Hitler in Malnava and German Bunkers During Second World War

Hitler’s visit to the Headquarters of the German Army Group North in Malnava and the air defence bunker are mentioned as related sites. However, apart from the location – Malnava Manor, there is no other link between them.

From 12 to 28 July 1941, the headquarters of the German Army Group North, which was waging an attack against Leningrad, was located in Malnava Manor. The reason for the choice of location was practical: Malnava Agricultural School, which was located in a former manor house, had modern facilities: electric lighting, centralised water supply, showers, and sewerage. The headquarters of Group North was located in one of the side blocks of the manor, while the rest of the building continued to operate as an agricultural school. Hitler’s visit to the Group North headquarters in Malnava took place on 21 July 1941. Hitler and his entourage arrived in two Junkers aircraft, accompanied by nine Messerschmitt fighters. The visit only lasted for a few hours and is immortalised both in German military newsreels from the front and in the memories of the pupils of Malnava.

The air defence bunker, located about 70 metres from the manor house, was built at the beginning of 1944 when Soviet aviation began to dominate the airspace in the second half of the war. At that time, the retreat process of German troops was in progress. In 1944, the Headquarters of the German Army Group North stayed in Malnava from February to mid-July.