US Army

High Time on the Eagle's Nest.

US Army (?)

GIs of the US Army 3rd Division sample some of the Fuhrer's refreshments at the "Eagle's Nest" (Kehlsteinhaus) chalet atop the Kehlstein, Berchtesgaden, Obersalzberg, on or about 10 May, 1945. The chalet was commissioned by Martin Bormann (who must have been regarded as a curse by local residents) in 1938 as part of the general Berghof complex, and presented to Hitler as a present on the event of his 50th birthday, 20 April, 1939. Perhaps because of the outbreak of war only a few months later, the Fuhrer seldom actually visited the house. The most notable occasion was the wedding reception of Gretl (sister of Eva) Braun to Obergruppenfuhrer-SS Hermann Fegelein, later to be "executed" (possibly on Hitler's orders) for treason and desertion in the last days in the Bunker. The chalet's contents, noted by the Americans, included a certain amount of luxury detritus and a wine cellar. Clearly, they made good use of the latter. It is doubtful whether the Americans found the wine cellar entirely undisturbed. The Americans were not, in fact, "first finders" of the Eagle's Nest. They were there by 10 May; however, it has been proved that the chalet and its environs were first occupied by French units of General Leclerc's 2nd French Armoured Division on 4/5 May, 1945. On arrival, the Americans effectively evicted them - perhaps in response to Eisenhower's concern that the Berchtesgaden installations should be captured by Americans. Given that Leclerc could be rather "peppery", I am not sure how this eviction process worked out ... Best regards, JR.