00:35:10,167
They call it the
Rubjerg knude fyr.
636
00:35:13,467 --> 00:35:17,400
In march 1899, construction
Of a complex of buildings
637
00:35:17,400 --> 00:35:22,400
Begins on a 200-foot-high cliff,
200 yards from the shore.
638
00:35:25,867 --> 00:35:27,600
From it's cliff-top position,
639
00:35:27,600 --> 00:35:31,167
The light should be visible
Across miles of sea
640
00:35:31,167 --> 00:35:33,400
And save countless lives.
641
00:35:36,067 --> 00:35:38,967
Bell:
Now, ships still frequently
Sail through these waters
642
00:35:38,967 --> 00:35:41,067
And in stormy
And foggy conditions,
643
00:35:41,067 --> 00:35:43,067
Even with the advent
Of modern technology,
644
00:35:43,067 --> 00:35:46,433
Lighthouses are still needed
For captains to know
645
00:35:46,433 --> 00:35:48,500
Where the land starts.
646
00:35:48,500 --> 00:35:54,300
*
647
00:35:54,300 --> 00:35:59,733
Narrator:
So how will this tower work,
And why was it abandoned?
648
00:36:04,600 --> 00:36:05,000
*
649
00:36:09,867 --> 00:36:13,233
Narrator: on the northern tip of
Denmark sits the isolated ruin
650
00:36:13,233 --> 00:36:16,067
Of the rubjerg knude lighthouse.
651
00:36:16,967 --> 00:36:19,667
After nearly two years
Of construction,
652
00:36:19,667 --> 00:36:22,367
The light at the top
Of the mighty tower
653
00:36:22,367 --> 00:36:28,067
Finally goes into operation
On december 27, 1900.
654
00:36:30,267 --> 00:36:34,233
Powered by a 550-watt bulb,
The state-of-the-art
655
00:36:34,233 --> 00:36:34,495
French-made fresnel
Lenses within the light
656
00:36:34,495 --> 00:36:35,000
French-made fresnel
Lenses within the light
657
00:36:37,400 --> 00:36:41,133
Amplify the beam with
Impressive results.
658
00:36:43,467 --> 00:36:46,533
With numerous glass rings
Stacked at different angles,
659
00:36:46,533 --> 00:36:50,433
The fresnel lens focuses
Light towards its center.
660
00:36:50,433 --> 00:36:53,233
On clear days,
This allows the light to be seen
661
00:36:53,233 --> 00:36:55,800
From 25 miles away.
662
00:36:59,267 --> 00:37:02,367
But sand picked up by
Strong winds along the coast
663
00:37:02,367 --> 00:37:04,495
Constantly clogs its machinery,
664
00:37:04,495 --> 00:37:04,700
Constantly clogs its machinery,
665
00:37:04,700 --> 00:37:05,000
And scars the fresnel glass
Of the light.
666
00:37:09,967 --> 00:37:14,267
Bell: when it was built, rubjerg
Knude was 200 yards inland
667
00:37:14,267 --> 00:37:16,767
And 200 feet above sea level.
668
00:37:16,767 --> 00:37:20,300
And miles away to the
South was a sand dune,
669
00:37:20,300 --> 00:37:22,733
But not just any sand dune.
670
00:37:24,167 --> 00:37:28,167
Narrator: the rubjerg mile is
The largest moving sand dune
671
00:37:28,167 --> 00:37:30,367
In northern europe.
672
00:37:30,367 --> 00:37:34,495
For 300 years, its 5 million
Cubic yards of sand
673
00:37:34,495 --> 00:37:34,533
For 300 years, its 5 million
Cubic yards of sand
674
00:37:34,533 --> 00:37:35,000
Slowly moves along
Denmark's northern coast
675
00:37:38,067 --> 00:37:41,400
At a dramatic rate
Of 60 feet a year.
676
00:37:43,400 --> 00:37:47,600
Gough:
It's really hard to imagine
That a country like denmark
677
00:37:47,600 --> 00:37:53,067
Could have a slow-moving sand
Tsunami creeping up the coast.
678
00:37:54,633 --> 00:37:57,067
The sand dunes
Themselves always have
679
00:37:57,067 --> 00:38:00,200
A sort of back slope,
A windward slope,
680
00:38:00,200 --> 00:38:04,267
And then a slip face
Where the sand gets blown up,
681
00:38:04,267 --> 00:38:04,495
It bounces up and it
Falls down the slip face
682
00:38:04,495 --> 00:38:05,000
It bounces up and it
Falls down the slip face
683
00:38:06,267 --> 00:38:08,233
And slowly, through time,
684
00:38:08,233 --> 00:38:10,800
It migrates
Across the land surface.
685
00:38:10,800 --> 00:38:12,800
We can't stop the wind, so
We're not going to be able
686
00:38:12,800 --> 00:38:14,667
To stop the sand dunes
That are migrating
687
00:38:14,667 --> 00:38:16,533
Because of the wind.
688
00:38:16,533 --> 00:38:19,967
The fact is, this sand dune
Had been moving for centuries
689
00:38:19,967 --> 00:38:21,900
But where the lighthouse
Was built,
690
00:38:21,900 --> 00:38:23,733
There was never
Any reason to think
691
00:38:23,733 --> 00:38:27,867
That the sand would ever
Be any kind of threat.
692
00:38:29,833 --> 00:38:31,867
Narrator:
For over 20 years, its light
693
00:38:31,867 --> 00:38:34,495
And powerful foghorn
Penetrate darkness and fog
694
00:38:34,495 --> 00:38:35,000
And powerful foghorn
Penetrate darkness and fog
695
00:38:35,200 --> 00:38:39,467
To keep vessels clear of
The dangerous shallows.
