Haus Wachenfeld during its conversion into the Berghof, ca. June 1936. The west side of Haus Wachenfeld was retained, and the main part of the Berghof was simply added onto this. (U.S. National Archives RG 242-HB, 22443-22)

These colorized versions of period photos show how the Berghof was built around Haus Wachenfeld, retaining the west side of the original house. In the view on the left, the large picture window has been lowered into the basement.  (from postcards in author's collection)

These period color postcards show how Haus Wachenfeld with its small terrace (on the left) was incorporated into the Berghof, with its enlarged terrace added to the front and side, over the larger garage. Hitler's native Austria is visible in the middle distance, through the cleft in the mountains. (author's collection)

After the initial 1936 reconstruction was finished, the eastward extension of the house was only about half as long as it eventually became. This part of the Berghof housed the kitchen, dining hall, and quarters and working areas for the staff. The view on the right shows the 1939 completed extension, with its auxiliary driveway allowing deliveries direct to the kitchen area.  (postcards in author's collection)

The eastern part of the house was extended until it came almost beneath the Hotel zum Türken. The view on the left, from Martin Bormann's house, shows a good picture of the layout of these Obersalzberg buildings. Bormann's house overlooked both the Türken and the Berghof, so he could oversee the comings and goings of the RSD and Hitler's entourage.  (left - from "Hitler in seinen Bergen," 1938 ed.; right - period postcard; both in author's collection)

Two views from the covered balcony on the second floor of the Berghof (what Americans would call the third floor). In the view on the left, the main SS guard house can be seen near the bottom of the view. This balcony was outside the guest room called the Untersbergzimmer, so-named due to the room's spectacualr view of the Untersberg mountain (see also the room view further down on this page).  (left - period postcard; right - from "Hitler abseits vom Alltag" by Heinrich Hoffmann, Berlin, 1937)

These two views were taken from down off the hill in front of the house. The wooden walkway that made its way down this hillside was the beginning of the path for Hitler's daily walk to the Mooslahnerkopf Teehaus.  (left - U.S. National Archives, RG242EB-11-11A; right - courtesy Harry von Gebhardt)

The grand staircase led from the driveway to the Berghof entrance. This staircase was the scene of many famous photos, showing Hitler's visitors such as Mussolini, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Neville Chamberlain, and other national leaders, diplomats, and military figures. This is a post-war view dating probably from the summer of 1945. The wooden door in the distance in the right-hand photo led to a film projection room, for showing films in the Great Room. The open doorway was the entrance to the Berghof itself, directly behind the photographer's standpoint.  (left - U.S. Army photo; right - U.S. National Archives RG 242-EB)

The doorway shown in these photos led off the corridor into the Great Room of the Berghof, which Hitler used as a reception and conference room. This room was lavishly decorated with Persian carpets, Gobelin tapestries, and original paintings and sculptures. These views show the right-rear corner of the room and the east wall; the large picture window is behind the viewer, and the marble fireplace is just out of view to the right, on the back (south) wall. The Gobelin tapestry on the east wall was removed to uncover the film projection openings, and the tapestry on the opposite wall was removed to use the wall behind as a screen.  (photo on left from a period postcard; photo on right from "Hitler abseits vom Alltag" by Heinrich Hoffmann, Berlin, 1937 (both in author's collection)

Continuing around the Great Room, the doorway in the west side wall led into the living area of Haus Wachenfeld. The Gobelin tapestry was removed to use the wall as a screen for film showings.  (period postcards in author's collection)

Completing the circuit around the Great Room led to the front (north) wall with its famous grand picture window. This window could be lowered into the basement, giving an open view of the mountains.  (left - National Archives RG 242-H; right - period postcard)

Two views of Hitler's office on the first floor of the Berghof (second floor to Americans).  (period postcards)

Two views of the sun room in the Berghof (the old "wintergarten" of Haus Wachenfeld).  (period postcards)

