Hitler's Austrian Hideaway: A Secret Alpine Retreat

Adolf Hitler's holiday home in the Obersalzberg area of the Bavarian Alps, near Berchtesgaden, Germany, was known as the Berghof. Hitler first visited the area in 1923 and returned in 1928 to rent a chalet called Haus Wachenfeld. In 1933, after becoming Chancellor of Germany, he purchased the house, using funds from the sale of his political manifesto Mein Kampf. Over the next few years, he renovated and expanded the property, renaming it the Berghof. The house became a centrepiece of Nazi propaganda, with Hitler's life at home portrayed positively in the press. The area became a German tourist attraction during the mid-1930s, and severe restrictions on access to the area and other security measures were introduced. Hitler spent much of his time at the Berghof, planning invasions and hosting important guests, until he left for the final time in July 1944.

Hitler's holiday home, the Berghof, was located in Obersalzberg, in the Bavarian Alps near Berchtesgaden, Bavaria, Germany

Hitler was drawn to the area in 1923 when he visited his friend and mentor, Dietrich Eckart, who was living at the Platterhof Hotel. He travelled there under the name of "Herr Wolf" and held meetings with supporters in local guesthouses. After his release from Landsberg prison in 1926, following an unsuccessful coup in Munich, he returned to the Obersalzberg. He stayed in a small cabin on the mountain near the Platterhof and completed writing Mein Kampf during his visit.

In 1928, Hitler rented a vacation home, Haus Wachenfeld, next door to the Hotel zum Türken. After becoming Chancellor of Germany in 1933, he purchased the house with funds from the sale of Mein Kampf and lived there for a couple of years before beginning a major expansion of the building. The Haus Wachenfeld was renovated and expanded under the supervision of Martin Bormann, Hitler's loyal subordinate, and was renamed The Berghof, or "Mountain Court" in English. The interiors were designed by Gerdy Troost, featuring a large terrace with colourful canvas umbrellas, a dining room panelled with cembra pine, and a large study with a telephone switchboard room. The library contained books on history, painting, architecture, and music. The house was decorated with expensive Teutonic furniture, Persian carpets, and Gobelin tapestries. A sprawling picture window could be lowered into the wall to provide a panoramic view of the snow-capped mountains in Hitler's native Austria.

The Berghof became a centrepiece of Nazi propaganda, with the German and international press portraying Hitler's life at home in a positive light, softening his image by depicting him as a man of culture, a dog lover, and a good neighbour. The area became a popular German tourist attraction during the mid-1930s, with visitors hoping to catch a glimpse of Hitler. This led to the introduction of severe restrictions on access to the area and other security measures.

Hitler spent a significant amount of time at the Berghof, planning invasions of Poland, France, and Russia. He hosted important guests, including political figures, monarchs, heads of state, and diplomats. The social scene at the Berghof included Eva Braun, Heinrich Hoffmann, and the wives and children of other Nazi leaders. However, the social gatherings ended on July 14, 1944, when Hitler left for his military headquarters in East Prussia, never to return.

In April 1945, the Royal Air Force launched a devastating raid on the Obersalzberg, damaging many Nazi properties. As Allied forces closed in, the SS set fire to Hitler's house and withdrew. The shell of the Berghof remained until 1952 when the Bavarian Government demolished it, along with several other Nazi buildings, to erase all traces of Hitler and prevent the site from becoming a neo-Nazi shrine. Today, extensive ruins of Nazi buildings remain scattered across the site, including traces of the Berghof.

The Kehlsteinhaus, or Eagle's Nest, was a gift to Hitler from the Nazi Party

The Kehlsteinhaus was constructed at a cost of 30 million Reichsmarks (approximately $247 million USD in 2022). Twelve workers died during its construction. The building features a 124-metre entry tunnel lined with marble, leading to an ornate elevator that ascends the final 124 metres to the building. The elevator is surfaced with polished brass, Venetian mirrors, and green leather. The Kehlsteinhaus also includes a main reception room dominated by a fireplace made of red Italian marble, a gift from Benito Mussolini.

Hitler first visited the Kehlsteinhaus on 16 September 1938 and returned to inaugurate it on his 50th birthday, although it was not intended as a birthday gift. He rarely visited due to a fear of heights, among other reasons. The Kehlsteinhaus was used more frequently by Hitler's mistress, Eva Braun, who hosted her sister Gretl's wedding reception there in 1944.

The Kehlsteinhaus was a target of the 25 April 1945 bombing of Obersalzberg by the Royal Air Force but remained undamaged. It was subsequently used by the Allies as a military command post until 1960, when it was handed back to the State of Bavaria. Today, it operates as a restaurant, beer garden, and tourist site.

Hitler's hideaway was heavily damaged by an Allied air raid in April 1945

Hitler's holiday home, the Berghof, was heavily damaged by an Allied air raid in April 1945. The Obersalzberg, a small mountain just outside Berchtesgaden on the Bavarian-Austrian border, was owned by Hitler from 1933 to 1945. In April 1945, the Royal Air Force launched a devastating raid on the Obersalzberg, which was likely done because, with its miles of bunkers and air raid shelters, it could have been used as part of the 'Alpine Redoubt', the semi-mythical last stand in the Alps planned by the SS. The raid damaged or destroyed many of the Nazi properties, including the Berghof, which was hit by at least two bombs.

