12 Interesting WWII Sites in Berchtesgaden, Germany: Nazi Party Headquarters

As the many WWII sites in Berchtesgaden, Germany reveal, this small Alpine town was essentially the crown jewel of the Nazi empire. However, most people only visit for a couple of hours, stopping by the famous Eagle’s Nest and little beyond that.

Given its importance to the Nazi Party, Berchtesgaden has many super interesting historical sites you can still see today. I agree that the Eagle’s Nest is fantastic, but try to swing at least a full day here to see the other great WWII sites. This post will introduce you to some of the easiest ones to find.

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WWII in Berchtesgaden

Though the Nazi Party was formed in nearby Munich, Berchtesgaden quickly became its home-away-from-home. Eventually, the Party would officially rule from Berlin, but the mountain “retreat” town of Berchtesgaden was where Hitler and other high-ranking Nazis kept their homes and offices.

It’s where they held important meetings (and parties) as well as where they hid vast amounts of plunder. It was in Berchtesgaden that Hitler planned much of his conquest of the European continent.

Given its status, Berchtesgaden remained unscathed throughout most of the war. However, Britain’s RAF launched a bombing campaign on the Obersalzberg (the area where Hitler’s house and office were located, as well as those of other officials) on April 25, 1945. The main town survived this attack undamaged, but some of these bomb craters are among the WWII sites in Berchtesgaden you can still see today.

Also check out: The Eye-Opening Munich WWII Sites You Need to Know About

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Map of WWII sites in Berchtesgaden

This map contains all the WWII sites in Berchtesgaden I mention in this post (when applicable). To save this map: Click on the star ⭑ next to the map’s title to save in your Google Maps. To use this map: When you get here, open Google Maps on your phone, click “Saved” at the bottom, then click “Maps.”

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1. Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest

Without a doubt, the most famous of the WWII sites in Berchtesgaden, Germany is Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest. (This is known in Germany as the Kehlsteinhaus, so prepare to see it like this when you get here.) The Eagle’s Nest is a fortress-type structure that sites high on top of the Kehlstein mountain that overlooks Berchtesgaden. (You can see Salzburg, Austria from the top too!)

During the war it was a “retreat” of sorts for Nazi parties, meetings, and events, etc. Today it serves as a large restaurant with incredible views, a historical exhibition on its Nazi past, and a historical relic in other ways.

This is the most popular thing to do in this city so plan ahead if you choose to visit. You can either ride the official bus to the top (with the many other visitors) or even hike up to the Eagle’s Nest (like I did in September 2023). If you’ve got the time and ability, I can’t recommend hiking enough. Check out my post in that link with all the details!

For everything else you need to know about visiting Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest, see my full guide in this link.

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2. Dokumentationszentrum Obersalzerg

(Also known as the Documentation Center Obsersalzberg) This large museum sits halfway up the mountain between the town of Berchtesgaden and the Eagle’s Nest. It focuses on the Obersalzberg and the role it played during the war as a Nazi Party headquarters.

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3. Nazi bunker complex

Beneath the Documentation Center hides part of the extensive Nazi tunnel and bunker complex that was constructed in this area. As you’d expect, the majority of this network is closed or otherwise inaccessible. However, as a visitor to the Documentation Center, you’ll get to visit part of the original bunker complex. More information here: obsersalzberg.de.

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4. The many WWII sites of the Obersalzberg

The Obersalzberg is Berchtesgaden’s “resort” area. It sits about halfway up the Kehlstein mountain between the town of Berchtesgaden and Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest. It was here where Hitler and several of the Nazi Party’s most highly-ranking officers lived and worked. (Hermann Göring, Martin Bormann, Albert Speer, and more.) Outside Berlin, the Obersalzberg was the Nazi regime’s control center.

Though the Allies destroyed just about all evidence of this connection after the war, you can still see tons of history here (if you know where to look). During my visit, I knew I wanted to see as much of this history as I could, but I didn’t want to go blindly traipsing around in the creepy woods by myself. (These woods have seen some stuff!) So, I hired a guide, and I suggest you do too!

