The Back Yard Bunker Site A
The Origins and Purposes of the Bunker
Site A "Back Yard" in Grezzana – The first NATO bunker in Northern Italy
In May 1958, in Grezzana, in the province of Verona, Site A "Back Yard" was inaugurated, the first NATO bunker in Northern Italy. The facility, secret during the Cold War, housed the Protected War Headquarters of the Allied Land Forces Southern Europe (FTASE) and the 5th Allied Tactical Air Force (5th ATAF).
Construction work began in 1955. The underground bunker was designed to withstand conventional attacks and was equipped with modern military telecommunications systems: radio links, telephone exchanges, teleprinters and encryption devices. From 1958, the Telegraph Relay came into operation, ensuring constant connection with NATO units throughout Europe.
In the 1960s, thanks to upgraded equipment and FALLEX exercises, Site A reached full operational capability. With the opening of the new underground headquarters "West Star" in 1966, the Grezzana base became an Alternate War Headquarters, continuing to play a strategic role in military communications.
In the 1980s, the first digital systems and the Telegraph Automatic Relay Equipment (TARE) were installed, replacing manual equipment. In 2001, after more than forty years of activity, Site A "Back Yard" was permanently closed.
Today, the facility is managed by the Municipality of Grezzana and entrusted to the volunteers of the Italian Association for the Study of Fortifications (AISF), who oversee its restoration and historical promotion. The Grezzana bunker is a unique testament to the Cold War in Italy, open to visitors thanks to the commitment of volunteers who keep its memory alive.
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Help preserve and share the history of FTASE, the Cold War, and the West Star and Back Yard bunkers. With a donation, it is possible to support historical research, the preservation of archives, and outreach activities dedicated to future generations.
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