Hitler's Eagle's Nest retreat engulfed in flames as police detain suspect

More than 200 firefighters are at the scene in Bavaria - Getty Images

Police have detained a suspect after a fire destroyed Adolf Hitler’s German mountain retreat.

Around 200 firefighters were deployed to tackle the fire engulfing the Eagle’s Nest, a remote residence at the top of Obersalzberg mountain in Bavaria built in the 1930s for the Nazi leader.

Authorities on Saturday said the building had been almost completely destroyed and that it was unclear whether parts could be salvaged. 

Police said firefighters had found the building “completely ablaze” as they approached the Kehlsteinhaus residence.

Emergency services arrived on site at 9.52pm (8.52pm UK time) after a smoke detector triggered a fire alarm.

Flames engulfed the Kehlsteinhaus, known as the Eagle’s Nest, on Friday night - Getty/Ferdinand Dorfler-Farthofer

Several hours later, firefighters were struggling to extinguish the fire because of the house’s remote location, police said.

A police spokesman said a “suspicious person” had been “taken into temporary custody” but that the criminal investigation was ongoing and that no one had been injured.

Hitler’s former retreat is at an altitude of 6,000ft in Obersalzberg - AFP/Getty Images

German media reported that no one had been inside the building at the time of the fire, which had been burning for more than 12 hours.

Bild reported that authorities arrested a motorcyclist they had encountered as they arrived at the scene. The outlet added that the historic building was probably beyond saving.

The residence is at an altitude of 6,000ft (1,834m), making it difficult for firefighters to access, police said.

Emergency services at the site in the early hours of Saturday morning - Florian Scherer/Reuters

Lisa Maier, a spokesman, said the building was only accessible with “heavy breathing apparatus”.

She said police would hold a news conference later on Saturday.

Firefighters were also hampered by the narrow road that connects the house to Obersalzberg, which is usually closed to cars.

The Italian foreign minister, left, visited Hitler at the Eagle’s Nest in 1939 - Getty/Galerie Bilderwelt

The Kehlsteinhaus, nicknamed the Eagle’s Nest, was built to host dignitaries and is located close to the Berghof, Hitler’s summer residence.

Workers were forced to labour through the night in the winter of 1938 to complete the building in time for Hitler’s birthday in April 1939.

The lavish interior featured a red Italian marble fireplace given by Benito Mussolini, the Italian dictator, which was damaged by Allied soldiers, who chipped off pieces to take as souvenirs.

The residence’s altitude and remoteness made it difficult for firefighters to access it - KERSTIN JOENSSON / AFP via Getty Images

The dictator visited the Eagle’s Nest at least 14 times, with the house largely used to entertain foreign guests and diplomats.

After the Second World War, the house was used by the Allies as a command post until 1960 when it was given back to the state of Bavaria and classified as a historical monument.

Try full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays.

This article originally appeared on The Telegraph at https://ift.tt/IO4PNbJ

from yahoo.com/news Top Stories https://ift.tt/IO4PNbJ