How a quiet alpine retreat became the center of power for the Third Reich

Wars & Conflicts · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Once a peaceful mountain vacation spot for 19th-century intellectuals, Obersalzberg was transformed by Adolf Hitler into a heavily fortified command center. By the mid-1930s, the area had been purged of residents and turned into a restricted security zone, serving as the backdrop for both state diplomacy and final war planning.

Obersalzberg, a mountainside area above Berchtesgaden, began as a retreat for artists and intellectuals in the late 19th century. After visiting in 1923, Adolf Hitler became captivated by the location. Following his release from prison in 1925, he used a small cabin on the premises to dictate the second part of Mein Kampf. By 1928, he began renting a chalet called Haus Wachenfeld, which he eventually purchased and expanded into the Berghof, a sprawling residence featuring a panoramic window and a cellar bowling alley.

Following the 1933 seizure of power, the area underwent a radical transformation. Martin Bormann, the Party Secretary, systematically bought out or evicted all local residents to secure the site. The region evolved into a restricted zone known as the Führersperrgebiet, protected by three layers of security and a large contingent of the SS Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler. High-ranking officials like Hermann Göring and Albert Speer established homes nearby, while the infrastructure expanded to include underground bunkers, air-raid shelters, and a cinema.

The Kehlsteinhaus, or 'Eagle's Nest,' was constructed in 1938 on a rocky summit as a site for party meetings and hosting dignitaries. Despite its prominence, Hitler visited the lodge only 14 times, partly due to his fear of heights. As the war progressed, the area became a hub for strategic planning, including the final preparations for the invasion of Poland in August 1939. Allied air raids heavily damaged the complex in April 1945, and the remaining Nazi-era structures were largely demolished by the Bavarian government in the 1950s to prevent the site from becoming a shrine.

Today, the history of the site is preserved at the Dokumentationszentrum Obersalzberg museum, which opened in 1999. While the Kehlsteinhaus remains a seasonal restaurant, the area has transitioned back toward its roots as a tourist destination, now featuring a hotel and access to the historic salt mines that originally defined the region's economy in the 16th century.

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