The Kehlsteinhaus, the mountaintop retreat known as the “Eagle’s Nest” that once served Adolf Hitler, caught fire on Saturday, 24 October, German police said, announcing that a suspect had been taken into custody. No one was injured in the blaze.
Perched on a rocky spur above Berchtesgaden in the Bavarian Alps, the building was engulfed by flames that continued to ravage the structure into the early morning, according to weather-camera footage.
Smoke Detector Triggered Alarm
According to law enforcement, a smoke detector in the building set off the fire alarm on Friday at around 9:50 pm. Nearly 200 firefighters were mobilized to extinguish the blaze at the hard-to-reach site.
Police spokesperson Lisa Maier said no information was yet available on the cause of the fire. “The criminal investigation is ongoing,” she said, adding that it “currently aims to determine whether this person is involved in the fire.” A police press conference was scheduled for later in the day.
A Symbol of the Nazi Regime
Built between 1937 and 1938 near Berchtesgaden, the Kehlsteinhaus was part of the Führer’s restricted zone on the Obersalzberg and was intended as a representative building for Hitler, who visited it only rarely.
Popularized in numerous post-war American films, the building offers an exceptional view of a picturesque mountain landscape that stands in stark contrast to the horror of the Third Reich, whose antisemitic, racist and expansionist policies caused the deaths of millions and led to the Holocaust.
Since 1952, the building has been used as a restaurant, and an exhibition recounts the history of the house.
