The Eagle’s Nest

Tuesday, 6th June 2006 by

Thanks to the various Google Maps updates of imagery in Germany we can now get a good look at Hitler's "Eagle's Nest" or Kehlsteinhaus as it is properly known. The Eagle's Nest was part of the Berghof complex in the Bavarian Alps near Berchtesgaden. It was built as a 50th birthday present for Adolf Hitler from the Nazi party but was apparently rarely used by him as he was afraid of heights. Aside from the macabre connotations it is a fantastic feat of engineering. The Nest is built on a ridge at the top of the Kehlstein mountain, 1835 metres up. It can only be reached by a 4 mile road which cost 30 million Marks to construct in 1939. The final approach to the Nest is an elevator bored through the mountain that travels 124 metres up via a granite tunnel. The elevator itself is surfaced with polished brass, talk about extravagant...

The Nest was used as a command post by the Allies until 1960 when it was handed back over to Germany. It is now a restaurant and Hitler's small study is used as a storage cupboard.

The Eagle's Nest

Thanks: justin flavin & Tom