Back in the day before home computers and the WWII Forums, my wife and I holidayed in Bavaria in the Summer of '98 and ( of course ! ) a trip to Berchtesgaden was a 'must'. For a long time, I'd mislaid the snapshots I took and found them this morning while sorting out some old photos - so I scanned them and here they are. I was really pleased not to have lost them because the whole area has now apparently been 'redeveloped'. with a new hotel on the site of the Goering Haus and many tons of rubble dumped over the site of the long-demolished Berghof. When we visited, away from the tourist-trap of the 'Eagles Nest' teahouse, all was quiet on a hot day..... This is the Berghof driveway leading up to site of the house. A closer view.... And here's how it was with slightly more impressive cars. The retaining wall on the left is original... A view back down from the site of the Berghof, roughly on the same level as the garage.... Here's the famous mountain view which Hitler liked so much - although the Berghof's panoramic window would have been about 40ft higher up than this... Couple more to come............
Unsignposted and away from the main carpark, this was the view across the site of the Goering Haus. The soggy, dished piece of ground right-of-centre marks the spot.... Best 'find' of the day for me....in the trees to the left of photo, the entrance to the Goering Haus' air-raid shelter... Needless to say, we did the tourist-thing : here's a younger me at the Eagles Nest teahouse.... And I blush to say it, but I still have the fragments of Berghof brick and tile which came home with me in my suitcase..
Nice photos Martin. I was in Berchtesgaden last winter. I'll try to post a few photos next week. Even though most of the sites have been destroyed, I am suprised by how much was left (at least compared to WWII sites in other parts of Germany and Austria).
Great pictures , Martin. Especially the bunker. The field of the Goering Haus reminds me of the scene in Band of Brothers when Gottlieb takes justice into his own hands. Much to the horror of Webster. Definitely a heavy issue, especially for Jewish G.I.'s. I call it the: "Why did he run scene." Thanks.
The eagle's nest tea house is not the tea house Hitler walked to every day, right? That one was torn down was it not? Anyway, great photos Martin, many thanks for sharing!
You're absolutely right. The one in my pic is the 'Kehlsteinhaus' built by Bormann as a toadying present for Hitler. It was used on special occasions and apparently Eva Braun liked it, but Hitler preferred the 'Little Tea House' across the valley from the Berghof. Apaprently some ruins do remain ; my knowledge wasn't that advanced in '98 ( doh ! ) otherwise I would most certainly have gone and found it..........
I remember hearing something about the Americans purposefully planting trees in front of the amazing view that Hitler had once the war was over. Does anyone know if that is true? I'm a little skeptical.
Agreed, IIRC, the trees were only planted after the Berghof's demolition in 1952. The trees, through it's destruction, do not appear to be in evidence from the photos over on thirdreichruins. http://thirdreichruins.com/berghof.htm
Martin I feel your pain. I have gone overseas a couple times on Second World War pilgrimages and always find I missed so many sites that I wasn't aware of at the time. Very frustrating
