Athens to Amsterdam 10/1-7/2023 Episode 4 – Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest – Tues, 10/3

Far above the Berghof, on a mountaintop at just over 6000 feet, is what remains of a place built for Adolf Hitler referred to in the English speaking world as The Eagle’s Nest. It is known in the area as the Kehlsteinhaus.

Someone convinced the Allies not to destroy the building but to allow it to be used for needed income to the area. It was agreed as long as no attempt was ever made to recognize or elevate Hitler or the Nazi ideology. It is owned by a trust and operated as a restaurant – and tourist attraction.

The tour bus picked us up and took us to a parking lot where we boarded buses specially made to climb the steep mountain road. The special buses, or hiking or biking are the only way to get to the top. 

When we arrived, we entered a tunnel built in 1938 that is exactly 406 feet long, and ends at an elevator that rises exactly 406 feet to the top. The tunnel and elevator are original. The tunnel is lined with rough cut marble – more expensive than smooth, and was heated during the time that Hitler used it.

The elevator is covered on the inside with mirrored brass.  

No one ever stayed overnight. Its purpose was solely to impress or to intimidate. Eva Braun made use of it however, including holding her sister’s wedding there. We were told that in today’s dollars the Eagles Nest would have cost more than $100 million dollars to build. It had an emergency generator that was run by a submarine engine.

We walked down what was an open walkway but has been enclosed with glass windows to the outside terrace.

The views are…well……

Our special bus returned us to the parking area where we walked to our ciry bus back to Berchtesgaden, and boarded our train back to Munich. We still had to make the change in Freilassing, but the train was so delayed we did not think we would make it, and we could not understand the train announcements. Once again God sent us help, as a young lady explained what was happening and she and her friends ensured we got off and were headed in the right direction. There was communication back to “train HQ”, who it appeared had the train wait for us and add empty cars to handle the load of people needing to board – those hikers, bikers, and celebrators.

Getting to the new train was another madhouse as it passed all of the people standing along the platform and we had to once again catch it farther down the track. But a young man who had been conversing with our “helper” on the previous train sat across from us on the new train, and interpreted for us. We finally pulled out our roast pork sandwiches, water, and Pringles and prayed before we ate. When we finished, our young friend Yigor asked if we were Jehovah’s Witnesses. He was, and we had a good conversation about following Jesus and living according to Scripture. Others in the crowded train were listening and we pray they may read Scripture for themselves and come to know the Jesus who gives abundant life.

We listened to conversations next to us among 20 somethings who were discussing the difficulty of saving to buy a home because rents were so high. There were two main strategies being debated, and it was interesting to hear some of the same challenges we face in the U.S. being addresses by these young folks.

Yigor dutifully notified us when we reached our destination and saw us off the train. I don’t know what prompted these young people to take us under their wings, but I’m grateful, and reminded that we can always live in the shelter of the wings of God.

Walking back through the city to our hotel, we arrived about 8:30, tired but so very glad for the adventures of the day.

It is impossible, I hope for everyone who visits these places, to not think about the catalysts for the rise of Adolf Hitler, the foundations of the ideology of Nazism, and the resulting World War that are complex and have been studied and written about for decades – and I hope will continue to be. But I am convinced that we should all have at least some basic level of knowledge of how ordinary people and people groups became viewed and treated as less than human, how those who adopted Nazi ideology allowed their consciences to be so seared as to incorporate it into their minds and decisions, and how ordinary people went about their daily lives without lifting a hand or raising a voice to stand against wrong and for righteousness.

I also believe we should never forget or stop acclaiming those who risked – and in many cases lost – their fortunes and lives fighting such evil. And finally, as an imperfect follower of Jesus, I believe we must repeatedly examine our own thinking, speaking, and acting, and align our behaviors with worldviews and belief systems that value what God our Creator values.

Being present at what was the second seat of power of a depraved, corrupt, evil regime, requires me to consider its rise – and fall, and to remember, guard against, and take action related to any similar thinking or behaviors.

And it is a reminder that there is darkness everywhere in this world that there is an absence of light. I must, must do my part and encourage others to do theirs to shine the light of truth and life in Jesus into that darkness.

May we each walk in His light.