The Eagle’s Nest

The Kehlsteinhaus (also known as the Eagle’s Nest) is a Nazi-era structure built atop the Kehlstein, a rocky outcrop that rises above Obersalzberg near the southeast German town of Berchtesgaden. It was only used for government and social gatherings by Nazi Party members. Adolf Hitler visited it 14 times, according to records.It is now open seasonally as a restaurant, beer garden, and tourist attraction.

The Kehlsteinhaus is located on a ridge atop the Kehlstein, a 1,834 m (6,017 ft) subpeak of the Hoher Göll that rises above Berchtesgaden. Martin Bormann commissioned it in the summer of 1937. It took 13 months to complete and was paid for by the Nazi Party. During its construction, twelve employees were killed.

Over 6.5 km (4.0 mi), a 4 m (13 ft) wide approach road climbs 800 m (2,600 ft) with five tunnels and one hairpin curve. It cost $30 million to build (about $247 million USD when adjusted for inflation in 2022). Because Hitler’s birthday in April 1939 was seen as a deadline for project completion, construction proceeded throughout the winter of 1938, even at night with the worksite illuminated by searchlights.

A 124 m (407 ft) access tunnel leads from a vast parking lot to an elegant elevator that ascends the final 124 m (407 ft) to the structure.The marble-lined tunnel was originally heated by warm air from an adjacent service tunnel. It was customary for visiting high-ranking officials to be driven via the tunnel to the elevator. Because there was no room to turn, their driver would have to reverse the automobile the whole length of the tunnel.

The enormous elevator’s inside is finished with polished brass, Venetian mirrors, and green velvet. The main reception room of the building is dominated by a red Italian marble fireplace provided by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, which was damaged by Allied soldiers chipping off pieces to take home as mementos. The facility included an entirely electric kitchen, which was uncommon in 1937, but it was never used to cook meals; instead, meals were made in town and brought to the mountain top kitchen to be warmed.The structure also features heated flooring, which must be heated for at least two days prior to people arriving. To provide backup power, a MAN underwater diesel engine and an electrical generator were placed in an underground chamber near the main entrance.

Hitler initially visited on September 16, 1938, and returned on April 20, 1939, his 50th birthday, but it was not meant as a birthday present.

The road and the Kehlsteinhaus elevator are the two methods to approach and access the building. Hitler did not trust the elevator and frequently stated his concerns about its safety; his greatest fear was that the elevator’s winch mechanism on the roof might draw a lightning strike. Bormann went to tremendous lengths to avoid mentioning the two major lightning strikes that happened during construction.

The Kehlsteinhaus is located several kilometers above the Berghof, Hitler’s vacation residence. On 18 October 1938, Hitler visited outgoing French ambassador André François-Poncet here in a rare diplomatic encounter. While subsequently recalling the event, he devised the term “Eagle’s Nest” for the structure; this has now become a popularly used name for the Kehlsteinhaus.

Gretl Braun’s wedding celebration was held there on June 3, 1944, following her marriage to Hermann Fegelein. While Hitler frequently delegated the task of entertaining to others, he considered the residence provided a great chance to entertain important and influential people.

The Kehlsteinhaus, also known as the “D-Haus” (short for “Diplomatic Reception House”), is sometimes confused with the teahouse on Mooslahnerkopf Hill near the Berghof, which Hitler walked there every day after lunch. Because of its ties to Hitler, the teahouse was razed by the Bavarian government after the war.

The structure is now held by a nonprofit trust and operates as a restaurant with indoor dining and an outside beer garden. It is a popular tourist destination for people drawn to the historical importance of the “Eagle’s Nest.” The route has been blocked to private cars since 1952 due to its hazardous nature, however the house may be reached on foot (about two hours) from Obersalzberg or by bus from the Documentation Center there. Currently, the Documentation Centre guides tourists to the coach station, where they may purchase tickets. The bus ticket seems to be an admittance ticket since it allows the user access to the building’s elevator. Because the steep route going to the top is too steep for conventional cars, the buses have specific adaptations to take on a little inclination. Except for the images shown and discussed along the wall of the sun terrace that chronicle its pre-construction status till now, the Kehlsteinhaus does not say much about its past.

Informal tours of the Kehlsteinhaus can be scheduled via the official website. No outside guides are authorized to offer tours due to concerns about neo-Nazis and post-war Nazi supporters.

The basement rooms are not part of the restaurant, however they may be seen with a tour. Through plate-glass windows, they provide glimpses of the building’s history. Graffiti from Allied forces may still be seen in the adjacent woodwork. The red Italian marble fireplace has been destroyed by Allied souvenir seekers, however this was later stopped by notice stating that the structure was US government property, and any damage to it would result in disciplinary action. Hitler’s little study is now a cafeteria storage area.

A path runs over the Kehlsteinhaus to the Mannlgrat ridge, which connects the Kehlstein to the Hoher Göll peak. The Klettersteig-served path is regarded as the simplest to the summit.