Bavaria Orders Rebuild of Kehlsteinhaus After Fire: 33-Year-Old Detained
A suspect was apprehended near the summit after the historic structure was largely destroyed in a blaze that required 200 emergency responders.
By Kofi Greco ·
Bavaria will rebuild the Kehlsteinhaus, the Alpine mountaintop building known as the Eagle's Nest, after a fire largely destroyed the structure. The state's interior minister, Joachim Herrmann, confirmed the decision on Friday, stating the site would not remain a ruin.
The fire was first reported at 21:15 local time on Friday. Dispatchers in Traunstein received the alarm, and firefighters arrived to find the building engulfed in flames. The steep terrain made it difficult to contain the blaze, but no injuries were reported.
Police detained a 33-year-old German man in connection with the incident. Officers found him on a motorcycle near the scene. A criminal investigation is underway to determine the motive. Local police official Gerhart Holzinger said at a press conference that there is no current evidence of other suspects.
About 200 emergency personnel were deployed to the site. Local media reported the structure was largely destroyed and urged the public to stay away from the area. Herrmann emphasized the importance of continuing the work of remembrance at the location.
The Kehlsteinhaus stands at an elevation of 1,800 meters above the town of Berchtesgaden. The Nazis completed the building in 1938. Adolf Hitler used the site during World War II, including as a backdrop for propaganda films that portrayed him as a lover of nature. The complex was one of several buildings used by Hitler and his entourage.
The building survived the war and has since operated as a mountain inn and tourist destination. Its official website describes it as a cautionary reminder of the Nazi dictatorship. Hitler and senior officials planned the 1941 invasion of the USSR at his nearby Berghof residence, which was part of the same complex.
Germany and Austria have debated how to handle buildings linked to Hitler. Some argue for preservation for historical reasons, while others fear they may become pilgrimage sites for far-right groups. In June, Berlin announced plans to demolish a former bunker described as the power center of Nazi Germany to build flats and offices. In July, Austrian authorities converted Hitler's birthplace in Braunau am Inn into a police station.
Source: BBC News
