Hitler’s Mountain home

A visit to ‘Haus Wachenfeld’ in the Bavarian Alps,

written and illustrated by Ignatius Phayre

It is over twelve years since Herr Hitler fixed on the site of his one and only home. It had to be close to the Austrian border, barely ten miles from Mozart’s own medieval Salzburg. At first no more than a hunter’s shack, „Haus Wachenfeld“ has grown until it is to-day quite a handsome Bavarian chalet, 2,000 feet up on the Obersalzberg amid pinewoods and cherry orchards. Here, in the early days, Hitler’s widowed sister, Frau Angela Raubal, kept house for him on a „peasant“ scale. Then, as his famous book Mein Kampf („My Struggle“) became a best-seller of astonishing power (4,500,000 copies of it have been sold), Hitler began to think of replacing that humble shack by a house and garden of suitable scope. In this matter he has throughout been his own architect.

A closer view of the house, showing the umbrella-shaded terrace.

There is nothing pretentious about the Führer’s little estate. It is one that any merchant of Munich or Nuremberg might possess in these lovely hills.

The entrance hall is filled with a curious display of cactus plants in majolica pots. Herr Hitler’s study is fitted as a modern office, and leading out of this is a telephone exchange. From here it is possible for the Führer to invite friends or Ministers to fly over to Berchtesgaden, landing on his own aerodrome just below the chalet lawns.

This view shows the chalet's lovely setting. In the foreground are Hitler (back to camera) with Field-Marshals Göring (left) and von Blomberg (centre).

HITLER'S PINE-PANELLED STUDY.

It was here, on the right, that the recent momentous interview between the Führer and Mr. Chamberlain took place.

The site commands the fairest view of all Europe. This is to say much, I know. But in these Bavarian Alps there is a softness of greenery, with snow-white cascades and forest-clad pinnacles, like the Schönfeldapitae and Tuefelshörmer.

Hitler’s home looks out upon his native Austria. Meals are often served on the terrace on little tables shaded by big canvas umbrellas. From this viewpoint a chain of drowsy lakes is seen far below, with ancient shrine-chapels hidden in ferny folds of towering rocks. And since the Reichsführer settled here as „Squire of Wachenfeld“ the whole region has been starred with motor speedways, even as far as Oberammergau.

The colour scheme throughout this bright, airy chalet is light jade green. In outside rooms, like the sun-parlour, chairs and tables are of white, plaited cane. Here Hitler will read the home and foreign papers which his own air pilot, Hansel Baur, brings him every day from Berlin before lunch.

At this altitude, the Bavarian sun is at its most genial. Even at Christmastime when deep snows are out, Haus Wachenfeld basks in warmth like the Engadine’s. The effect of light and air in the house is heightened by the rolling and trilling of many Hartz mountain canaries in gilded cages which hang or stand in most of the rooms.

The curtains are of printed linen or fine damask in the softer shades. The Führer is his own decorator, designer and furnisher, as well as architect. He is constantly enlarging the place, building on new guest annexes, and arranging in these his favourite antiques- chiefly German furniture of the eighteenth century, for which agents in Munich are on the lookout.

It is a mistake to guess that week-end guests are all, or even mainly, State officials. Hitler delights in the society of brilliant foreigners, especially painters, musicians and singers. As host, he is a droll raconteur; we all know how surprised were Mr. Lloyd George and his party when they accepted an invitation to Haus Wachenfeld.

The guest bedrooms are hung with old engravings. But more interesting than any of these to the visitor are the Führer’s own water-colour sketches. Time was when a hungry Hitler was glad to raise a few marks by selling these little works; none measures more than about eight inches square, and each is signed „A. Hitler“ - unmistakably, if also illegibly!

The gardens are laid out simply enough. Lawns at different levels are planted with flowering shrubs as well as roses and other blooms in due season. The Führer, I may add, has a passion about cut flowers in his home, as well as for music.

A CORNER OF THE SUN-PARLOUR EVER-LOOKING THE TERRACE.

Here Councils are held in rainy weather when it is not possible to sit outside.

Every morning at nine he goes out for a talk with the gardeners about their day’s work. These men, like the chauffeur and air-pilot, are not so much servants as loyal friends. A life-long vegetarian at table, Hitler’s kitchen plots are both varied and heavy on produce. Even in his meatless diet, Hitler is something of a gourmet - as Sir John Simon and Mr. Anthony Eden were surprised to note when they dined with him at the Presidial Palace at Berlin. His

Bavarian chef, Herr Kannenberg, contrives an imposing array of vegetarian dishes, savoury and rich, pleasing to the eye as well as to the palate, and all conforming to the dietic standards which Hitler exacts. But at Haus Wachenfeld he keeps a generous table for guests of normal tastes. Here bons viceurs like Field-Marshals Göring and von Blumberg and Joachim von Ribbentrop will forgather at dinner. Elaborate dishes like ... and ... will then be served with fine wine and liquors of von Ribbentrop’s expert choosing. Cigars and cigarettes are duly lighted at this terrace feast - though Hitler himself never smokes, nor does he take alcohol in any form.

HERR HITLER SHOWS HIS BUILDER THE PLANS WHICH HE HIMSELF HAS PREPARED FOR YET ANOTHER GUEST-ANNEXE TO BE BUILD ON TO THE HOUSE.

All visitors are shown their host’s model kennels, where he breeds magnificent Alsatians. Some of his pedigree pets are allowed the run of the house, especially on days when Herr Hitler gives a „Fun Fair“ to the local children. On such a day, when State affairs are over, the Squire himself, attended by some of his guests, will stroll through the woods into hamlets above and below. There rustics sit at cottage doors, carving trinkets and toys in wood, ivory and bone. It is then the little ones are invited to the house. Coffee, cakes, fruits and sweets are laid out for them on trestle tables in the grassy orchards. The Frauen Goebbels and Göring, in dainty Bavarian dress, arrange dances and folk-songs while the bolder spirits are given joy-rides in Herr Hitler’s private aeroplane.

Nor must I forget to mention the archery-butts at the back of the chalet. It is strange to watch the burly Field-Marshal Göring, as chief of the most formidable air force in Europe, taking a turn with the bow and arrow at straw targets of twenty-five yards range. There is as much to-do about those scarlet bulls-eyes as though the fate of nations depended on a perfect score!

But I have said enough to convey the idea of a sunny sub-alpine home, hundreds of miles from Berlin’s uproar, and set amid an unsophisticated peasantry of carvers and hunters. This is the only home in which Hitler can laugh and take his ease - or even „conduct tours“ by means of the tripod telescope which he himself operates on the terrace for his visitors. „This place is mine.“ He says, simply. „I built it with money that I earned.“ Then he takes you into his library where you note that quite half of the books are on history, painting, architecture and music. When it is fine enough to dine in the open air, one sees a piano made ready for the after-dinner concert. Local talent will provide violin and cello for pieces by Mozart or Brahms. But at the piano itself, it is always that English-speaking giant (he is 6ft. 4 ins.) - Dr. Ernest „Putzi“ Hanfstaengl who presides as composer of all-German renown.

IN HIS HOURS OF EASE - THE FÜHRER IN THE GARDEN, WITH ONE OF HIS PEDIGREE ALSATIANS BESIDE HIM.