Hitler's Struggle House & Other Nazi Home Sites of Berchtesgaden | History Traveler Episode 276

In the past few episodes of History Traveler, we've been looking at places like the Eagle's Nest and the Berghof, but it wasn't just Hitler who had a mountain retreat in Berchtesgaden. In this episode, we're looking at some of the other sites where some of the most notorious figures of the Third Reich set up and where Hitler put the finishing touches on Mein Kampf.
DISCLAIMER: The subject matter in this video is for educational purposes only. In no way is any hateful ideology supported by us in any way.
This episode was produced in partnership with The Gettysburg Museum of History. See how you can support history education & artifact preservation by visiting their website & store at www.gettysburgmuseumofhistory...
Support the effort to expand history education on PATREON: / historyunderground
Set yourself up with a 10% DISCOUNT on all Origin gear and nutritional products by entering the code "history10" at www.originmaine.com!
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- War Souvenirs From Hitler's Berghof!!! | American Artifact Episode 66: • War Souvenirs From Hit...
- The Heart of Hitler's Third Reich & What U.S. Soldiers Took From It | American Artifact Episode 61: • The Heart of Hitler's ...
- Was THIS Where the Man With the Funny Mustache Was Radicalized? | History Traveler Episode 264: • Was THIS Where Hitler ...

[@robertmoore2049]

Hitting your head, getting your feet soaked, tripping over things… all the things you go through to bring history alive to us, JD! Thank you! I look forward to seeing the next place!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

😅👍🏻

[@wanderingwarrior5626]

Everyone knows, those holes in that big building ceiling means GAS CHAMBERS!!!

[@cleverusername9369]

In one piece!

[@tundranomad]

JD is down for the struggle!

[@mato5758]

You forgot about spiders!!

[@tishw4576]

I wish the buildings were still there. I completely understand why they were bombed into oblivion, I just find being able to tour the buildings fascinating.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

I agree.

[@jimburge5298]

Is it just me? Or is anyone else in awe of the Nazi regime (not in a good way) they built so much in a relatively short space of time (slave labour) I find it fascinating

[@cindymcmurray6879]

I'm torn between tearing down the remnants of the Nazi buildings r keeping them for a reminder of history. Not a memorial of hitler but history.

[@ryancooper2826]

It's amazing how such a beautiful place was home to such evil people. But that evil could not detract from that beauty. It was and still is a fascinating place. Thanks again for this series, JD and crew!! These videos go above and beyond!

[@spe-ex7sz]

Evil?? Just like those responsible for the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

[@ryancooper2826]

@@spe-ex7sz go cry to somebody else troll

[@YippeeKiYayMrFalcon]

@spe-ex7sz I think we can all agree that war is horrible. What was the purpose of those bombs being dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki? In contrast, why did the Nazis systematically murder approximately 6 million European Jews and 5 million Soviet prisoners of war? To equate the two is abhorrent and intellectually dishonest.

[@spe-ex7sz]

@@YippeeKiYayMrFalcon Your utter hypocrisy is the only thing that's abhorrent. And the fact that your still gullible enough to believe that 11 million people were "systematically murdered", shows how intellectually dishonest you actually are.

[@sandygeorge9741]

Nature is indifferent to the nature of man .

[@glenwitteman2585]

Another great job, JD. As a youngster in the early 60s, my family stayed at the Hotel General Walker 3 times. My dad was stationed at Karlsruhe, W.Germany. The Walker had a movie theater, swimming pool, night club, restaurant, etc. That hotel was connected to most of the other buildings by tunnels that you could tour. I remember that every entrance was covered by a blank wall with a machine gun slit. No un-invited guests.

[@ginnas944]

My husband was stationed in Germany in 1992 and we stayed there. Unfortunately The Eagle nest was closed because of snow.

[@E.McK-Crib]

In 86-89 we were stationed at Rhein Main we stayed at the General Walker also. I have a lot of memories of that time there.

[@Liz-cmc313]

JD, I just can't get enough of this series. Better than anything on the History Channel, imo ... Seriously, your videos need to be on TV

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thank you. I really do appreciate it.

