Herrmann orders full rebuild of Kehlsteinhaus after Friday night fire

Bavaria’s Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann has ordered the full reconstruction of the Kehlsteinhaus, the mountaintop building known as the Eagle's Nest, after a fire destroyed the structure on Friday night. Herrmann stated that the site would not be left as a ruin and that preserving its role as a place of remembrance remained a priority.

Emergency services received an alarm at 21:15 local time on Friday, October 23. Firefighters arrived at the site near Berchtesgaden to find the building fully engulfed in flames. The difficult alpine terrain complicated firefighting efforts. Approximately 200 emergency personnel were deployed to the scene. No injuries were reported.

Police detained a 33-year-old German man on a motorcycle near the location of the fire. Officers are currently investigating the possible motive. Local police official Gerhart Holzinger told reporters that there is no evidence pointing to other suspects at this time. A formal criminal investigation is underway.

Local media described the site as largely destroyed. Authorities urged the public to stay away from the area while crews assessed the damage. The building sits at an elevation of about 1,800 meters above the town of Berchtesgaden.

The Kehlsteinhaus was completed by the Nazis in 1938. Adolf Hitler and his entourage used the building and nearby structures during World War Two. The site served as part of his headquarters. Hitler also used the mountain setting for propaganda films that depicted him as a lover of nature. The building survived the war and became a popular tourist destination. It now houses a mountain inn.

The official website for the site describes it as a cautionary reminder of the Nazi dictatorship. Germany and Austria have long debated the fate of buildings linked to Hitler. Some argue for preservation for historical reasons. Others fear such sites become pilgrimage spots for far-right groups. In June, Berlin announced plans to demolish one of Hitler's bunkers to build residential and office space. Critics argued the bunker had historical value and should have become a museum. In July, Austrian authorities converted Hitler's birthplace in Braunau am Inn into a police station after years of debate.

Herrmann’s order for reconstruction follows the standard protocol for preserving such sites in Bavaria. The ministry will coordinate the engineering and restoration work. The timeline for the rebuild has not yet been announced. The site will remain closed to visitors during the initial assessment and construction phases.