Hitler's Domain

When most Americans think of Germany I would guess that thoughts would turn first to their heartless ruler Adolph Hilter, then perhaps to the autobahn, and not usually to the amazing countryside I have grown to love.

It was interesting for us to talk to an Austrian woman who is married to a German man, on her perspective of how Hitler and WWII are addressed in both of their countries. She believes there has been so much NOT talking about any of it that it would do them some good to start talking. And don't get Jeff started...he was so bothered by their lack of even using the words Nazi, or concentration camps.

About 30 minutes outside of Salzburg is Berchesgaten Germany. This was Hilters political home base. In fact he even wrote portions of his book Mein Kampf here. It is a beautiful area and even has beautiful Lake Koinegsee just down the road.

It is easy to see why Hitler chose this area to hunker down, quite literally. Just above the city Hitler owned a large house where he lived for many years. When the allies discovered it there were about four miles of underground tunnels beneath the property. There were offices, kitchens, food storage, bedrooms, ammunition and much more all under there. The entrances were air tight in case of intrusions.

Now at this location is what the Germans call the Documentation Center. Jeff went so far as to ask the lady at the admittance desk why they didn't call it the Nazi Documentation Center. There is a large modern building that houses a maze filled with pictures and information on Hilter from the beginning of he political aspirations and follows all the way through the war. In their own way explaining how it all happened. This is at the beginning of the information maze.

For his 50th birthday present Hitler's associates had a large estate built at the very top of the highest peak in Berchesgaten. They called it the Eagles Nest. The only way to get up there is on a ride in an elevator that goes 300 meters strait up the inside of a mountain, and opens up into the foyer of the Eagles Nest. There are several large rooms here but the entire place is being leased by a restaurant and they ask you not to go inside and disturb the patrons. Clever marketing huh?! Well we went in anyway, we're not much for following those kinds of rules, but we did end up ordering some food and eating on the back terrace a while later. Here is a look at the place from the outside.

Again we were either in the clouds or above them. It made for some incredible views as the clouds moved around.


When near Munich another tourist POI is of course Dachau Concentration Camp. Again Jeff was quite disturbed by their lack of signage leading to the camp and then whatever it was that they called it. Regardless we did make it there. What is left of it anyway. There are only a few buildings still standing as it was pretty much destroyed after the war. It wasn't until the late 1960's that the German citizens demanded that the camp be turned into a memorial site. Until then, they used a few of the remaining buildings as a holding place for immigration. The insides of the buildings were completely gutted but they now house large informational posters, and in one building they actually reconstructed what the insides of the barracks looked like. There is still such a somber feeling there.