Berghof Obersalzberg
- Geoff Walden
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Re: Berghof Obersalzberg
Welcome, Ohio_Roadie!
I'm just back from a week on the Obersalzberg. Sorry to say that most of my visits these days are not to see anything new, but to see what changes are being made around there, and these are rarely changes for the better. True to form, the Bavarian government has recently removed the original main staircase of the Platterhof (General Walker) Hotel, which had remained since the hotel was torn down in 2001. I have no earthly idea why they did this ... these granite steps were in fine shape - not cracked or damaged or anything, but now there is an ugly modern metal staircase there.
I could not find the exact location of that photo of the Band of Brothers with the Watzmann mountain in the background. As near as I could figure, it was taken somewhere around the area of the Jugendherberge, but you can't get that same view from there today. I'm thinking they must have just been sitting on the back terrace or something of some local house, not a well known or public site today. But definitely not on the Obersalzberg or at the Eagle's Nest.
I saw something that I had never seen on the Obersalzberg before ... a SS "soldier." There was a group of reenactors visiting the Eagle's Nest, dressed in SS camouflage smocks (and these were German reenactors!). Their vehicles (Kubelwagen and motorcycles), complete with at least one 2nd SS Panzer Division "Das Reich" tactical symbol, were parked at the Kehlstein bus parking lot, with a uniformed guard to watch things while his comrades were up on the mountain. I imagine this group created a big scene up at the Eagle's Nest!
Geoff
I'm just back from a week on the Obersalzberg. Sorry to say that most of my visits these days are not to see anything new, but to see what changes are being made around there, and these are rarely changes for the better. True to form, the Bavarian government has recently removed the original main staircase of the Platterhof (General Walker) Hotel, which had remained since the hotel was torn down in 2001. I have no earthly idea why they did this ... these granite steps were in fine shape - not cracked or damaged or anything, but now there is an ugly modern metal staircase there.
I could not find the exact location of that photo of the Band of Brothers with the Watzmann mountain in the background. As near as I could figure, it was taken somewhere around the area of the Jugendherberge, but you can't get that same view from there today. I'm thinking they must have just been sitting on the back terrace or something of some local house, not a well known or public site today. But definitely not on the Obersalzberg or at the Eagle's Nest.
I saw something that I had never seen on the Obersalzberg before ... a SS "soldier." There was a group of reenactors visiting the Eagle's Nest, dressed in SS camouflage smocks (and these were German reenactors!). Their vehicles (Kubelwagen and motorcycles), complete with at least one 2nd SS Panzer Division "Das Reich" tactical symbol, were parked at the Kehlstein bus parking lot, with a uniformed guard to watch things while his comrades were up on the mountain. I imagine this group created a big scene up at the Eagle's Nest!
Geoff
Re: Berghof Obersalzberg
anybody know if there is a bigger version of this pic. Interesting angle.
Re: Berghof Obersalzberg
Hi,Cor wrote:anybody know if there is a bigger version of this pic. Interesting angle.
i didn't find a bigger version of your pic, but another one with almost the same angle.
Bye
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www.vergessener-beton.de - Gegen das Vergessen!
www.vergessener-beton.de - Gegen das Vergessen!
- friend_of_Obersalzberg
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Re: Berghof Obersalzberg
Hi all,
the photo from the Easy Company can´t be taken at Geiger (sorry, Geoff ). It was taken on a much higher level. Today I took some comparison photos. It looks like, that the "Band of Brother" photo was taken abov the Dietrich Eckart Krankenhaus. I found a house, that could be the right place, but I can´t walked to the terrace (there were people on it, we had a sunny day). And, of course, the brushwood in the BoB phot are now trees.. So I took my picture a bit to the right of the house, but almost on the same level.. I think, it was there.
Greetings
Ralf
PS: Did you know, that Geoffs book is available now????
the photo from the Easy Company can´t be taken at Geiger (sorry, Geoff ). It was taken on a much higher level. Today I took some comparison photos. It looks like, that the "Band of Brother" photo was taken abov the Dietrich Eckart Krankenhaus. I found a house, that could be the right place, but I can´t walked to the terrace (there were people on it, we had a sunny day). And, of course, the brushwood in the BoB phot are now trees.. So I took my picture a bit to the right of the house, but almost on the same level.. I think, it was there.
Greetings
Ralf
PS: Did you know, that Geoffs book is available now????
- Steve Hoog
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Re: Berghof Obersalzberg
GeoffGeoff Walden wrote:I saw something that I had never seen on the Obersalzberg before ... a SS "soldier." There was a group of reenactors visiting the Eagle's Nest, dressed in SS camouflage smocks (and these were German reenactors!). Their vehicles (Kubelwagen and motorcycles), complete with at least one 2nd SS Panzer Division "Das Reich" tactical symbol, were parked at the Kehlstein bus parking lot, with a uniformed guard to watch things while his comrades were up on the mountain. I imagine this group created a big scene up at the Eagle's Nest!
Geoff
This is quite interesting! I am surprised they were allowed to say the least but certainly something I would have enjoyed seeing.
By chance did you take any photos to share of this encounter?
Loyalty is My Honor
Re: Berghof Obersalzberg
Well, that is good news since I have had a order in since last November.PS: Did you know, that Geoffs book is available now????
Checked amazon and it says here publication date June 17,2014.....
Looking forward to finally getting the book, in fact I ordered two.