[@charlottereed8060]

I really appreciate you suffering wet feet and bumps on your head to bring us this wonderful history!! 👍🏻😱😬

[@slinkydinky7298]

Hope everyone is having a great day!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@tonipeluso6807]

Love these videos! Keep them Coming. I’m American and live in Prague and have been all over Birchesgarten hiking ruins and things. It’s unreal to see. Thank you and hope the sensory stops burying history and cancelling history:)

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@jimjackson5544]

My hat is off to you sir for your faithful labor to bring these places back to life. History remembered results in a way to avoid repeating some of the less desirable events being brought back! You are doing more than most to this end, which, to me anyway, makes you a true Saint!!!

[@fredv7487]

Way to go JD another great video. Thanks for taking us along and doing all the hard work. 👍👍👍👍👍🍻

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks 👍

[@geoffthiessen646]

History coming alive - that’s your channel (it’s always a location I dreamed of seeing (bucket list) and you bring me there -thank you (may be one day) your awesome JD - thanks for taking us along

[@psychmike1717]

Fascinating and educational series of Berchtesgaden. i learned a lot over the course of these. Thanks JD.

[@georgekeeley1581]

As usual another awesome video from you JD. I wish these videos had been done some years earlier as I was stationed in Germany from 1971 - 1973 and while I did get out and about to a few places that you have talked about there are so many I never had the chance to see or even know about. After viewing so many of your videos, especially the World War II videos I am seriously considering heading back and following in your footsteps on the many places you have been so far. Thank you so much for all the information and work that you put into your videos. I plan my 1st stop in Normandy. God Bless you JD.

[@JackFlemingFan1]

Thanks for posting your videos JD and for going to places I've only read about and telling the history too. Your videos show a whole new perspective that no text book I've ever read can ever duplicate.

[@anchorageprepper9008]

The Gen Walker Hotel had the best access and tours available to the underground tunnels in the area. Was sad to hear when they turned it back over to the German Government and later the bulk of it was demolished. J.D. I have to tell you you’re killing it with these video segments. Well done Sir!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Yeah, I hate that they tore that think down. Thanks!

[@matthewaaaron7421]

Many a wonderful week as an army brat enjoying Berchtesgarden, at General Walker: tunnel tours, the ruins of the houses were still there, skiing, climbing the Eagles Nest, and the rest....

[@cheapcraftygirlsweepstakes2338]

@@matthewaaaron7421 I was an Army brat too. We were stationed in Germany twice. What a childhood!

[@randyhill4652]

I was on a beyond band of brothers tour in 2015, we visited this area. We were told that all the houses were connected by a tunnel system. We went into a tunnel system while there. Great videos JD!

[@stanshearer7343]

I'm guessing the rooms you saw at the coal bunker were where the trucks would drive in to get loaded. That's what the holes in the roof are for. The coal storage would be in the big rooms above. There is probably another structure up above where the coal would be delivered into those rooms.

[@andreasnilsson5328]

I am pleased to have had the opportunity to visit Berchestgaden three times. It’s a great and beautiful place to combine hiking and ww2 history. Thank you very much for great videos.. Greetings from Sweden.

[@dawndickson2156]

Learning so much. Seeing places I probably will never get to see. Thank you so very much! The mountains and forest are stunning. Love the drone shots.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👊🏻

[@nanmattingly6402]

Another great view of the past; thank you JD. Keep dry, and TRY to stay safe!!!

[@emmafriar349]

Your videos are exceptionally made and very informative. Thank you for sharing.

[@mrDCunningham]

Amazingly interesting. Great work as always JD 👍🏼😎

[@desrazor5635]

Thanks for posting all of these amazing videos. I always look forward to watching them. Please keep up your fantastic hard work.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad you like them!

[@jeffe9842]

I was wondering what you meant by "Struggle House" in the video's title. Then, you mentioned "Kampf House." Kampf = Struggle and you said Hitler finished "Mein Kampf" at that house and it all came together.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Yep!

[@verukamilkbar]

So glad I stumbled across your channel. Been watching it religiously for weeks! Not able to travel very far right now due to personal issues but we are planning in the future. Just curios how easy is it to rent a car and drive to these places, or would we better on a group tour the first time? Thanks for the checklist and all the information !

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

I’ve had no issues renting a car. The nice thing about a tour is that everything is taken care of but the trade off is a little less flexibility.

[@mdavidson101]

Enjoying this with my morning coffee. Cheers to a good Sunday!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@dusty1829]

I could watch full length documentaries of your work. As always, well done and thank you.

