Bavaria Orders Rebuild of Kehlsteinhaus After Fire Destroys Summit Inn
A 33-year-old man was detained after the historic mountaintop structure was largely destroyed in a blaze that required 200 emergency responders.
By Olga Kaur ·
Bavarian authorities have ordered the full reconstruction of the Kehlsteinhaus, a historic mountaintop building in Germany that was largely destroyed by fire on Friday evening.
Police in Traunstein received an alarm at 21:15 local time on Friday. Firefighters arrived to find the structure engulfed in flames. No injuries were reported, but the steep terrain at the site made it difficult to control the blaze.
Officers detained a 33-year-old German man on a motorcycle near the scene. Local police official Gerhart Holzinger stated at a press conference that there is currently no evidence of other suspects. Police are examining a possible motive, and a criminal investigation is under way.
About 200 emergency personnel were deployed to the site. Local media reported that the building was largely destroyed and urged the public to stay away from the area.
Bavaria's Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann said the site would not remain a ruin. As reported by broadcaster BR24, he stated, "It is important that we continue our work of remembrance."
The Kehlsteinhaus stands at an elevation of about 1,800 meters above the town of Berchtesgaden. The Nazis completed the building in 1938. It served as a retreat for Adolf Hitler and his entourage during World War II. The site also houses a mountain inn and is a popular tourist destination.
The building has long been a point of debate in Germany and Austria. Authorities have considered whether such sites should be preserved, repurposed, or demolished. In June, Berlin announced plans to tear down one of Hitler's bunkers to build flats and offices. In July, Austrian authorities converted Hitler's birthplace in Braunau am Inn into a police station.
Source: BBC News