Re: Berghof Obersalzberg
Well check this then.Annelie wrote:
Checked amazon and it says here publication date June 17,2014.....
Second hand copies for $ 128.15 plus shipping
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/ ... d&sr=&qid=
Greetings from the Wide Brown.
Re: Berghof Obersalzberg
I downloaded Geoff's book electronically (Amazon Kindle version) and had a chance to take several of his guided tours firsthand in Germany two weeks ago. It's a great book and will make a wonderful addition to everyone's personal library!
Adam
Adam
- friend_of_Obersalzberg
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Re: Berghof Obersalzberg
Hi all,
strange, at Amazon.de I can get it in 24 hours...
Greetings
Ralf
strange, at Amazon.de I can get it in 24 hours...
Greetings
Ralf
Re: Berghof Obersalzberg
Very strange dealing with amazon.
If I had known I could have got them in Germany faster I would
have done that initially but I have waited this long a few more weeks
won't hurt.
More amazing is when they have just come out in publication how one
could be had used?
Its a book worth having especially since Geoff says
If I had known I could have got them in Germany faster I would
have done that initially but I have waited this long a few more weeks
won't hurt.
More amazing is when they have just come out in publication how one
could be had used?
Its a book worth having especially since Geoff says
for those of us who have an interest in the area.these days are not to see anything new, but to see what changes are being made around there, and these are rarely changes for the better
- Geoff Walden
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Re: Berghof Obersalzberg
Amazon.com sent me a message yesterday that the ones I ordered were being prepared for shipment. So maybe they will ship today. The book was published first in Europe ... it was available in the UK in mid-April. Kindle edition was available in the U.S. a couple weeks ago. Don't ask me what the difference is ...
There are already a couple errors, because I submitted the manuscript last June. For one thing, the Holzkäfer Restaurant in Buchenhöhe is closed now, to all appearances, for good.
Yeah, I guess we should all hold onto "used"copies, seeing as they are worth over $100!!! (Yeah, where do they get that sort of thing???)
Thanks for the kind comments, Adam!
Great search for that photo, Ralf!
Steve, I will post some photos of the reenactors a little later.
Geoff
There are already a couple errors, because I submitted the manuscript last June. For one thing, the Holzkäfer Restaurant in Buchenhöhe is closed now, to all appearances, for good.
Yeah, I guess we should all hold onto "used"copies, seeing as they are worth over $100!!! (Yeah, where do they get that sort of thing???)
Thanks for the kind comments, Adam!
Great search for that photo, Ralf!
Steve, I will post some photos of the reenactors a little later.
Geoff
- Geoff Walden
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Re: Berghof Obersalzberg
Back on pages 224-225, we were discussing the possible Tallboy bomb craters on the Obersalzberg. "Crater 1" is the one in the hillside behind the Berghof site. "Crater 4" was out in the Gutshof meadow, on today's golf course (no remains). Last week I looked for Craters 2 and 3.
Crater 2 is not really obvious unless you're looking for it ... not nearly as obvious as the big crater behind the Berghof. But there is definitely a depression there, in a lightly wooded area, roughly the same size as the big crater behind the Berghof (I took photos, but they don't really show anything, due to the trees).
Crater 3, I could find no sign of. That's actually a very steep slope in a wooded area, and I saw no bomb craters around there at all.
Crater 2 is not really obvious unless you're looking for it ... not nearly as obvious as the big crater behind the Berghof. But there is definitely a depression there, in a lightly wooded area, roughly the same size as the big crater behind the Berghof (I took photos, but they don't really show anything, due to the trees).
Crater 3, I could find no sign of. That's actually a very steep slope in a wooded area, and I saw no bomb craters around there at all.
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Re: Berghof Obersalzberg
'Crater 4' must have been filled in quite a long time ago.
Probably when they decided to make that area into a golf course for the American Forces families AFRC.
When I was working on the road across the Gutshof in the mid 1970's with the Royal Engineers, I don't recall anything like a crater in that area there at all.
Probably when they decided to make that area into a golf course for the American Forces families AFRC.
When I was working on the road across the Gutshof in the mid 1970's with the Royal Engineers, I don't recall anything like a crater in that area there at all.
- Geoff Walden
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Re: Berghof Obersalzberg
Here are the reenactor vehicles that were parked on the Obersalzberg last week, and one of the group members. Notice the SS Panzer Division "Das Reich" tactical symbol on the motorcycle sidecar, and the reenactor's SS camouflage smock. We also saw these guys driving up the hill, and there were more SS camo smocks and coats in the crowd. I'm assuming their uniforms had neither SS runes nor sleeve eagles (maybe not even cuff titles), because these are illegal to wear in Germany, even in a reenacting context.
Their vehicles were pristine! Some of the best restored historic vehicles I have seen. Kubelwagen and BMW and Zundapp motorcycles. The modern license plates were from Bad Freienwalde, in Brandenburg.
Sure wish I could have been up at the Kehlsteinhaus when the rest of those guys were up there ... it must have been quite a stir!
Their vehicles were pristine! Some of the best restored historic vehicles I have seen. Kubelwagen and BMW and Zundapp motorcycles. The modern license plates were from Bad Freienwalde, in Brandenburg.
Sure wish I could have been up at the Kehlsteinhaus when the rest of those guys were up there ... it must have been quite a stir!
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- Steve Hoog
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Re: Berghof Obersalzberg
WOW, I would have had a fit to have seen this when I was there!
Loyalty is My Honor