[@edweigman9683]

I was there in the summer of 1990 and you could still see pieces of tile from the swimming pool.

[@marceeee22]

Good video again. The stone structure at 5:21 is a bunker exit same as the one closer to the Berghof. When I visited the site last time maybe 6-7 years ago it was still clean of earth, the door closed but as I remember there was some air movement from the holes indicating it leads to somewhere, probably to Zum Türken tunnels or to Berghof itself. There is some tunnel map I guess at Zum Türken museum from which it could probably be identified.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@mattbyrne1822]

Your channel is truly amazing, educational, and historical. Keep up the great work and videos.👍👍

[@trackandtrail6874]

Excellent presentation in every aspect. Love this channel. Thanks for bringing this stuff to us.

[@sscinamon]

Thanks again for all the work you do. Always loved history but you bring a perspective unlike anyone else. Keep up the good work

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Much appreciated

[@geoffsullivan4063]

The site of Hermann Gorings House always did have pond life in it then and even now.. How fitting.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

😅👍🏻

[@BekindRewind71]

I hope I get to see these places someday. Your videos are just so informative, professionally done and a real pleasure to watch! Let me know if you ever come to CO-I’ll show you some interesting things!!😊

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@maartendezwaan9715]

JD you do have a awesome job my friend! Like all your WW2 video’s very much, thank you! Are you going to visit Holland for operation Market Garden? Would love to see you document the Vietnam war.

[@drmarkintexas-400]

Thank you for sharing 🏆🤗🙏🇺🇲

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👊🏻

[@michaelgalea5148]

JD thank You for the great video. I am in awe of your efforts. I always learn something new. Too bad those homes are no longer there. If Band of Brothers is to be believed those homes were something to behold. Keep up the great work and stay safe.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks for watching!

[@15jbullock]

Absolutely love your videos! Ever since I was a kid I’ve always wanted to travel to other countries and visit historical landmarks. Especially ones tied to WWII and the holocaust. Your videos have given me the chance to do that and have always been enjoyable and have helped me learn new things over the years! Thank you!

[@timf2279]

Great video. Love the drone shots. It's interesting to see all the trees growing back. It was fair to say to the people living there before the 1930s that it wasn't good for them having Hitler and the Nazi's moving to the area. Thanks for another well done video.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@elwin38]

@@TheHistoryUnderground Years ago(late 90's) I met an elderly woman who was working at one of our local Sam's Club stores(Memphis) and she was from Berchtesgaden and their home had a view of the mountains and the Berghof. She hated the Nazis because they forced her family to sell their home.

[@russellparker3298]

At the Grassi Distillery in Berchtesgaden, they had a book about the complete history of the Nazi in Berchtesgaden with pictures I have never seen anywhere before(all in German).

[@junepeyer1200]

Great vid! We visited the Obersalzberg when we were stationed in Germany. In particular I was interested in Göring’s house. I found a lot of Camo netting from the Berghof site and enjoyed hunting artifacts. Nice walking tour!!!!❤

[@ddemier]

KEEP THESE VIDEOS COMING! So informative and educational

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thank you! Will do!

[@mlk4kna]

Another excellent program. Many thanks.

[@sionrouge1697]

You know something is not normal when everyone in the government needs to have a bunker or escape tunnel.

[@sionrouge1697]

@@outlander_... It's one thing if those at the top have bunkers but when lower level guys have bunkers that something else. MB was a low level guy.

[@OEFOIFVet]

Love these videos!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad you like them!

[@MrBradleyDavid]

As a companion to watching your videos, I am watching the incredible videos produced by Yad Vashem about the Jewish survivors of the war. The residents of Berchesgarten failed to destroy the children of Israel and sewed the seeds of the Jewish state. Their testimony is incredible.

[@chadf1034]

Followed along on maps. Got a better idea of where you were actually situated. I've always thought the berghof was much higher into the mountain than it actually was. The hotel was almost in his backyard!

[@rlcoop1]

Great video JD!

[@garretvaughn7936]

At the Warhawk Air Museum in Nampa, ID, we have bricks from both the Goering house and the Borman house, taken by troops who were there shortly after the area was secured. One veteran said it was just wholesale looting by the troops. Loving these videos from the Berghof area! (Sorry for any misspellings.)

