Kehlsteinhaus: Difference between revisions
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== Allied capture == |
== Allied capture == |
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The [[HBO]] [[miniseries]] ''[[Band of Brothers]]'' depicts the |
The [[HBO]] [[miniseries]] ''[[Band of Brothers]]'' depicts the Kehlsteinhaus being taken by troops from E company of the [[506th Parachute Infantry Regiment]] of the [[U.S. Army]]'s [[101st Airborne Division]] without a shot being fired. As is often the case, the actual capture was more complicated and messy than the limitation of dramatic reconstruction allows. The [[French 2nd Armoured Division]] first secured the Eagle's Nest, then 1st battalion of the 506th regiment, led by C company. |
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== Current use == |
== Current use == |
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Revision as of 19:00, 28 September 2005
The Kehlsteinhaus was a building of the Nazi Obersalzberg complex in the German Alps near Berchtesgaden.
The Kehlsteinhaus, also known as "Hitler's Tea House" or the Eagle's Nest, was built as a 50th birthday present for Adolf Hitler from the Nazi Party. The Eagle's Nest was meant to be a retreat for Hitler and a place for him to entertain visiting dignitaries (which he almost never did here). It was commissioned by Martin Bormann, with construction proceding over a 13-month period prior to its formal presentation to Hitler in 1939. It is situated on a ridge at the top of the Kehlstein mountain (1835 m), reached by a spectacular 6.5 km (3.9 mile) road which cost 30 million Reichsmarks to build. The last 124 metres up to the Kehlsteinhaus are spanned by an elevator bored inside the mountain, reached via a granite tunnel; the elevator itself is surfaced with polished brass. The surprisingly plain main reception room is dominated by a fireplace of red Italian marble, presented by Mussolini.
Although the site is on the same mountain as the Berghof, Hitler rarely visited the property as he was afraid of heights. It was perhaps because of this lack of close association with Hitler, the property was saved from demolition at the end of the war. It was subsequently used by the Allies as a military command post until 1960, when it was handed back to the State of Bavaria.
Allied capture
The HBO miniseries Band of Brothers depicts the Kehlsteinhaus being taken by troops from E company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division without a shot being fired. As is often the case, the actual capture was more complicated and messy than the limitation of dramatic reconstruction allows. The French 2nd Armoured Division first secured the Eagle's Nest, then 1st battalion of the 506th regiment, led by C company.
Current use
The building is now owned by a charitable trust, and does its duty as restaurant. It is a popular tourist attraction, particularly for Britons and Americans attracted by the myth of the "Eagle's Nest". The house can be reached by foot (2 hours of walking), or by bus.
After the return of the Kehlsteinhaus to German hands, an information centre has been built on the foot of the hill to remind the public of the cruelty of Hitler's regime.