The Eagle’s Nest During our visit in Austria, we stayed several days in Salzburg. Though not on our itinerary, we learned that there was a bus tour to a Bavarian mountain site called The Eagle’s Nest that was once part of the Nazi regime. In fact, it was a mountain retreat constructed to celebrate Adolf Hitler’s 50th birthday. Twenty of our party decided to take advantage of an open day to take the tour. The term Eagle’s Nest "came from a description of the place given by the French ambassador in 1938. The Germans called it the "D‐ House" (for diplomatic) or the Kehlsteinhaus, from its location on the Kehistein mountain.” <uncommon‐travel‐germany.com> The term was made popular by the military and the news media. This photo program includes photos I took on the tour from Salzburg to the Kehlsteinhaus. Most of the information regarding the Eagle’s Nest comes from a book I purchased at the site entitled, History of the Engle’s Nest, A complete account of Adolf Hitler’s alleged ‘Mountain Fortress’ by Florian M. Beierl, Druckerei A. Plenk, Berchtesgarden, 2014. The Beierl book has 530 photos and documents regarding this project. Other information came from our bus‐tour guide, Carlos, who could converse in six languages, and from other sources noted in the bibliography. Located in southeastern Germany, near the Austrian border, the site is 19 miles from Salzburg, Austria and 110 miles from Munich, Germany within the Berchtesgarden Alps in Upper Bavaria. History of this area dates to the 12th century. Salt deposits were the main reason for those living in the region. Berchtesgarden ruling bodies changed many times during Europe’s many conflicts over several centuries. Berchtesgarden came under Bavarian rule in the early 19th century. Between 1877 and 1936, Obersalzberg was considered as “one of the best‐known resort areas in Bavaria.” The remainder of this program will concentrate on the Adolf Hitler time related to Berchtesgarden and Obersalzberg.” <Beierl, p.7> “Hitler stayed in a modest rental cabin overlooking the town while he wrote the second half of his autobiographical work, Mein Kampf. By the time of his appointment as Chancellor of Germany in 1933, Hitler had earned roughly 1.2 million Reichsmarks in royalties from his book (the average annual income of a teacher in 1933 was around 4,000 marks). With his newfound wealth (rumored to be supplemented with the annual royalties he received from appearing on postage stamps), Hitler began to build a mansion not far from his small cabin, in the mountain retreat of Obersalzberg, overlooking Berchtesgaden. Called the Berghof (Adolf Hitler’s Bavarian residence) and completed in 1935.” <atlasobscura.com According to Beierl, Hitler built a private home in Obersalzberg above the town in 1928. As Hitler’s power and his Nazi regime grew, Hitler’s top aides came to the area and began to purchase and requisition land for their use. <Beierl, p.7> Martin Bormann joined the Nazi Party in 1927. Over time, Bormann became Chief of Staff and Party Chancellery and later Hitler’s private secretary. “Bormann considered it his duty from the beginning to change the Obersalzberg to ‘fit the needs of the Fuhrer’ and provide a high level of security for Hitler…he was responsible for the changes that the mountain underwent in the years from 1936 to 1945.” <Beierl, p.7> What transpired was the construction of several buildings, including permanent barracks for Hitler’s special SS bodyguard unit. Hitler’s “Teehaus” (Tea House) was planned to be built for him and Eva Braun on the summit of Kehistein. Bormann and his family knew about the Kehistein Mountain cottage. It stood 5656 feet overlooking Obersalzberg (crest 6017 feet). The Nazi Party decided that the Fuhrer should have this site above Obersalzberg. No blueprints of the area existed. In late 1936, Bormann met with the state engineer to plan and construct a circular roadway to the top. In January 1937, the construction began and was anticipated to be completed by the spring. <Beierl, pp.17‐20, 30> “The history of how the road was constructed is likewise impressive: in only 13 months, the 6.5 kilometer (4 mile) long road was blasted out of the mountain's hard rock…it is still Germany’s highest altitude road.” <berchtesgaden.de> The road construction was a grueling and dangerous project. Over 3,500 German, Austrian, and Italian workers were paid to build the road. No slave labor was used. Cable systems were used to haul materials to the worksites. Much of the paths up the mountain were made by the workers themselves. <Beierl, p. 27> The workers faced separation from their families, weather related issues, underground tunneling, extreme dirty conditions and working with explosives in a mountainous terrain. <Beierl, p. 31> Several worker and security camps were