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Wow!

[@travel-putovanjatadejsluga9990]

👍👍👏👏 bravo

[@bejoyful]

The looters became the looted....

[@xr6lad]

@@bejoyful looting and theft are still looting and theft no matter who does it.

[@chriscollins550]

​@@xr6lad not when it didn't belong to the person said items was taken from. It's not looting when you take from so much evil.

[@kriswoodward7623]

These videos are just the best, thankyou, thankyou, thankyou!!

[@greggriffin1]

Thank you very much, we learn so much from your vids

[@93theproducer47]

Another fantastic video man! I really enjoy watching these.. So damn interesting!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks 🙏🏼

[@daveeby6834]

Such a great teacher! I really enjoy how you engage with the class. Keep up the great work!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks so much!

[@daveeby6834]

The history is one thing, how you present it is awesome.........

[@cecoya]

The history is interesting. Did not know alot of the things you are showing. Thank you for sharing and letting us know what "they" were trying to cover up. You keep up the great videos and have a great day

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@MattJ1977]

It would be interesting to look up in those coal shutes. That coal came from somewhere up there.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Definitely.

[@curtvona4891]

Very interesting. I love your channel. Thanks.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@karenkennedy6293]

Thanks again for your knowledge, narration and respect of this part of history, it’s much appreciated

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

🙏🏼

[@wadeg410]

I really enjoy your videos thank you for keeping history Alive and for keeping me educated even at the age of almost 60 years old. Keep it up. Great great work.

[@tonymcdonnly6492]

These videos are very interesting contrasting the past with the present. Excellent historical research, education, and present day information.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad you like them!

[@tonymcdonnly6492]

@@TheHistoryUnderground 👍

[@terryeustice5399]

Thanks for the Tour JD of Herman Goering home. Will be interested in the artifacts recovered from these sites. ❤️💯

[@chrishagan9366]

Another absolutely fantastic video JD! Curious, have you done videos on the German Flak Towers? Love the content bro 👌🇦🇺

[@JennaCee]

Beautifully moving video of who, what and where the people that changed the world lived

[@Emm2u]

I really appreciate your videos. The visuals, commentary, and in-depth detail in which you take me back to what was in extraordinary. So glad I found your channel. While I can’t agree with the Nazis and their policies in any way…I have always been fascinated by who they were and interested in some of the why’s of how they began.

[@lenardhenderson9674]

Keep up the good work my friend I look forward to each and everyone of your vlogs I'll never have a chance to go over and see history of World War II so I live it through your eyes and through your vlogs

[@JW-sy2yt]

Dollars to donuts the former swimming pool is now the pond.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

😅

[@mfreund15448]

Less than an hour old! I better watch before denier KZbin sees this.

[@surajshukla6813]

This is such amazing channel pure gold

[@joemabry9643]

Pretty cool. Thank you.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad you liked it!

[@MichaelSmith-ej9uv]

Outstanding series i have always wanted to visit there. Thank you for allowing me to see the beautiful areas

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@troypoorman5948]

There should be a way to load the coal bunker from the top. There more than likely was a road that went to the top of the structure for loading.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@curtisjohnson5784]

Thank you for your videos!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad you like them!

[@pjh1776]

Guessing you couldn't find a way upstairs on the "call bunker" Very cool bye the way. Thanks for the awesome content, your videos fill in holes of history lessons for me.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@jeffstull2534]

I stayed for a few nights in the Hotel General Walker back in 1977 during my deployment there in the Army. Mount Rosfeldt was where we would go skiing up the road a ways. Got some good pictures of the times there.

[@larryburwell8550]

Well JD I must say I'm really impressed with your military historical knowledge and I hope the other viewers of this channel are as well. Great history lesson for all. Thank you for this series. I've enjoyed it all as well as all of your videos. I look forward to what is next. Thanks buddy for your travels. Hope your friends in ukraine are doing well as can be expected. Larry

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thank you. I appreciate that.

[@natalievanrooyen2919]

Thanks for another great video!

[@bugs5644]

great series, thank you.

[@planetwisconsin9901]

Enjoying your videos very much!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad you like them! Thanks.

