World War II Tunnels
With Italy's admission into the war and Germany's dominance of Europe, Gibraltar's strategic importance expanded. The need for storage became urgent and critical; space became even more important; stocks, food, and equipment had to be built up and safeguarded; and troops needed siege accommodation. A tunnel system would fit these requirements, providing complete protection from all known types of aviation strikes as well as marine and land bombardment at the time.
The civilian population was evacuated at the outset of the war, and the garrison was considerably expanded. Several more tunnels were dug to accommodate the growing garrison and to store massive amounts of food, equipment, and ammunition. The tunnels were built by four specialized tunneling units from the Royal Engineers and the Canadian Army during World War II.
A new Main Base Area was built on the Mediterranean coast in the south-eastern part of Gibraltar, shielded from the potentially hostile Spanish mainland, and new connecting tunnels were built to connect it to the existing military bases on the west side. To connect the bulk of the wartime tunnels, the Great North Road and the Fosse Way tunnels were excavated nearly the whole length of the Rock.
The World War II Tunnels housed what amounted to a mini-city underground. The whole 16,000-strong garrison, as well as enough food to sustain them 16 months, could be held there. A subterranean telephone exchange, a power generating station, a water distillation plant, a hospital, a bakery, ammunition magazines, and a vehicle repair facility were all located within the tunnels. The complete tunnel network within the Rock is approximately 34 miles (55 kilometers) long.
A licensed tour guide will lead you on a 30- to 40-minute tour of the World War II Tunnels, which will include static exhibitions and photographic displays. The tunnels' structure will undoubtedly astound you.
Location: 4MV2+P9M, Willis's Rd, Gibraltar GX11 1AA, Gibraltar