696
00:38:41,233 --> 00:38:45,067
But by the 1920s,
The rubjerg mile dune arrives
697
00:38:45,067 --> 00:38:49,733
On its doorstep much to the
Surprise of the engineers.
698
00:38:52,700 --> 00:38:54,700
Dougal: they just tried to do
A sort of king canute
699
00:38:54,700 --> 00:38:56,500
And stop the sand in its tracks.
700
00:38:56,500 --> 00:38:59,500
They put barriers in the way
To stop the sand migrating.
701
00:38:59,500 --> 00:39:02,533
In doing so, there was
A big traffic jam of sand
702
00:39:02,533 --> 00:39:04,495
Building up and the dune
Got bigger and bigger.
703
00:39:04,495 --> 00:39:04,767
Building up and the dune
Got bigger and bigger.
704
00:39:04,767 --> 00:39:05,000
So actually, then you've
Created a bigger problem
705
00:39:07,600 --> 00:39:11,467
'cause you've
Created a bigger dune.
706
00:39:11,467 --> 00:39:14,733
Narrator: in an unlikely twist,
The 200-foot cliff
707
00:39:14,733 --> 00:39:18,567
That made the rubjerg knude
Lighthouse so visible,
708
00:39:18,567 --> 00:39:21,600
Now acts as a ramp that
Carries the slow-moving
709
00:39:21,600 --> 00:39:26,067
Tsunami of sand up and over
The lighthouse complex.
710
00:39:29,767 --> 00:39:33,667
The sand had made its way
All the way up that cliff
711
00:39:33,667 --> 00:39:34,495
And had swallowed up the
Buildings around rubjerg knude.
712
00:39:34,495 --> 00:39:35,000
And had swallowed up the
Buildings around rubjerg knude.
713
00:39:38,367 --> 00:39:41,133
Kofoed: the sand was laying
Around the lighthouse
714
00:39:41,133 --> 00:39:46,100
And the big dunes would build
Up there higher and higher.
715
00:39:46,800 --> 00:39:48,567
Narrator: by 1953,
716
00:39:48,567 --> 00:39:52,133
The dune grows higher
Than the lighthouse itself.
717
00:39:52,133 --> 00:39:53,967
Trapped in a hollow in the sand,
718
00:39:53,967 --> 00:39:58,267
The light and fog signal can no
Longer be clearly seen and heard
719
00:39:58,267 --> 00:40:00,567
By the ships at sea.
720
00:40:03,000 --> 00:40:04,495
Bell: the only way they figured
They could save the lighthouse
721
00:40:04,495 --> 00:40:05,000
Bell: the only way they figured
They could save the lighthouse
722
00:40:05,367 --> 00:40:09,633
Was buy continuously digging
Away the sand around the base
723
00:40:09,633 --> 00:40:12,267
But even then,
They must have known,
724
00:40:12,267 --> 00:40:16,833
This was a battle against nature
They were never going to win.
725
00:40:18,667 --> 00:40:22,033
Narrator: in 1968,
The authorities finally give up
726
00:40:22,033 --> 00:40:24,367
The battle against
The flood of sand,
727
00:40:24,367 --> 00:40:29,533
And the rubjerg lighthouse is
Decommissioned and abandoned.
728
00:40:34,100 --> 00:40:34,495
Today it is an empty shell.
729
00:40:34,495 --> 00:40:35,000
Today it is an empty shell.
730
00:40:38,567 --> 00:40:41,433
Every year, thousands of
Visitors climb the mountain
731
00:40:41,433 --> 00:40:45,000
Of sand to explore
Its haunting remains.
732
00:40:47,733 --> 00:40:51,233
But the onshore winds that
Suffocated the light with sand,
733
00:40:51,233 --> 00:40:55,100
Have also scoured away
The cliff on which it stands.
734
00:40:59,033 --> 00:41:01,967
Kofoed: the coastline is coming
In closer and closer
735
00:41:01,967 --> 00:41:04,495
So in a few years, maybe two,
Three, four, five, six years,
736
00:41:04,495 --> 00:41:05,000
So in a few years, maybe two,
Three, four, five, six years,
737
00:41:06,167 --> 00:41:09,067
There's no lighthouse
Any longer.
738
00:41:09,767 --> 00:41:13,467
Narrator:
The rolling dunes may have
Snuffed out the light,
739
00:41:13,467 --> 00:41:15,533
But in the very near future,
740
00:41:15,533 --> 00:41:20,067
Erosion will cause the mighty
Tower to fall into the waves.
741
00:41:22,233 --> 00:41:25,567
The engineers who built
The rubjerg knude lighthouse
742
00:41:25,567 --> 00:41:28,700
Believed its location
And solid construction
743
00:41:28,700 --> 00:41:30,433
Could withstand anything
744
00:41:30,433 --> 00:41:32,867
The sea and weather
Could throw at it.
745
00:41:34,800 --> 00:41:35,000
But they didn't anticipate
The extraordinary power
746
00:41:38,833 --> 00:41:42,933
Of the wind to transform
The landscape itself.
747
00:41:46,567 --> 00:41:47,900
Bell:
There's always a need
748
00:41:47,900 --> 00:41:50,800
To take into account
Your natural surroundings.
749
00:41:50,800 --> 00:41:55,067
Mother nature has a way
Of continuously reminding you
750
00:41:55,067 --> 00:41:57,200
Who's really in charge.
61236
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