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World War II Bunkers in Rio de Janeiro! Learn How the War Transformed Buildings into Air Raid Shelters in Brazil.
A past of war, fear, and preparation for the worst lies beneath the busiest neighborhoods of Rio de Janeiro. Recently, the discovery of World War II bunkers in dozens of Carioca buildings has reignited the story of how Brazil prepared for the conflict.
Architect Isabella Cavallero, 28, has been uncovering this forgotten chapter, showing that air raid shelters, designed to protect the population from potential aerial and maritime attacks, are being transformed into simple garages, losing their historical memory.
The research, which gained visibility through guided tours and videos on the internet, reveals an unknown facet of World War II in Brazil, a period when the capital lived under the threat of bombings and Getúlio Vargas’s dictatorship imposed defense measures.
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These bunkers, built starting in 1942, are now just remnants of a time of tension, but Cavallero’s initiative seeks to prevent this crucial part of history from being erased.
What Were the Air Raid Shelters in Rio?
After Brazil declared war on Germany in 1942, the fear of bombings in coastal cities, particularly in Rio de Janeiro, led Getúlio Vargas’s government to implement defense measures. Decree-Law 4,098, dated February 6, 1942, established the creation of “passive air defense services.”
One of the main dictates was the obligation to build air raid shelters, or bunkers, in new buildings over five stories or with a constructed area greater than 1,200 square meters.
These underground spaces were designed to shelter entire families for days, with infrastructure that included restrooms, power substations, and even sleeping areas. As writer Ruy Castro, author of “Trincheira Tropical,” explained, the correct pronunciation is “bunker,” from German, and not “bãnker.”
Bunkers as Symbols of Luxury and Modernization
The Second World War coincided with a phase of real estate expansion in Rio, particularly in South Zone neighborhoods such as Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon. Architect Isabella Cavallero highlights that amid the fear of attacks, the bunkers came to be seen as luxurious and exclusive attractions.
Real estate advertisements of the time listed air raid shelters alongside sophisticated details of the apartments, such as “living room with 28m²” and “luxury English bathrooms.”
The presence of these shelters in high-end buildings shows how security was incorporated into the idea of modernization and exclusivity.
Cavallero’s research, which began for her graduation project, identified dozens of these advertisements, revealing the curious way the war affected the Carioca real estate market.
A Hidden Past in Galeria Menescal and Other Buildings
One of the most impressive bunkers discovered by Cavallero is in the iconic Galeria Menescal, in Copacabana. The original plan from 1943 shows a shelter designed for 964 people, with 34 restrooms and its own substation.
Unfortunately, as in many other cases, the space was converted into a garage, and there are no longer any original traces of its initial purpose.
The building manager, Klaus Scheyer Junior, revealed that there are no plans for a plaque identifying the site, but the idea of a QR code at the entrance of the gallery to tell the story is being considered. “We would like to place a QR code at the entrance of the gallery so that people can access the photos and learn about this history, which is receiving so much attention today,” he said.
The Memory of World War II in Brazil
The rescue of this story goes beyond architectural curiosity; it sheds light on a crucial period in the history of Brazil. The country’s entry into the Second World War, after the bombing of Brazilian ships by Axis submarines, generated an atmosphere of tension and preparation.
Writer Ruy Castro, in his book, details how Vargas’s dictatorship dealt with the conflict, with strong censorship, but also with the mobilization of civil society.
In addition to private shelters, public shelters were designed, such as the new Leme Tunnel, which could be adapted for defense.
However, the attacks never came to fruition. With the end of the war, the need for the bunkers disappeared, and they were forgotten, converted into garages and storage areas.
Isabella Cavallero’s research, which has already mapped 46 buildings with bunkers, seeks to recover this memory before it is completely lost, showing that “many parts of our history hide beneath our feet.”
The response of the carioca population has been encouraging, with residents offering access to their buildings and helping to map new locations. This demonstrates the growing interest in understanding the reflections of World War II in Brazil and the importance of preserving these pieces of our history.
Why Preservation is Important?
For the architect, rescuing the history of the bunkers is a way to honor the memory of the struggle against fascism and the challenges imposed by Vargas’s dictatorship.
The memory of the war is present in the public spaces of cities like Berlin, something that inspired her to investigate Rio. The lack of signage and the conversion of spaces into garages contribute to the erasure of this past from collective consciousness.
The discovery of a plaque in a building in Flamengo, with the phrase “Air raid shelter converted into a garage in 1949,” left the researcher hopeful.
“This is what I would like to see in the basements—at least a marking indicating this period of history,” she states. Cavallero’s initiative is a powerful reminder that history is not limited to grand monuments and museums, but is hidden in every corner, in every building, waiting to be rediscovered.
Have you ever imagined that your building might have a hidden war secret in the garage?
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