Fire at Hitler's Eagle's Nest retreat draws 200 firefighters; suspect detained
About 200 firefighters tackled a blaze at Hitler's Kehlsteinhaus retreat in Bavaria; police detained a suspect and reported no injuries.
The story in focus
A fire engulfed Adolf Hitler's former mountain retreat, the Kehlsteinhaus or Eagle's Nest, in Bavaria. About 200 firefighters were deployed. German police detained a suspect and said nobody was injured. The fire was reported Friday evening and was still burning early Saturday.
- About 200 firefighters were deployed to the blaze at the Kehlsteinhaus on Obersalzberg.
- Police detained a suspect and said nobody was injured.
- The building was reported completely ablaze when firefighters arrived.
- The fire was reported Friday evening and was still burning early Saturday.
Blaze at remote alpine site
German police said Saturday they had detained a suspect after a fire at Adolf Hitler's former mountain retreat, the Kehlsteinhaus, known as the Eagle's Nest, in Bavaria. About 200 firefighters were deployed to the building on the peak of Obersalzberg in southern Germany.
Police said firefighters approaching the scene saw flames rising high into the air and found the building completely ablaze. Nobody was injured, and firefighters found no one inside.
Access and investigation
Police spokesperson Lisa Maier said firefighters struggled to tackle the fire because of its location at an altitude of 1,834 metres (6,000 feet). The building was only accessible with heavy breathing apparatus, she said.
Authorities were alerted when a smoke detector triggered a fire alarm on Friday evening. Police gave no potential reason for the fire; German media reported that investigators suspected arson. Police said they were still investigating and would hold a news conference later on Saturday.
Site history
Built between 1937 and 1938, the Eagle's Nest was designed as a monument to Hitler's rule, though the dictator rarely visited the complex. It survived the second world war undamaged. Since 1952 it has hosted an exhibition recounting the house's Nazi history and a restaurant.
What did police say about injuries and the suspect?
Police said nobody was injured in the fire and that a suspicious person was taken into temporary custody. A criminal investigation is under way to determine whether the suspect is connected to the blaze.
Sources & further reading
- Blaze engulfs Hitler’s ‘Eagle’s Nest’ mountain retreat in Bavaria ↗The Guardian
- Arrest made after fire at Hitler's famed Eagle's Nest retreat ↗BBC News
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