Eagle’s Nest, Nazi Guesthouse in German Alps, Gutted by Fire as Suspect Detained
Firefighters Face Difficult Access
The alarm at the building in the Berchtesgaden district sounded at about 9.15pm on Friday, according to a police statement. Firefighters saw flames as they approached the site, which stands 1,834 metres above sea level.
The cliffside location hindered access for fire engines. Firefighting work was continuing on Saturday morning, while a person was detained as a possible suspect.
A Nazi-Era Retreat
In 1944, the guesthouse hosted a wedding reception for Gretl Braun, sister of Hitler’s partner Eva Braun. She had married Hermann Fegelein, a high-ranking Waffen-SS commander.
From Allied Use To Visitors
The building’s notable features include a red Italian marble fireplace presented to Hitler by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini. Allied soldiers later damaged it by chipping off pieces as souvenirs.
Key points
- A fire engulfed the Eagle’s Nest on Friday night, and firefighting continued the next morning.
- Police detained a person as a possible suspect.
- The guesthouse stands 1,834 metres above sea level in the Bavarian Alps.
- The Nazi Party commissioned the building, completed in 1938.