Obersalzberg: the leaders’ compound
Starting with a brief account of Hitler’s life, the bus takes you up steep mountain roads to Obersalzberg, a tiny community above Berchtesgaden. Here the history of Obersalzberg’s takeover by the Nazi Party and Martin Bormann’s transformation of the mountain into Hitler’s Southern Headquarters will be told. During the driving tour you will view some original Third Reich buildings dating back to when the area was Hitler’s second seat of government. Within the former compound, you’ll catch glimpses of buildings that were used as Albert Speer’s home, Speer’s architectural studio, Martin Bormann’s model farm, Nazi Party headquarters, the Platterhof’s theater, SS-Officers’ housing, Göring’s adjutancy, State Security Service headquarters and the location of Hitler’s home, the ‘Berghof’, (no longer standing today). The description of Obersalzberg and the historic importance of Hitler’s Berghof in world history will be made easy to understand with the use of original photographs and a model of the compound’s main buildings, many of which no longer stand today.
The bunker system
At Obersalzberg, you will also be shown one of the underground bunker complexes below the mountain. The extensive fortress-like system was built as an air raid shelter, as war headquarters and as a possible last refuge for the leaders of the Reich.
The Eagle’s Nest
You will then board a specially equipped mountain bus for a breathtaking drive up the 6.5 km (4 mile) road on the edge of the cliff; leading up a 27% incline to a high mountain parking lot, just below the ‘Eagle’s Nest’. The original brass-lined elevator will then transport you up through the heart of Kehlstein mountain straight into the building itself.
Perched up at
1834m (6017ft) the Eagle’s Nest and the road network leading to it were
considered feats of engineering. Constructed as a 50th birthday gift for Adolf
Hitler, the diplomatic teahouse construction details and history will be told
in detail during the guided tour. Participants may now enjoy some free time at the Eagle's Nest to explore on their own, have refreshments or do some shopping.
On the trip back to the starting point in Berchtesgaden, the tour guide will recount the demise of the high Nazi leaders who once made Obersalzberg their alpine redoubt.
