Eagle's Nest

Located in the Bavarian Alps near the town of Berchtesgaden, this historic site sits atop the Kehlstein mountain at an elevation of 6,017 feet.  Hitler had it built as an entertainment and meeting place to discuss war strategies and plan the genocide. Our guide said that Hitler was afraid of heights, so he only went up there about 18 times. His mistress, Eva Braun, loved it and often went up for the day. The guide also stated that Hitler was claustrophobic, so the 40-story elevator is mirrored to give the impression of being bigger. Today, a restaurant has replaced the meeting room.

Most of his evil, crazy plans…like the genocide…. were made here in Eagle’s Nest.  The marble fireplace was a gift to Hitler from the Italian dictator, Mussolini.  The marble is chipped because the allies took some pieces as souvenirs.

Hitler was born in Austria and moved to Munich and served as a German soldier in World War I. After the war, he started his political career. He had a mentor, Detrich Eckart, who had racist beliefs.  After the war, the Germans wondered Should we take this grave away?  Exume him and destroy it? They decided to leave it since it was a part of history.  He said we have to learn from history. But the problem is, we often don’t.

After the war, the Americans said it felt like an Eagle’s Nest, so the name stuck.  I couldn’t get over how high we were. I had not been on top of an Alp before. The views were breathtaking.  There is a cross on the mountain, which is a little higher than the building. I climbed up and pondered for a moment. Here is where these evil leaders once gathered. They are all gone. But Christ still remains and is far greater than any evil then and now.