The Berghof was Hitler's holiday residence for ten years. He spent more time there than anywhere else during his time as Führer of Nazi Germany. It was also one of his most well-known headquarters. Hitler first came to Berchtesgaden in 1925 and was enchanted by the Alpine scenery. In 1933, shortly after the Nazis took power, he bought a villa, the Berghof, in the resort. By the late 1930s, Obersalzberg had become an exclusive retreat for Hitler and his inner circle. The area became a German tourist attraction during the mid-1930s, after Hitler came to power as dictator.

The Berghof was rebuilt and renamed in 1935. The small chalet-style building was refurbished and expanded under the supervision of Martin Bormann. A large terrace was built, and the interiors were designed by Gerdy Troost. The house was maintained much like a small resort hotel by several housekeepers, gardeners, cooks, and other domestic workers. The dining room was panelled with very costly cembra pine, and Hitler's large study had a telephone switchboard room. The library contained books on history, painting, architecture, and music. A sprawling picture window could be lowered into the wall to give a sweeping, open-air view of the snow-capped mountains in Hitler's native Austria.

After the air raid in April 1945, the Berghof was damaged again in early May by retreating SS troops, and it was looted after Allied troops reached the area. The Bavarian government demolished the burned shell in 1952. Extensive ruins of many important Nazi buildings remain scattered across the site, including some traces of the Berghof.

The Bavarian government demolished the Berghof in 1952 to prevent it from becoming a neo-Nazi shrine

The Berghof was Adolf Hitler's holiday home in the Obersalzberg of the Bavarian Alps near Berchtesgaden, Bavaria, Germany. It was also his headquarters and, other than the Wolfsschanze ("Wolf's Lair"), his headquarters in East Prussia, he spent more time here than anywhere else during his time as Führer of Nazi Germany. The house was maintained much like a small resort hotel by several housekeepers, gardeners, cooks, and other domestic workers.

Hitler's close associates, including Martin Bormann, Albert Speer, and Hermann Göring, either built or acquired neighbouring homes. The area evolved into a retreat for high-level Nazis, with a cinema, a school for young children, an SS barracks, and an underground shooting range. The Berghof became a centrepiece of Nazi propaganda, with the Nazi-controlled German press and the English-language international press covering Hitler's life at home in a positive light. This helped to soften his image by portraying him as a man of culture, a dog lover, and a good neighbour.

The Obersalzberg area comprised three security zones. The so-called Führersperrgebiet ("the Führer's autonomous area") shielded Hitler and his staff from public access. Two other security zones protected the heavily expanded SS and SD barracks, support staff, guest houses, underground bunkers, and air-raid shelters.

Hitler spent much of August 1939 at the Berghof, making final plans for the invasion of Poland. His last known visit was on 14 July 1944. The premises were heavily damaged by an Allied air raid on 25 April 1945. On 4 May, four days after Hitler's suicide in Berlin, retreating SS troops set fire to the villa as Hitler had previously ordered. Only hours later, the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division arrived at Berchtesgaden, along with the French 2nd Armoured Division. The Obersalzberg area was placed under U.S. administration. At the time, the Berghof still contained destroyed paintings, evening gowns, medical equipment, and a wine cellar. The house was looted by American troops.

The Berghof's shell survived and had been attracting tourists until 1952 when the Bavarian government decided to demolish the buildings so they would not become a neo-Nazi shrine or tourist attraction. On 30 April, the Berghof, the houses of Göring and Bormann, the SS barracks, the Kampfhäusl, and the teahouse were all destroyed. In total, over 50 Obersalzberg Nazi buildings were destroyed.

Hitler's hideaway was a centrepiece of Nazi propaganda, softening his image

Hitler's holiday home, the Berghof, was located in the Obersalzberg of the Bavarian Alps near Berchtesgaden, Bavaria, Germany. Hitler purchased the property in 1933, shortly after the Nazis took power, and it became his holiday residence for the next ten years.

The Berghof became a centrepiece of Nazi propaganda, with the Nazi-controlled German press and the English-language international press covering Hitler's life at home in a positive light. These stories helped to soften his image by portraying him as a man of culture, a dog lover, and a good neighbour.

Writer William George Fitz-Gerald, under the pseudonym Ignatius Phayre, published many articles about visiting Hitler at home that were fabricated from Nazi propaganda sources. Based on German propaganda sources, Fitz-Gerald, writing for the British Homes & Gardens magazine, described Hitler as "his own decorator, designer, and furnisher, as well as architect", and the chalet as "bright and airy" with "a light jade-green colour scheme".

Hitler's propagandists took advantage of the rise of celebrity culture in the 1930s, shaping it to their advantage. They focused on his private life, portraying him as a country gentleman with a passion for flowers, a lover of animals, and a man with a fondness for chocolate and afternoon naps. This helped to create an image of Hitler as a caring, gentle individual with great taste.

The makeover of Hitler's public persona coincided with major renovations of his residences, including the Berghof. Architecture was used as a tool for manipulation, with Hitler and his architects crafting spaces that evoked the desired emotions in visitors. Reporters and politicians were invited to experience this exclusive setting, which emanated domesticity and warmth.

The use of propaganda and the manipulation of media coverage played a crucial role in shaping Hitler's image and gaining support for the Nazi regime, ultimately contributing to the persecution and destruction that followed.

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