Dokumentation Obersalzberg

Useful Information

Location:	Salzbergstraße 41, 83471 Berchtesgaden. (47.6319493, 13.0408199)
Open:	All year daily 9-17, last entry 16. Closed 01-NOV, 24-DEC, 25-DEC, 31-DEC, 01-JAN. Guided Tour: All year Wed, Sat 11. [2025]
Fee:	Adults EUR 3, Children (0-18) free, Students free, Disabled free. Guided Tour EUR 5. [2025]
Classification:	World War II Bunker
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:
Guided tours:	D=90 min, Max=20.
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Dokumentation Obersalzberg, Salzbergstraße 41, 83471 Berchtesgaden, Tel: +49-8652-947960. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1860s	The mountain farming village of Obersalzberg becomes a destination for aristocrats and wealthy city dwellers.
1921	Obersalzberg becomes a "health resort with a therapeutic climate".
1923	Adolf Hitler visits Obersalzberg for the first time.
1928	Adolf Hitler rents the Wachenfeld house.
1933	Adolf Hitler buys the Wachenfeld house.
1933-1936	Berghof built, Führersperrgebiet (Führer restricted area) established.
25-APR-1945	British Royal Air Force bombs the site and destroys most of the buildings.
04-MAY-1945	American and French soldiers occupy Obersalzberg.
20-OCT-1999	Obersalzberg Documentation Centre opens.

Description

Dokumentation Obersalzberg (Obersalzberg Documentation Centre) is a museum dedicated to the subject of National Socialism. The location is steeped in history, as it was here that Adolf Hitler’s private residence, the Berghof, was located. It was here that he received foreign politicians, held meetings and spent his free time. A normal mountain farm was completely renovated for this purpose, actually the whole village was destroyed for this purpose. Particularly impressive at the time was a window wall that could be completely lowered into the wall using motors. Pictures and film footage of the Berghof played down the reality of National Socialism; it was a means of deceiving the population and foreign countries into believing in a tranquillity that did not exist.

The entire Obersalzberg area was bombed shortly before the end of the war and most of the buildings were destroyed. Shortly afterwards, the area was occupied by American and French soldiers. The US Army used the area as a recreation area until 1996, sending soldiers from all over Europe here to relax. Fearing that the Obersalzberg could become a kind of pilgrimage site for Nazis, a kind of National Socialist shrine, all the ruins were blown up in 1952. This fear was certainly not entirely unjustified, but when the US Army withdrew, those responsible decided to establish a museum to deal with Nazi history. This is the Obersalzberg Documentation Centre, which opened in 1999.

While the above-ground facilities were completely destroyed by the Allies after the war, the bunker located beneath the building has been more or less preserved. The Obersalzberg Documentation Centre is a museum with various exhibitions and can be visited without a guided tour. A visit to the bunker is also possible. Guided tours with different themes are offered in English, French, Italian and Spanish.