On the left, a view of the "Untersberg Room," complete with Bavarian tile Kachelofen. This room, on the upper floor above Hitler's office, was used by Deputy Führer Rudolf Hess. Other such rooms were occupied by Hitler's secretaries and a few close guests, mainly Eva Braun's friends (diplomatic guests were housed in Villa Bechstein or the Gästehaus Hoher Göll on the Obersalzberg, or the Berchtesgadener Hof in town, or the Kleßheim Palace in Salzburg). On the right, the Berghof dining room, with its decorative cembra pine paneling (Swiss stone pine). The dining room was located in the eastern extension of the Berghof building. Hitler sat in the middle of the table on the right, facing the windows and the view of the Untersberg mountains.  (period postcards in author's collection)

The original version of this colorized (and cropped) postcard identifies this room as simply a Berghof guest room. It is sometimes identified today as Eva Braun's living room (although there was no such "living room" in the Berghof), but it actually served as Gretl Braun's bedroom (called the Türkenzimmer because of its view of Haus Türken). Some sources say the painting on the wall represented Eva, perhaps with her face painted onto a model's body by artist Adolf Ziegler. However, this original painting still exists, and the face doesn't really resemble Eva (or Gretl either).  (left - period postcard; right - National Archives RG242)

A few of Hitler's visitors at the Berghof  --  on the left, a visit on the terrace from the Goebbels family (the woman in the center is Heinrich Hoffmann's wife Erna). On the right, the Great Room was the scene for the Leibstandarte's congratulations on Hitler's 55th birthday in 1944, presented by SS-Obersturmbannführer Max Wünsche, commander of SS-Panzerregiment 12 "Hitler Jugend." Wünsche and Hitler shared the same birthday, April 20, and Wünsche had previously been one of Hitler's personal aides. SS chief Heinrich Himmler looks on. Click here to see a page with other Berghof visitors.  (photo on left from "Hitler abseits vom Alltag" by Heinrich Hoffmann, Berlin, 1937; on right, U.S. National Archives RG 242H)

A military staff conference in front of the fireplace. The western side of the Berghof was an Adjutancy building, where many of Hitler's military staff and personal adjutants worked while he was on the Obersalzberg. Thus, they were always immediately available for conferences or consultation.  (left - from Heinrich Hoffmann, "Hitler Was My Friend" (London, 1955); right - period postcard)

On the left, Gretl Braun (Eva's sister) and an unidentified friend stand on the terrace on the west side of the Berghof, in front of the side wing building that formed part of the Adjutancy. On the right, EB suns herself while Hanni Morrell and another friend join her on the main Berghof terrace, above the garage. Below, EB and Henriette von Schirach on the steps in front of the Adjutancy wing, leading down beside the garage.  (U.S. National Archives, Hoffmann Collection)

Click here to visit a page identifying other visitors to the Berghof.

Before the outbreak of World War II, Hitler often greeted crowds of visitors to Haus Wachenfeld and the Berghof from the end of his driveway, either standing in the drive or on the retaining wall next to the road. These public "march past" reviews often lasted for hours, and in June 1937 Hitler complained to Martin Bormann about the lack of shade on the hot summer days. Bormann immediately procured a mature linden tree from Munich and had it planted near the end of the driveway.

The photo on the left above shows Hitler greeting the crowds at the end of the Berghof driveway - this location would later be shaded by the linden tree. The photo on the right shows the linden tree at the end of the main Berghof driveway (triangular-shaped tree without leaves).  (left - Heinrich Hoffmann, "Hitler in seinen Bergen," Munich, 1938; right - period postcard)

I have seen a couple period photos showing Hitler actually standing beneath Bormann's Tree, but I was unable to procure them for this webpage. If anyone would like to donate a good copy of such a view for this page, I'd be obliged (walden01(at)comcast.net). The photo on the left below shows Hitler and his entourage walking down the main drive, with the Bormann Tree seen at the right edge (the trunk was protected by a wrapping). On the right, Hitler greets a group of older BdM girls (probably a "Glaube und Schönheit" group) from the Berghof terrace. Bormann's Tree can be seen in the background.  (left - photo donated; right - courtesy Harry von Gebhardt)

These two U.S. Army photos show the Bormann Tree in 1945. On the left, GIs from the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division capture the Berghof on 4 May 1945 - the blasted remains of the Bormann Tree can be seen at the left. On the right, GIs touring the ruins in the summer of 1945 pass near the Bormann Tree, stripped bare of its leaves.  (US National Archives, RG 111-SC, left - #204347-S)

