Berchtesgaden

[Jon Saunders]

I am travelling to Austria next month and might be able to get up to Berchtesgaden and wondered if any Forum users could tell me what you can see there? Can you go up to the Eagles Nest for example?

Many thanks.

[Harry Ree]

Berchtesgaden along with Obersalzburg is well worth visiting.The area as a Nazi political centre was largely the work of Martin Bormann who bullied and harassed residents off the mountain village in the 1930s under "compulsory purchase"

Obersalzburg now houses The Document Centre which records the rise and history of the Nazi regime and has been opened recently.

The Eagles Nest, ie the teahouse that Bormann had built for Hitler for his Hitler's 50th birthday still stands and can be visited by taking the specially adapted mountain bus that runs frequently from the bus station in Obersalzburg.For reasons of safety, cars are not allowed to use the mountain road. .A car may be driven the the short distance from Berchtesgaden to the car park at the Obersalzburg level car park or alternatively take the bus that runs frequently from Berchtesgaden railway station.

The Eagle's Nest which was the name given to the teahouse by visiting Italian WW1 veterans or rather to give its Bavarian name as it is known,Kehlsteinhaus, is situated on the Kehlstein Mountain and is accessed from the upper car park by tunnel and lift,both in excellent condition,a tribute to German engineering.The road from Obersalzburg to the Kehlsteinhaus tunnel and lift was constructed by Austrian road engineers who had devised and constructed the mountain road that scaled Grossknockner in 1935.

Kehlsteinhaus is now a restaurant, the original reception room being used as a dining room along with the SS guardroom.On a clear day it is possible to faintly pick out the past sites of the homes of Hitler's inner circle. All were destroyed apart from Speer's studio.

Hitler's Berghof was completely levelled by the Bavarian State authorities in 1952 but it's site can be easily picked out by the location of the adjacent Hotel Turken which was compulsory purchased as a SS Officers mess and guardhouse.

One of the last raids of the war on 25 April 1945 was directed at Obersalzburg with over 300 Lancasters when it was thought that it was the location of an Alpine Nazi Redoubt.Widespread destruction was caused on the ground including severe damage to the Berghof but casualties were very light owing to the extensive air raid shelters and bunker system constructed to protect Hitler's inner circle.

At the Obersalzburg level, the Platterhoff (which was the SS barracks) and which became the Hotel General Walker, a leave centre for US forces has been raised to the ground after US forces left.In its place a luxury hotel,the Inter Continental Resort has been constructed which has given rise to some adverse comment from the locals.

Both Berchtesgaden town and the nearby lakeside holiday centre,Konigssee are interesting places to visit.Konigssee is a particularly good family resort.

Regarding information on the Obersalzburg during the Nazi era it is far better to visit the Berchtesgaden railway station bookshop which has a good selection of books in English and not at the price of those at the Obersalzburg level.

[Jon Saunders]

Harry - thanks for your comprehensive answer. Who needs a guide book now!?

Thanks again.

[Kiwiwriter]

The Eagle's Nest was intended as a retreat for Hitler, but he didn't use it much. He was afraid of heights. He entertained a few people there, and Easy Company of the 506th Parachute Regiment took the Eagle's Nest in 1945. The 3rd Infantry took the rest of Berchtesgaden, followed by the 101st Airborne and the French 2nd Armored. Everybody wanted a piece of Hitler's home.

[Gotthard Heinrici]

Originally posted by Kiwiwriter@Jun 13 2005, 01:53 PM
The Eagle's Nest was intended as a retreat for Hitler, but he didn't use it much. He was afraid of heights. He entertained a few people there, and Easy Company of the 506th Parachute Regiment took the Eagle's Nest in 1945. The 3rd Infantry took the rest of Berchtesgaden, followed by the 101st Airborne and the French 2nd Armored. Everybody wanted a piece of Hitler's home.

Quoted post

Kehlstein was probaly used only 3 or 4 times by Hitler. It was intended as a place where he could host diplomats by intimidation due to its presence on the top of a mountain but the War put paid to any of that. The lift up to the house is a mgnificent feat of engineering. It was, and still is, powered by a U-boat engine and the inside of the lift was originally gold plated. The rooms are still preserved with a 30's feel as can be seen from the last episode of "Band of Brothers" however I feel that the restaurant is a little bit out of place. It should have been left as it was.

[Harry Ree]

According to local historians,Hitler visited the Kehlsteinhaus at least 13 times,the last time being before the war on 12 August 1939.Hitler disliked the Kehlsteinhaus teahaus from the beginning and only visted the place to please Eva Braun and Martin Bormann.Hitler gave the excuse as being short of breath and causing heart heart palpitations due to a change in altitude.The real reason might well have been his affection for the original teahaus on Mooslahhnerkopt (largely destroyed after the war).It was to here that Hitler had his daily ritual walks when at Obersalzburg when he chose a companion to chat and walk with, with the other members of the inner circle bringing up the rear, a regulation 50 paces behind.

Eva Braun was noted for her liking of Kehlsteinhaus as it was the ideal place to escape to in summer for a spot of sunbathing.On the other hand, Bormann being the womaniser he was, was a frequent visitor usually taking some new conquest or his mistress to the Kehlsteinhaus late at night in a state of being worse for drink.Kehlsteinhaus is normally snowed in from November to late April but when it was part of Bormann's regime,the road was kept free of snow for immediate access should it be required.

It is worth noting that the Kehlsteinhaus was saved from destruction by its conversion to a restaurant.In 1952 the Bavarian Government proposed to flatten the site for its Nazi connections as they did at the same time with the Berghof and the former homes of the inner circle with the intention of nature reclaiming the Obersalzburg as much as possible.However the local Berchtesgaden authority proposed it would make an excellent restuarant and provide the basis of the introduction of tourist facilities on the Obersalzburg and in particularly Berchesgaden.This was accepted,Kehlsteinhaus escaped destruction and the property is now administered by the local Tourist Board.

[Jon Saunders]

I just wanted to say your time spent responding to my request was not wasted. I visited Berchtesgaden and Kehlstein last Tuesday. The whole topography and role of these two locations, plus Obersalzburg, is much clearer for having visited and I would strongly recommend this to anyone else if visiting the area.

[von Poop]

Some good shots of the post-capture Berchtesgaden:
Berchtesgaden-The Eagle's Nest
Along with much controversy over whether the 101st really did get there first.

[Arsenal vg-33]

Originally Posted by von Poop

Some good shots of the post-capture Berchtesgaden:

Berchtesgaden-The Eagle's Nest

Along with much controversy over whether the 101st really did get there first.

Just a quick note before running off to work - I've read several accounts of who it was that arrived there first, and I'm inclined to believe that it was quite possible the 3rd Inf. arrived first, followed by the French 2nd DB. The French were certainly already there before the 101st, even if it was only for a short period.

[Owen]

This is another one on my "Must see" list.
Have palnned to go there for awhile but not got there yet.
I know the family will agree to go there as we can do the "Sound Of Music" tour around Salzburg too.
Cunning, eh?