Blaze Ravages Hitler's Alpine Retreat; Man Held
Bavarian police arrested a 33-year-old German citizen after fire destroyed much of the Kehlsteinhaus, and prosecutors sent him to a psychiatric facility.
By Priya Singh ·
A fire gutted much of the Kehlsteinhaus on Friday night, and police arrested a 33-year-old German citizen in connection with the blaze.
The alarm sounded at about 9.15pm when a smoke detector triggered. Fire crews reached the remote building at 9.50pm to find it, in police phrasing, "completely ablaze." Roughly 200 firefighters responded from six municipalities, supported by the Bavarian Red Cross, the local mountain rescue service and police. No one was found inside and no injuries were reported.
The structure sits at 1,834 metres on the Obersalzberg peak in southern Germany. Police spokesperson Lisa Maier said crews required "heavy breathing apparatus" to reach it. Wind and rain, which turned to the year's first snow overnight, forced crews to withdraw after several hours. The fire was still burning at 7am Saturday and appeared out later that morning, though smoke continued to rise. A police spokesperson told Bild: "It is damaged to a large extent. The house is unlikely to be saved."
German media reported investigators suspected arson, though no official cause was released. The suspect has ties to the area but does not live there. Prosecutors said he showed signs of mental illness and, after questioning, was sent to a psychiatric facility. Police said a political motive would be examined, and added that nothing indicated anyone else was involved.
Built between 1937 and 1938 and inaugurated on Hitler's birthday in 1939, the site drew visitors through a mountain road, a tunnel and a 124-metre brass lift buried in rock. Since 1952 it has housed a restaurant and an exhibition by the Institute for Contemporary History on its Nazi past.
The building belongs to Bavaria's state government. Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann said officials would work with local leaders, historians and conservators on restoration. "We're not going to leave a ruin there," Herrmann told reporters, calling it important to continue "the work of remembrance." Police closed the road leading to the retreat.
Source: The Guardian