On the left, a GI guards the Berghof ruins in the summer of 1945 - the Bormann Tree is beginning to recover. When my father visited the site in early 1946 (right), the Bormann Tree was beginning to look like a healthy tree again.  (left - US National Archives; right - G.A. and G.R. Walden collection)

These views show the Bormann Tree fully leafed out again. On the right, dignitaries visit the Berghof ruin later in 1946. The Bormann Tree has a sign tacked onto it which reads EINTRITT FÜR ZIVIL VERBOTEN (Entry for Civilians Forbidden ... meaning German civilians).  (left - period postcard in author's collection; right - US National Archives, RG 111-SC)

The Bormann Tree survived the 1952 destruction of the Berghof ruins - it can still be seen shading the end of the driveway in the photos above, taken 1955-1960, after the destruction and burial of the Berghof ruins (the rebuilt Hotel zum Türken is at the upper left of the aerial view). The tree survived until at least 1964 but was cut down at some point; however, its remains can still be seen as shoots growing up from the original location near the end of the driveway - in the recent photo below, the linden tree shoots are just leafing out in the left-center of the photo.  (left - postcard in author's collection; right - UPI, 20 April 1955)  ("Bormann Tree" story and details thanks to Guy Dartois and Ralf Hornberger)
Note: Clean-up efforts along the mountain roadways occasionally result in cutting down these shoots, but so far they have always grown back. 

Departing SS troops set the Berghof on fire on 4 May 1945, burning away the wooden parts and severely damaging the rest of the building. The ruins were still smoldering when soldiers of the U.S. Army 3rd Infantry Division arrived that afternoon. Note the the snow remaining from a light snowfall the night before.  (U.S. Army photos, National Archives RG 111-SC 204347-S, 204344-S)

On the left, a view taken from the hill behind the Berghof, shows the burned-out ruin as it was found by the 3rd Infantry Division soldiers. On the right is a photo taken on 4 or 5 May 1945 by Major Lloyd Ramsey of the U.S. 7th Infantry Regiment on the Berghof garage terrace, showing smoke issuing from the Berghof grand window.  (left - Rupert Prohme, "History of 30th Infantry Regiment World War II," Washington, Infantry Journal Press, 1947; right - Lloyd Ramsey Collection, World War History & Art Museum)

These two photos from Yank - The Army Weekly (22 June 1945) show the ruins of the Berghof from the conquerors' perspective. On the left, the still-smoldering ruins as seen from the terrace of the Hotel Zum Türken; on the right, GIs from the 3rd Infantry Division enjoy the Berghof stores of wine and cognac. They are sitting at the top of the grand staircase, just outside the Berghof entrance.  ("Yank," 22 June 1945; U.S. Army Signal Corps Collection, National Archives)

The Berghof dining wing following the occupation, exterior and interior views of the ruins.  (left - courtesy Ray Northcott; right - Life Collection)

     American soldiers walk toward the ruins of the Berghof during a visit in May 1945. The devastation from the bombing attack of the month before is obvious. Huge bomb craters had obliterated the Obersalzberg road in places, trees were blasted, and the very ground was churned up.

     (U.S. National Archives, RG342H-A49859)

The view on the left, taken from the ruins of Bormann's house, shows the retaining wall in the back of the Berghof, which is all that remains aboveground today.  (author's collection)

The Berghof ruins looked like this when these color slides were made about 1950. The original wooden doors were still on the garage.  (photos by Col. John J. Tarsitano, courtesy Nancy Tarsitano Drake)

The Berghof ruins in early 1952, shortly before their demolition. The sign read "Keep Out, Building Unsafe, No Unauthorized Admittance."  ("Illustrated London News," 5 January 1952)

To deter tourists, sight-seers, and neo-Nazis, the Bavarian government blew up the ruins of the Berghof on 30 April 1952, the anniversary of Hitler's death. The garage remained after the 1952 destruction, but was removed in 1995, after the U.S. Army turned the Obersalzberg area back over to Bavaria.  (postcards in author's collection)