Across the world, military bases have played a crucial role in defense and warfare. Some were built to withstand the fiercest battles, yet once wars ended, many were simply abandoned. Today, these forgotten structures stand as eerie reminders of history, frozen in time. Some were constructed during World War II, while others were designed for Cold War operations—often in the most unexpected locations.
From secret bunkers to deserted fortresses, here are some of the most fascinating abandoned military bases worldwide.
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1. Saint Nazaire Submarine Base – France
Built by the Nazis during World War II, this massive submarine base in Saint Nazaire, France, once housed deadly German U-boats. It was one of five submarine bases constructed in occupied France. Despite the passage of time, the structure still stands, an imposing relic of the war.
2. Flak Tower – Germany
This enormous anti-aircraft bunker in Vienna, Austria, was one of three built by the Nazis during World War II. Designed to shoot down Allied planes and serve as an air raid shelter, the G-Tower now sits abandoned. Over time, it has become home to thousands of pigeons, giving it an unusual second life.
3. Barnton Quarry – Scotland
Once a working quarry, this site was repurposed as a military command center for the RAF during World War II. It later played a key role in Cold War radar monitoring before shutting down in 1983. After years of vandalism, there are now plans to restore it into a military museum.
4. Askold Island – Sea of Japan
Located in the Sea of Japan, Askold Island was once a strategic outpost for the Russian military, keeping watch on Japan. Today, it remains uninhabited, with abandoned artillery, rusting bunkers, and decaying remnants of its past scattered across its rugged terrain.
5. Devil’s Slide Bunker – California, USA
Perched on a coastal cliff in California’s San Mateo County, this bunker was once used to defend against enemy ships. As military technology advanced, its purpose became obsolete. Now privately owned, the bunkers still stand as a reminder of the country’s coastal defenses.
6. Johnston Atoll Military Base – Pacific Ocean
This remote atoll was once a U.S. military base, airfield, and nuclear testing site. Originally controlled by the U.S. Navy in 1934, it later became a chemical weapons storage facility. The base officially closed in 2003, but its abandoned structures remain, echoing its top-secret past.
7. Fort Carroll – USA
Located in the Patapsco River near Baltimore, this 19th-century fort has been abandoned for decades. Over the years, there have been failed attempts to develop it into a casino or resort, but for now, it remains a haunting piece of military history.
8. The Palmerston Forts – UK & Ireland
Built in the Victorian era to defend against a potential French invasion, these coastal forts were upgraded during World War I to counter submarine threats. After the war, some were transformed into resorts, while others were left abandoned, slowly being reclaimed by nature.
9. Wünsdorf Soviet Camp – Germany
Once the largest Soviet military headquarters outside of Russia, Wünsdorf housed 75,000 Soviet personnel during the Cold War. Located just 25 miles from Berlin, it was abandoned after the fall of the Berlin Wall. And it still stands as a ghost town, frozen in time
10. Fort Jefferson – USA
Built in the Florida Keys in the 1840s, Fort Jefferson was originally designed to fight off Spanish pirates. It later became a military prison during the American Civil War. Today, the well-preserved fortress is a popular tourist attraction and historic site.