» Hitler’s Berchtesgaden, Obersalzburg & Eagles Nest Military History Tours

Hitler’s Berchtesgaden, Obersalzburg & Eagles Nest

Nazi Berchtesgaden, Eagles Nest & Obersalzburg – above, the clouds part and the Eagles Nest is revealed

The area of Obersalzberg was purchased by the Nazis in the 1920s for their senior leaders to enjoy. Hitler’s mountain residence, the Berghof, was located here. Berchtesgaden and its environs (Stanggass) were fitted to serve as an outpost of the German Reichskanzlei office (Imperial Chancellery), which sealed the area’s fate as a strategic objective for Allied forces in World War II. Some typical Third Reich buildings in Berchtesgaden include the railway station, that had a reception area for Hitler and his guests, and the post office next to the railway station. The Berchtesgadener Hof Hotel was a hotel where famous visitors stayed, such as Eva Braun, Erwin Rommel, Joseph Goebbels, and Heinrich Himmler, as well as Neville Chamberlain and David Lloyd George. The hotel was torn down in 2006. There is a museum on the spot now, called Haus der Berge.

A number of other relics of the Nazi era can still be found in the area, although only few of them are still well preserved. There is the Kehlsteinhaus (nicknamed “Eagle’s Nest” by a French diplomat), which was built as a present for Hitler’s 50th birthday in 1939. The remnants of homes of former Nazi leaders—such asAdolf Hitler, Hermann Göring, and Martin Bormann—were all demolished in the early postwar years but remains still survive.

The Platterhof was retained and served as a holiday, recreation, and vacation retreat (Armed Forces Recreation Centers) for the American military. It was known as the General Walker Hotel. It was demolished in 2000, but a small part of the Platterhof is also still there. The only remaining fully intact buildings are the former SS HQ at Hotel Zum Türken, Albert Speer’s house and the Kehlsteinhaus. The information centre on the mountain is the former guesthouse Höher Göll. It has an entrance to the Obersalzberg bunker system.

All Nazi Berchtesgaden, Obersalzburg & Eagle’s Nest Trips are £449 per guest plus £40 a night single room supplement, where applicable.

Next Trip dates:

Jun 5-7 2013 from £449 – places available

Guests fly in to Salzburg airport where they are met by Nick J. Shuttlebus transfer (included) takes our group the 30 minute journey from Austria into Berchtesgaden town. After settling into our hotel and refreshment we explore the Nazi era train station and post office before travelling up the mountain by bus (included) to the Platterhof and explore the museum and underground bunker system which, along with a talk by Nick J sets the group up perfectly for the next day. On Day Two the group travels back up the mountain by bus (included) to the Platterhof then on up to the Eagles Nest by special mountain bus (included) to the famous lift shaft area. Here breathtaking views can be had both down into Germany and across to Austria. From here guests have great views down to Hitler’s house, the Berghof area. After lunch guests are taken back down by bus (included) to Hitler’s Berghof to explore, so too Bormann’s house area, the SS Barrack area and then to the Zum Turken underground bunker and tunnel system that links them all. These bunkers are privately owned and appear as though the war ended yesterday. After exploring a Nazi era coal bunker storage area guests are then given a choice to either return back to the town (included) or walk down the mountain via Hitler’s daily walk to the Tea House area (quite a tough walk and not for everyone). Day Three we see examples of nearby SS barracks, the airfield Hitler used when visiting, the mountain tunnel where Hitler’s train was hidden, SS Bridge Guardhouses and various war memorials. The group will also be shown the grave in the town cemetery of the man many call Hitler’s mentor, the individual who first introduced Hitler to Berchtesgaden. Berchtesgaden is a pretty mountain town and guests will have an opportunity to discover it for themselves as well before we return to Salzburg airport (included).