The Eagle's Nest in the post-war years

The Eagle's Nest, which is also called Kehlsteinhaus, is a famous tourist destination in Germany. It was constructed in 1938 on a rock that stands 1834 meters tall. Hitler's mountain house draws up to 500,000 visitors every year and is open to the public from May until the end of October.

In the early 1950s, the American government planned to demolish the Eagle's Nest and other buildings on Obersalzberg that had already been bombed. However, due to the great interest of American and British military officials in the unique mountain structure and their frequent visits to the site, the demolition never occurred. Instead, the Americans instructed the local and regional authorities to dispose of the former dictator's estate on their own instead of dismantling their military base in Berchtesgaden.

As the demand for the demolition of the fascist building continued, the competent politics of the Berchtesgaden authorities saved the Eagle's Nest. They convinced both the German and American governments that the Eagle's Nest should be preserved for the benefit of society. They suggested that the funds generated by the Eagle's Nest could be effectively used for social projects and to help people affected by the war.

By the end of the 1950s, the Eagle's Nest began to attract tourists, and the number of visitors increased, causing the demolition date to be postponed several times. Today, the Eagle's Nest still stands and 50% of the proceeds from ticket sales go to social needs.

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