In short
- Police in Bavaria detained a suspect during a fire at the Kehlsteinhaus, the retreat known as the Eagle’s Nest, above the town of Berchtesgaden.
- Dispatchers in Traunstein received a fire alarm from the building at 21:15 local time (19:15 GMT) on Friday.
- About 200 emergency personnel were deployed to the fire and there were no reports of injuries, police said.
- The Kehlsteinhaus was completed by the Nazis in 1938 and escaped destruction after their defeat in 1945.
- Adolf Hitler used the retreat as a part-time seat of government and met commanders there to plan the invasion of the USSR in 1941.
A suspect has been detained during a fire at the Kehlsteinhaus, the Nazi-built Alpine retreat above Berchtesgaden in Bavaria known as the Eagle’s Nest, police said. Dispatchers in Traunstein received a fire alarm from the building at 21:15 local time (19:15 GMT) on Friday, and firefighters found it engulfed in flames.
What happened at the Eagle’s Nest in Bavaria?
Difficult terrain around the Kehlsteinhaus was hindering efforts to extinguish the blaze, police in the southern German state of Bavaria said. The fire at the retreat was still burning early on Saturday, with about 200 emergency personnel deployed at the scene above the town of Berchtesgaden.
When did the fire start and were there injuries?
Dispatchers in Traunstein received a fire alarm from the building at 21:15 local time (19:15 GMT) on Friday, according to police. There were no reports of injuries at the Kehlsteinhaus.
Who has been detained over the fire?
Police detained a suspect during the fire at the Kehlsteinhaus. A criminal investigation is under way to determine whether the suspect is connected to the blaze, police in Bavaria said.
What is the Kehlsteinhaus and when was it built?
The Kehlsteinhaus was completed by the Nazis in 1938 and lies on the mountain above the town of Berchtesgaden in the southern German state of Bavaria. It is known in English as the Eagle’s Nest.
How did Adolf Hitler use the Eagle’s Nest?
Adolf Hitler used the Kehlsteinhaus as a part-time seat of government and met commanders there to plan the invasion of the USSR in 1941. Hitler also used the area as a backdrop for propaganda films portraying him as a lover of animals and nature.
What happened to the site after the Second World War?
The Eagle’s Nest escaped destruction after the Nazis’ defeat in 1945 and has since become a popular tourist destination, housing a mountain inn at the site.
Its official website describes the Kehlsteinhaus as “a cautionary reminder of the abysses of the inhumane Nazi dictatorship”.
How many people died under the Nazi regime?
During World War Two, Hitler and his followers were responsible for the deaths of tens of millions of people, including the mass murder of European Jews.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Eagle’s Nest?
The Kehlsteinhaus, known as the Eagle’s Nest, lies on the mountain above the town of Berchtesgaden in the southern German state of Bavaria.
When did the fire at the Eagle’s Nest start?
Dispatchers in Traunstein received a fire alarm from the building at 21:15 local time (19:15 GMT) on Friday. Police said the fire was still burning early on Saturday.
Has anyone been arrested over the Eagle’s Nest fire?
Police detained a suspect during the fire. A criminal investigation is under way to determine whether the suspect is connected to the blaze.
Can the Eagle’s Nest be visited today?
The site has been a popular tourist destination since 1945 and houses a mountain inn.
With reporting from BBC News.
Stock image, not from the events described. Globe World — Jo%E3o%20Silas / Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0)