Bavarian Interior Minister Vows Full Restoration After Fire Gutts Kehlsteinhaus
A 33-year-old man was arrested following the blaze that destroyed much of the former Nazi retreat at 1,834 meters.
By Jason Fischer ·
The Bavarian state government will rebuild the Kehlsteinhaus, a former mountain retreat of Adolf Hitler, after a fire on Friday night left the structure largely destroyed. Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann confirmed the plan to restore the building, stating that the state would not leave a ruin on the peak of Obersalzberg. He emphasized the importance of continuing the work of remembrance at the site.
Police arrested a 33-year-old German citizen in connection with the blaze. The suspect, who has ties to the area but does not live there, showed signs of mental illness during questioning. Prosecutors are sending him to a psychiatric facility. Authorities are examining whether a political motive was involved, though no other individuals are currently linked to the incident.
The fire was detected at 9:15 pm on Friday when a smoke alarm triggered a response. By 9:50 pm, flames had engulfed the entire structure. Approximately 200 firefighters from six municipalities, along with the Bavarian Red Cross and mountain rescue services, rushed to the remote location. No injuries were reported, and no one was found inside the building.
Rescue efforts were complicated by the site's altitude of 1,834 meters. Police spokesperson Lisa Maier noted that the building could only be reached using heavy breathing apparatus. Strong winds and rain, which later turned into the season's first snow, forced crews to withdraw overnight after several hours of work. The fire continued to burn until about 7 am on Saturday, with smoke still rising later that morning. A police spokesperson told Bild newspaper that the house was unlikely to be saved due to the extent of the damage.
Built between 1937 and 1938, the Kehlsteinhaus was inaugurated by Hitler on his birthday in 1939. It remains one of the few undamaged monuments from the Nazi era. Since 1952, the site has operated as a restaurant and hosts an exhibition by the Institute for Contemporary History. The building is accessed via a road cut into the mountain, a tunnel, and a 124-meter brass lift buried in the rock.
German media reported that investigators initially suspected arson, although no official cause has been announced. A police news conference is scheduled for Saturday to provide further details. The site, owned by the state government, will undergo restoration after consultations with local officials, historians, and conservators.
The structure had become a focal point for historical memory, often portrayed in US war films as a central meeting place for the Nazi leadership, despite Hitler rarely visiting. The Institute for Contemporary History describes the site as a monument to the insanity of the regime. The road leading to the retreat was closed following the fire.
Source: The Guardian
