The eagle's nest
Hitler did not live at the Eagle's Nest (Kehlsteinhaus) full-time, nor did he use it as a "party house." It was built in 1938–1939 as a 50th birthday gift from the Nazi party to serve as a high-altitude diplomatic reception site. Due to his fear of heights and claustrophobia, he visited rarely—only about 12 to 14 times—and never stayed overnight. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6] Key Facts About the Eagle’s Nest: • Purpose: It was designed to impress foreign diplomats and serve as a meeting place, not a residence. • His Actual Residence: Hitler stayed at the Berghof, his large, nearby home on the lower Obersalzberg mountain, where he spent significant time. • Rare Usage: Hitler despised the cold, high altitude, and the dangerous, narrow road required to reach it. • Party Usage: While it was not a "party house" for Hitler, it was used by other Nazi officials and Eva Braun's sister held her wedding reception there. [5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11] ...