Operation Honor: Hitler's Eagles Nest- Kehlsteinhaus

In crazy American-style, we decided to finish off our last day in Berchtesgaden by fitting in the last four mini-adventures that we hadn't been able to do yet. After finally getting off to an early start (sleep has not been a big part of this trip), we set out for Hitler's Eagle's Nest. 

The Eagles Nest was a fantastic architectural achievement for its time; perched on the highest edge of a cliff overlooking the Bavarian and Austrian alps, it cost the equivalent of 20.5 million dollars to construct. The "Kehlsteinhaus" was built by Hitler's SS officer Martin Bormann as a present for Hitler's 50th birthday. 

It was strange to be walking where Hitler and his Nazi criminals had lived and worked...

Hitler himself was afraid of heights and uncomfortable with the long, twisting drive along the plummeting mountain roads. He also feared that the elevator winch mechanism on the roof would attract a lightning strike and leave him trapped inside the elevator. Due to these fears, he only visited the Eagles Nest between ten and seventeen times, and never more then for a few hours. The Kehlsteinhaus would, however, be frequently visited by Hitler's mistress, Eva Braun, and her family. She was the most common face seen at the Eagles Nest during it's time of ownership by the Nazi party.

Eva Braun with her sister and dog at the Eagles Nest

The Kehlsteinhaus fell into Allied hands in May of 1945. Although several divisions, both French and American, claim to be the first to enter, it is generally accepted that Easy Company, of  the 101st Airborne Division was the first. The story of Easy Company was made famous by the miniseries "Band of Brothers".

American soldiers open the gates to
the auto tunnel that leads to the elevator, May, 1945

  

Inside the auto tunnel. This Allied photo also dates back to May 1945.
It was a surreal experience to walk through this tunnel in real life.

This trip was full of moments where we were able to touch
and see history in a way we had never imagined...

The scenary around the Eagles Nest was breath-taking; so was the cold! It snowed on and off the entire time we were up in the alps around the Kehlsteinhaus.

Our trip to the Eagles Nest was surreal- a chance to reflect on the stunning majesty of God's creation, and to see the chilling reminders of an evil that our generation must resolve to never again let occur.