created during the construction. Landslides and rockslides were common during the construction progress. A powerhouse was built to pump water to worker sites. Besides the construction, Martin Bormann was also concerned with the security during the building of the access to the mountain top. The area was divided into three security zones. Security fences were put into place covering 6.2 miles around the Kehistein. SS guards had 30 gates to check regularly. Rock and landslides damaged some of them from time‐to‐time, but sabotage was also considered. <Beierl, p. 49> Road and elevator tunneling construction required a knowledge of geology, environmental and other issues. To reach the Kehistein Teehaus the road ended below the escarpment, 429 feet from the top of the mountain. A tunnel was constructed on the base that led to an elevator shaft. The elevator car could hold 15 people in the main tunnel. A service tunnel was also constructed. The elevator system also included a transformer room, emergency diesel generator, fuel storage room and a switchboard room. Weather, rockslides and equipment issues made this installation difficult. Interestingly, the equipment installed in 1938 still works today. The shaft maintained a 44‐degree Fahrenheit temperature. <Beierl, p. 65> The Kehlsteinhaus cottage was demolished and construction of the new Teehaus at the summit began during February 1938. A camp for workers was set up and another cable system was devised for supplies. Granite stones were brought up and cut on‐site. <Beierl, p. 72> Excavating the shaft and the foundation for the Teehaus created a problem. Earthen matter was tossed over the side of the mountain impacting workers below, plus the debris caused destruction of the supply lines and rocks defaced the landscape in certain areas. As time progressed other deficiencies were identified by the state engineer. <Beierl, p. 81> Workers on the project grew from 600 initially in December 1937 to as high as 3800 workers in June 1938. Workers were isolated and many left to be with their families in the summer. <Beierl, p. 93> Work hours went from 48 to 60 hours during the road construction. In terms of safety‐on‐the‐job, extensive instruction took place. During the entire project, eight workers lost their lives. Five workers died from a landslide, one truck driver tumbled downhill, one worker died during the elevator shaft construction and one was killed by a co‐worker over a money dispute. Another interesting event took place in one isolated area, “B‐Baracke” (bordello‐hut). French and Italian women were hired during 1938. This site and actions were kept a secret. <Beierl, p. 81> <Beierl, p. 103> In October 1938, the Kehistein road was completed. It was a road with a 25% road grade. New methods of dealing with gradient and Alps conditions were tried. For instance, hot liquid tar was first used in road construction in the alpine region. Designing embankments that complimented the environment and use of hydrochloric acid on cracked rocks were successful. <Beierl, p. 98> Adolf Hitler first visited the Teehaus on September 16, 1938, seven months before completion. <Beierl, p. 117> In March of 1939, after ten months of construction, the Teehaus was completed. Martin Bormann and state engineer Hans Haupner visited the structure. <Beierl, p. 106> It cannot be determined how often Hitler visited the Teehaus, however it was “rare” as mentioned in the book and other sources. Beierl noted, “Hitler mentioned to Bormann that because of the thin air at the summit, he could only visit occasionally due to dizziness and fear of heights.” <Beierl, p. 117; p.127> Another source cited “chronic claustrophobia and vertigo.” <atlasobscura.com> Eva Braun, Hitler’s mistress, used every opportunity to go to the ‘golden cage’ as she called the Obersalzberg retreat…it became her refuge.” <Beierl, p.123> The Teehaus major rooms consist of a “rare Cambria pine wood” meeting room and a large reception hall with a fireplace. <Beierl, pp. 110‐111> The cost of the Teehaus project took place when the Reichsmarks (RM), which is no longer currency was being used. Its value depends on whether it was pre‐1923 or pre‐1948. Today the Euro is the currency used. It replaced the German Mark (DEM) in 1999. <measuringworth.com> <Beierl, p 116> <Beierl, p 131> Eagle’s Nest Expenditures Interior decorating expenses between 1939 and 1945 consisting of tapestries, furniture and hardware. In 2019, the relative values of $113,134.00 from 1939 ranges from $1,660,000.00 to $26,000,000.00. Estimated non‐documented expenses: equipment, heating, flooring, furniture, cutlery, paneling, ceiling, elevator system, power generator and other hardware. In 2019, the relative values of $168,485.00 from 1939 ranges from $2,480,000.00 to $38,700,000.00.