I hired Claudio to show me around all the historical sites on the Obersalzberg (while we simultaneously hiked to the top of the mountain). You can get more information on Claudio and this adventure here: Eagle’s Nest Guided Hike.

Also check out the full list of must-see WWII Sites in Nuremberg

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5. 3^rd Infantry Division Memorial

Also on the Obersalzberg you’ll find the Kempinski Hotel—a modern 5-star luxury resort. Outside this hotel you’ll find a small memorial to the 3^rd Infantry Division—the first to liberate Berchtesgaden on May 4, 1945. This plaque is the first one in Germany that recognizes American achievements in WWII.

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6. Berchtesgaden Cemetery

Back down in the center of Berchtesgaden you’ll find the Berchtesgaden Cemetery. Within this cemetery are two main things to look for:

Memorial Wall

On the concrete wall surrounding the cemetery you’ll find memorials to the many German fighters who died in the war (or were otherwise missing).

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7. Grave of Dietrich Eckart

Dietrich Eckart was a journalist and political activist, among other things, but is most famous for being “the brains” behind the Nazi Party. In January 1919, he founded the German Worker’s Party—what would eventually morph into the Nazi Party.

Beyond that, it was Eckart who largely molded and shaped Adolf Hitler into the monster he became. As Hitler’s mentor, he influenced him heavily in regards to antisemitism, propaganda, public speaking, and just generally creating the Hitler persona. (Watch the first episode of Hitler’s Circle of Evil to learn more about him. Available on Netflix or here on YouTube.)

Eckart died in Berchtesgaden of a heart attack on December 26, 1923 at age 55 and was buried here in the town cemetery. For unknown reasons, his headstone still stands prominently along the cemetery’s main walkway.   

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8. War Memorial at the Schlossplatz

On the walls of the building facing Schloss Berchtesgaden is a large memorial mural as well as the names of those Germans killed in both World Wars I and II. (The mural is on the outside of the building, facing the square; the memorial plaques are underneath the portico.)

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9. Allied Air Attack Memorial

Just a minute from the Schlossplatz memorial is another small memorial plaque. On the yellow wall between the arches is a memorial honoring those killed in the 1945 Allied air attack. It’s small and obscure so don’t feel bad if you miss it. (As with many WWII memorials in Germany, there’s little to no explanation… which is largely why I’m here.)

The inscription simply reads: “On the feast day of Saint Mark the Evangelist, Anno Domini 1945.” The relief shows the Virgin and child as well as the skyline of Berchtesgaden underneath and airplanes overhead.

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10. Nazi Guard House

Next to the river and along the main road near the train station still stands an original Nazi guard house. Today, the building appears to be some kind of gift shop (???) but is otherwise unadorned (the eagle + swastika have long been removed). However, it’s pretty well-preserved.

During the war, this small building stood as the main guard house leading from the town to the Obersalzberg. You can still see the date (1937) carved above the door and the space where Nazi insignia was once attached.

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11. Air Defense Bunker

Walk just a minute or so up the road from the train station and you’ll be able to see the entrance to the Berchtesgadener Tunnel. This tunnel was built to house a railway that would connect Berchtesgaden with nearby Salzburg, Austria.

The railway was never completed and the tunnel was thus used as an air defense bunker and as storage for some of Hermann Göring’s stolen treasures. Today, this tunnel/bunker isn’t completely sealed off, but there is a fence preventing you from going inside.

During the bombing of Berchtesgaden in April 1945, many people took refuge in bunkers like this one (and probably this one). Hitler was in Berlin during the raid but Göring was in Berchtesgaden at the time. He survived the bombing by hiding in bunkers like this one.

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12. Berchtesgaden Train Station

The Berchtesgaden train station you see today looks the way it does thanks to Hitler himself. This small resort town didn’t have a train station as large and grand enough as Hitler demanded for receiving his important guests. So, he had it expanded.

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