Fire engulfs Hitler's 'Eagle's Nest' mountain retreat in Bavaria; suspect detained

A fire broke out overnight into Saturday, 24 October, at Adolf Hitler's former mountain retreat, the Kehlsteinhaus, known as the Eagle's Nest, in the southern German state of Bavaria. Police said they had taken a suspicious person into temporary custody. The building stands on the peak of Obersalzberg and is part of the legacy of Nazi Germany, which remains a heavy historical burden.

Firefighting effort

Authorities were alerted on Friday evening at about 9.50pm, when a smoke detector set off a fire alarm. Around 200 firefighters were sent to the scene. As they approached, they saw flames rising high into the air, and the building was already completely ablaze. Nobody was inside and nobody was injured.

Police spokesperson Lisa Maier said the location, at an altitude of 1,834 metres, made the fire hard to fight. The building could be reached only with heavy breathing apparatus. In the early hours of Saturday, as snow fell on the peak, a weather camera showed the building still in flames. Officers had blocked access to the road leading to the retreat, according to an AFP photographer.

Investigation

No cause has been officially given. German media reported, however, that investigators suspect arson. The tabloid Bild reported that authorities had arrested a motorcyclist they came across on their way to the scene; police have not confirmed this themselves. Maier said the investigation was continuing and that a news conference was planned for later on Saturday.

History of the building

The Eagle's Nest was built between 1937 and 1938 as a monument to Hitler's rule, although the dictator rarely visited the complex. The Third Reich was responsible for the deaths of millions of Jews, as well as Roma, LGBTQ people and Communists, in the Holocaust. The building survived the Second World War undamaged. Since 1952 it has housed a restaurant and an exhibition about its Nazi history.