The key facts
- A tower crane has been installed at the summit of the Kehlstein (1,834 m), lifted by a Super Puma helicopter on 5 November; workers are assembling a temporary roof over the damaged building.
- The fire broke out on the evening of 23 October; about 200 emergency service personnel took part in extinguishing it, with no casualties.
- A 33-year-old Berlin resident has been detained on suspicion of arson and placed in a closed psychiatric institution; investigators are checking possible political motives.
Work at the top of the Kehlstein
In Bavaria, work has begun to preserve the ruins of the Eagle's Nest — Adolf Hitler's tea house on the summit of the Kehlstein mountain, which was virtually destroyed by a fire in late October. This was reported by the Berchtesgaden regional tourism association. Construction materials are being delivered by helicopter to an altitude of 1,834 metres in order to reinforce the surviving structures and protect them from snow and rain.
Crane, lift and temporary roof
A tower crane, whose parts were lifted by a Super Puma transport helicopter on 5 November, has already been installed at the summit. Workers intend to use it to assemble a temporary roof over the damaged building. The historic lift, which partially resumed operation after a technical inspection on 4 November, is also being used to deliver specialists and materials.
Access closed
The area around the former tea house is completely closed to visitors. A drone flight ban is in force, and access to the ruins is permitted only to specialists. The main work to protect the building from winter weather is planned to be completed by early December.
What is known about the fire
The fire broke out on the evening of 23 October. By the time rescuers reached the building in the Alps, the flames had already engulfed almost the entire structure. About 200 emergency service personnel took part in extinguishing the fire. Mostly stone walls remain of the historic structure; the roof and interior rooms were destroyed. There were no casualties.
History of the building
The Kehlsteinhaus was built in 1937–1938 as a representative facility for the Nazi leadership. Hitler himself rarely visited it, using the Berghof residence located below for his stays. After the Second World War the building survived, and from 1952 a mountain restaurant operated there. Before the fire, the Eagle's Nest remained one of the most visited attractions in the region.
Arson suspect
According to Life.ru, a 33-year-old Berlin resident was previously detained on suspicion of setting fire to the historic building. The man was found on a motorcycle on the mountain road leading to the Eagle's Nest: he was moving towards firefighters and police officers heading to the scene of the fire. It later became known that the suspected arsonist had been placed in a closed psychiatric institution: according to the Traunstein prosecutor's office, a forensic psychiatric examination revealed signs of a condition that could have affected the man's sanity. Investigators have also begun checking possible political motives for the incident.
