Joachim Herrmann Orders Rebuild of Burned Bavarian Retreat

Bavaria’s interior minister, Joachim Herrmann, confirmed on Friday that the Eagle's Nest, also known as the Kehlsteinhaus, will be rebuilt after a fire destroyed the building. Herrmann spoke to reporters in Berchtesgaden following the blaze and stated that local officials, historians, and preservationists would determine the final design. "We're not going to leave a ruin there," he said, adding that a sensible solution could be found while continuing the work of remembrance.

The fire began at approximately 9:15 p.m. local time on Friday. Emergency services arrived to find the structure completely engulfed in flames on the peak of the Obersalzberg. Police reported that no one was inside the building at the time, and no injuries were recorded. Firefighters faced logistical challenges in reaching the site due to local terrain conditions, according to authorities.

Police identified a suspect shortly after the fire started. The individual is a 33-year-old German citizen with ties to the Berchtesgaden area, though he does not currently live there. Prosecutors said he has been questioned and displayed signs of mental illness, leading to his transfer to a psychiatric facility. Investigators are also examining whether a political motive played a role, given the building's history. Police noted there were no indications that anyone else was involved in the incident.

The Kehlsteinhaus sits at an elevation of 6,017 feet in the Bavarian Alps. It was completed in 1938 and served as a temporary seat of government for Adolf Hitler. The building survived Allied bombing during World War II, which left it largely in its original condition. In recent decades, it has functioned as a tourist destination and a restaurant.

The site's website describes the retreat as one of the few undamaged monuments from the Hitler era. It notes that the building stands for the insanity of the regime. A criminal investigation is ongoing to determine the exact cause of the fire. The structure was originally built for Hitler and has remained a focal point for visitors and historians since the 1930s.