[@missouraboatride7776]

Love this series!! Thank you all for doing it!!👍🏻 I see some houses with rocks on the roofs. Can someone please tell me why they put rocks on the roof there?? I don’t know!! Thank you again for everything!!👍🏻👍🏻

[@Wreckdiver59]

I remember seeing that coal bunker but didn't know what it was at the time. I didn't go inside because it felt a little like we were trespassing 😉 At the time the General Walker Hotel still existed and was under the control of the US Army.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Man. Wish that they hadn’t torn down that hotel.

[@ameyring]

I wonder if there were railroad tracks above the coal bunker for bringing in coal. Need to see if Google Maps show anything.

[@Hamsalad2]

@@TheHistoryUnderground do you know why they tore it down?

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

@@Hamsalad2 not sure

[@lorrainehamilton5051]

I suspect the small hole at the "back" wall at floor level would be for access to the coal from the other side by means of a long shovel...having had a coal bunker for many years, it was filled from the top (by lifting the lid) and coal was then shovelled into buckets to use in the house from an access hole near the bottom.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@joseantoniofernandez8827]

That makes a lot of sense!

[@GraemeStewart-mx6je]

Love your channel mate I was born and raised in Germany I was 12 when I left and watching your videos brings back memories keep up the good work 👏

[@westonbrewster8344]

I visited there last year already want to go back amazing place

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@gerardjoseph17]

Say JD, always look forward to these Sunday Special Matinee 🍿... when will you be connecting with Paul from WW2TV again. soon, I hope?!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Paul and I have some plans. 🙂

[@gerardjoseph17]

@The History Underground awesome to hear, my friend! My wife & I were watching all of the Normandy videos and the others related to the Allies campaign through France.

[@macmorgan6685]

I stayed at the Gen Walker back in 67 while stationed in Germany. Been back a couple of times to visit old friends and continue my exploration of the WW2 era.

[@travel-putovanjatadejsluga9990]

I myself have been to Bertesgaden and Obersalzberg twice, unfortunately years ago I did not have my program and did not record. All praises for your video, but I miss the footage of the tunnels from under the Zum Turkna Hotel, I miss Hitler's tea house, the house of the architect Sper, the house of Göring's adjutant, and the famous bench where Hitler sat overlooking Bertesgaden...I will definitely be too visited this place shortly. My like, greetings to you and everyone on your channel from Slovenia - Ljubljana 👍👋🤝

[@dirthawk2669]

Awesome video !! Thanks for the tour ! I visited that area when i was in the Army 1967 !

[@camdodge9891]

Awesome video top-notch thank you JD

[@AndreaPick]

Great report, thank you very much.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Knards]

Brilliant series.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks!

[@scottbehlmann8031]

Where it took another great video JD

[@Nighthawk1966]

Great video ! Very well done !!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thank you very much!

[@pauldouglas3084]

Enjoy the video mate really interesting mate can't wait for the next one 👍🔥

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks 👍

[@djjoeking]

Off subject Sir… Just wanna say, whatever camera and lens you use to vlog… The picture quality is absolutely stunning. Crisp and clear HD. I appreciate your hard work and attention to detail.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

🙏🏼

[@TheLanise]

Thanks such a great series

[@8zone256]

Amazing video JD truly exciting to learn about these places

[@Cxnfucixus]

How I image you when you walk into a place “hey guys what’s *Doink* up -steps in water- welp there goes my socks, anyways guys look at this” the ability to be perfectly comfortable while being uncomfortable is the true test for you.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Ha! Thanks.

[@Cxnfucixus]

@@TheHistoryUnderground anytime boss. Keep up the content. Love filling my brain with new knowledge.

[@oktorb]

Really cool video. I stayed at the General Walker hotel in 1986 while on a ski trip. I was stationed in Germany and was lucky enough to visit some awesome places. I went back there in June 1991 when the area was nice and green. Absolutely beautiful. I did some of the touristy things like the salt mines, Eagles Nest, and even a tour of some tunnels. During the 1991 trip I stayed at the Skytop Lodge down the road from the Walker. During the winter it was used as ski slopes and a golf course during the warmer months. Why was the Walker torn down?

[@tonyk1584]

After Vietnam I was stationed in Germany from Aug 69 to Mar 71. In 1970, my wife and I stayed for a short time at the General Walker Hotel. Whew! how time has flown.