Adolf Hitler's vacation spot, known as the "Eagle's Nest", was destroyed by arson at the end of October. Since then, the debate concerning its possible reconstruction has raged in Germany. Asked about this on France 24, British historian Evans Richard believes that the ruins should be left as they are.

Published on: 09/11/2026 - 17:57 Modified on: 09/11/2026 - 17:58

The images went around the world. On October 23, Adolf Hitler's Kehlsteinhaus residence, best known as the "Eagle's Nest", was engulfed in flames. Nearly 200 firefighters were mobilized to extinguish the fire in this building, very difficult to access, located at an altitude of 1,834 meters, and overlooking a rocky spur above the town of Berchtesgaden, in the Bavarian Alps.

The next day, a 33-year-old suspect living in Berlin was arrested and taken into custody. A psychiatric report concluded that the man showed signs of possible mental illness and that diminished responsibility could therefore be considered. An investigation is currently underway while the suspect has been placed in a closed psychiatric facility.

A few days after this fire, the German media are wondering about the future of the ruins of this infamous building. Built between 1937 and 1938, the Kehlsteinhaus was part of the "Forbidden Führer Zone" in Obersalzberg and was intended to serve as a representation building for Adolf Hitler, who visited there very little. Popularized in numerous post-war American films, the building offers an exceptional view of a picturesque mountain landscape which contrasts with the horror of the Third Reich, whose anti-Semitic, racist and expansionist policies caused the deaths of millions of people and led to the Shoah. Since 1952, the building, which should not be confused with the Berghof, the private second home of the German dictator, located further down the mountain, had been used as a restaurant. An exhibition told the history of the place.

Also read: The suicide of Adolf Hitler and the “self-destruction” of German society

“A historical monument”

As reported by German newspaper Die Zeit, Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann and Arts Minister Markus Blume (both CSU members) have already announced the reconstruction of the state-owned building. “We cannot let a ruin stand there,” declared Joachim Herrmann. “We want to preserve the Kehlsteinhaus as a historical monument and as a place of awareness for future generations,” Markus Blume also reacted. “A reconstruction must live up to this historic responsibility,” adds the conservative leader.

The director of the Obersalzber Documentation Center, a museum and place of study located in Berchtesgaden dedicated to the history of National Socialism, Sven Keller also considered that it was important not to leave the site in ruins, so as not to encourage neo-Nazi pilgrims, who could access it in complete tranquility, but he declared himself "against an identical reconstruction", in an interview with Spiegel. “We must find judicious solutions that allow appropriate repurposing while meeting the requirements of the culture of memory. The most important thing is to present historical information well so that people can place this place in its context,” he explained.

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Return the mountain “to its natural state”

Asked about this on France 24, British historian Richard Evans is not in favor of reconstruction. As this specialist of the Third Reich recalls, this place is “a project of pure vanity”. "It had no real function, except to demonstrate to the whole world that the Nazi regime was, in some way, in the process of taming nature. The site is located at an altitude of almost 2,000 meters in the Alps; it was accessed by roads leading to the summit, followed by an elevator which led to this small building. There were no rooms, no equipment; the sole purpose of the place was to impress the visitors,” he describes.

Due to its difficult access, Richard Evans does not think there is "a great risk of it becoming a place of pilgrimage". The historian believes, on the contrary, that this risk would be much higher if we rebuilt something or if we developed the site to facilitate access." It is therefore necessary, according to him, that the mountain "be returned to its natural state".

“These buildings constitute a demonstration of Nazi power. This, in my opinion, is the reason why they should disappear,” insists this professor of history at the University of Cambridge. "Hitler's residence further down the same mountain was also destroyed at the end of the war, precisely to prevent pilgrimages and visits by members of the extreme right," he says.

Other places of memory

This specialist in Nazi Germany, however, judges that other places of memory must be preserved: "We have excellent places of memory on the sites of the former concentration camps, where Nazi crimes were committed. These elements are still there and it is entirely justified."

This controversy surrounding the management of Nazi relics arises as the rise in political power of the far-right AfD party creates a stir around Erinnerungskultur (culture of remembrance). Municipal councilors from the AfD and the conservative CDU recently decided to ban Stolpersteine, these small brass plaques inlaid in the streets, in a town in Saxony – in homage to the victims of the Nazis.

Read alsoGermany: a city bans Stolpersteine, paving stones dedicated to the victims of Nazism

“The AfD argues that it is high time to forget the past and move on, rather than remaining so focused – as Germany is currently doing – on the Nazi past. But, you know, the Nazis and Hitler committed the greatest crimes in the history of humanity,” describes Richard Evans. "It seems essential to me to remember this, to think about how we can move forward while keeping this past in mind, rather than trying to forget it. In my opinion, the position adopted by Alternative for Germany is dangerous."

While the debate continues, the Bavarian Minister of Culture, Markus Blume, announced the creation of a commission of experts responsible for ruling on the future and the modalities of reconstruction of the former representation building of Adolf Hitler.

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