Bavaria to Rebuild Nazi Retreat After Fire

The mountain retreat built for Adolf Hitler will be rebuilt after a fire engulfed the site on Friday night. Emergency services were called at about 9:15 p.m. local time to the building, also known as the Kehlsteinhaus, which sits on the peak of the Obersalzberg. When firefighters arrived, the structure was completely engulfed in flames. The fire was the subject of a criminal investigation, and a 33-year-old man was taken into custody. He showed signs of mental illness and will be sent to a psychiatric facility.

The building was completed in 1938 and was used by Hitler as a temporary seat of government. It escaped Allied bombing during World War II and remained largely in its original state. In the years since, it has become a popular tourist destination and also operates as a restaurant and beer garden. Its website describes it as one of the few undamaged monuments of the Hitler era.

Bavaria's interior minister, Joachim Herrmann, told reporters that the Eagle's Nest will be rebuilt. He said the site will be restored through talks with local officials, historians, preservationists, and others. He emphasized that it is important to continue the work of remembrance.

The fire broke out on Friday night, according to a statement from Upper Bavaria South police. The suspect was identified shortly after the fire broke out. There were no current indications that anyone else was involved. The cause of the fire is now the subject of a criminal investigation.