![]() Ī wedding reception for Eva Braun's sister Gretl was held there following her marriage to Hermann Fegelein on 3 June 1944. It was he who coined the name "Eagle's Nest" for the building while later describing the experience this has since become a commonly used name for the Kehlsteinhaus. In a rare diplomatic engagement, Hitler received departing French ambassador André François-Poncet on 18 October 1938, here. The Kehlsteinhaus lies several miles directly above the Berghof, Hitler's summer home. Bormann took great pains to never mention the two serious lightning strikes that occurred during construction. Hitler did not trust the elevator, continually expressed his reservations of its safety, and disliked using it his biggest fear was that the elevator's winch mechanism on the roof would attract a lightning strike. There are two ways to approach and enter the building: the road and the Kehlsteinhaus elevator. Hitler first visited on 16 September 1938 and returned to inaugurate it on 20 April 1939, his 50th birthday, though it was not intended as a birthday gift. Much of the furniture was designed by Paul László. A MAN submarine diesel engine and an electrical generator were installed in an underground chamber close to the main entrance, to provide back-up power. The building also has heated floors, with heating required for at least two days before visitors arrived. The building had a completely electric appliance kitchen, which was unusual in 1937, but was never used to cook meals instead meals were prepared in town and taken to the kitchen on the mountain top to be reheated. ![]() The building's main reception room is dominated by a fireplace of red Italian marble presented by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, which was damaged by Allied soldiers chipping off pieces to take home as souvenirs. The inside of the large elevator is surfaced with polished brass, Venetian mirrors, and green leather. Their driver would then have to reverse the car for the entire length of the tunnel as there was no space to turn. However it was normal for visiting high-officials to be driven through the tunnel to the elevator. The tunnel is lined with marble and was originally heated with warm air from an adjoining service tunnel. įrom a large car park, a 124 m (407 ft) entry tunnel leads to an ornate elevator that ascends the final 124 m (407 ft) to the building. Hitler's birthday in April 1939 was considered a deadline for the project's completion, so work continued throughout the winter of 1938, even at night with the worksite lit by searchlights. It cost 30 million ℛℳ to build (about $247 million USD, inflation-adjusted for 2022). Ī 4 m (13 ft) wide approach road climbs 800 m (2,600 ft) over 6.5 km (4.0 mi) it includes five tunnels and one hairpin turn. Twelve workers died during its construction. Paid for by the Nazi Party, it was completed in 13 months. It was commissioned by Martin Bormann in the summer of 1937. The Kehlsteinhaus sits on a ridge atop the Kehlstein, a 1,834 m (6,017 ft) subpeak of the Hoher Göll that rises above the town of Berchtesgaden. Map showing the location of the Kehlsteinhaus (labelled "Eagle's Nest") and Führer Headquarters throughout occupied Europe
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