Berghof Obersalzberg

[Br. James]

"The porcelain shown in the second link is close, but not quite right."

I see what you mean, Chris -- the central floral design is not the same in Max's link as in yours, but none of the modern photos shows a gilt central design identical to the "ground-dug fragment removed from the site in 2018."

Br. James

[CPB]

"The porcelain shown in the second link is close, but not quite right."

I see what you mean, Chris -- the central floral design is not the same in Max's link as in yours, but none of the modern photos shows a gilt central design identical to the "ground-dug fragment removed from the site in 2018."

Br. James

Bear in mind, each piece was hand painted, so none are literally 100% identical to one another...

Best wishes my friend!

[Bauc]

"The porcelain shown in the second link is close, but not quite right."

I see what you mean, Chris -- the central floral design is not the same in Max's link as in yours, but none of the modern photos shows a gilt central design identical to the "ground-dug fragment removed from the site in 2018."

Br. James

Bear in mind, each piece was hand painted, so none are literally 100% identical to one another...

Best wishes my friend!

Was this porcelain made on order for Berghof and Tee House or was it a common product? I did try my luck online, but I didn't find anything similar made by Nymphburg manufacture.
I know this is probably impossible question.

[CPB]

"The porcelain shown in the second link is close, but not quite right."

I see what you mean, Chris -- the central floral design is not the same in Max's link as in yours, but none of the modern photos shows a gilt central design identical to the "ground-dug fragment removed from the site in 2018."

Br. James

Bear in mind, each piece was hand painted, so none are literally 100% identical to one another...

Best wishes my friend!

Was this porcelain made on order for Berghof and Tee House or was it a common product? I did try my luck online, but I didn't find anything similar made by Nymphburg manufacture.
I know this is probably impossible question.

I believe the gold version of this pattern was made exclusively for Hitler. It was also available in blue.

[Biber]

Hello, I wanted to show what I once built. Made some Adolf Hitler Berghof patio chairs. And one is still available. Anyone interested is welcome to get in touch. The chairs were originally made according to blueprints.

Sure, why not? They're a practical and even reasonably comfortable design. I saw some just like it the other night at TGI Friday's in Rochester NY (delivered son to the University there). Sorry the pic is on its side. I can't figure out how to fix it

[Bauc]

"The porcelain shown in the second link is close, but not quite right."

I see what you mean, Chris -- the central floral design is not the same in Max's link as in yours, but none of the modern photos shows a gilt central design identical to the "ground-dug fragment removed from the site in 2018."

Br. James

Bear in mind, each piece was hand painted, so none are literally 100% identical to one another...

Best wishes my friend!

Was this porcelain made on order for Berghof and Tee House or was it a common product? I did try my luck online, but I didn't find anything similar made by Nymphburg manufacture.
I know this is probably impossible question.

I believe the gold version of this pattern was made exclusively for Hitler. It was also available in blue.

Thank you. Was blue pattern for common folks?

[AlexS]

Hi gents,

I will start to say thank you for all the interesting information gathered here by you during the years. It has taken a while to go through all the pages but it was worth every minute.

A small introduction of myself. I am a complete history buff, architect and collector since many years of ww2 items. The latest 5 years my interest in the personalities of the TR has emerged and in particular AH and his obersalzberg. Imagine my hapiness when I found this thread!

I don't have more information on Berghof to add (is it even possible in this thread?), but instead items that I would love to have your thoughts about.

I bought these drawings a while back and have started researching them a bit.

First one is marked 83 (internal number in Speer archive) and from what I can read out "Vorscheidein Wachenfeld 3,5 A3 1935". Also on the back of this sketch is a piece of another drawing of what could be part of the Berghof, but I have not yet located where. It says "Brennstoffe” (Fuel), "Heigaung" (Heating) in the rooms but on the larger piece of text I have trouble translating. If someone could help me out here I would be very grateful! In the front is a facade of what seems to be the Wachenfeld and sketches that reminds me of the Berghof, with stairs to the right to get up to the patio and the arched door besides the grand stairs to the left.

On the other drawing it says 85 Bibl. Wachenfeld 1937 3,5. On the front side is a room sketch of what seems to be the rough outline of the Berghof connection to the great hall and also a sketch of the adjunctancy building, but this sketch is slightly larger than what I can make out from the Berghof plans. According to the title of the sketch it could be a draft sketch before the Berghof visitors rooms was added to the adjunctancy wing, and thus a proposal for the librarys location.

Comments / info that I have found regarding the remodelling and the library is pasted below.

If anyone knows more please do reach out!


Best regards
Alex


Hitlers Mountain: The Führer, Obersalzberg and the American occupation of Berechtesgaden, av Arthur H Mitchell.

”Then, in 1935 he decided on a complete reconstruction, and he was its principal architect. His objective was to greatly expand the edifice while retaining its original structure. Albert Speer recalled that Hitler borrowed from him all the equipment needed to design a building. Hitler used the professional services of two Munich architects, first Alois Degano, then Roderich Fick.” (s.30)


”A long extension from the main building, with rooms for guests, gave the appearance of a forerunner to Days Inn. Ignatius Phayre, a guest in 1936, found his room decorated with Hitler’s watercolor paintings from the 1914-18 war. Hitler had plans to build an annex to the Berghof for a library of 60 000 books.” (s.30)


Interview ”The Atlantic may 2003, Hitlers forgotten Library, av Timothy W Ryback”

”In Munich, Gassert and Mattern also discovered architectural sketches for a library annex to the Berghof that was intended to accommodate more than 60 000 volumes.”

[AlexS]

Additional images

[Duane Becker]

Besides all things Oberslazberg, I collect Life Magazines. In the March 19, 1945, issue there is an Allied aerial photo of the Obersalzberg compound along with a text. I've included both here. Interesting text...

[Br. James]

A great photo of the Berghof area in early 1945, with Hitler's complex in the lower left area. Interesting that the eastern wing of the expanded house, where the dining room and kitchen were located, appear to have been extended as many as three times, after the original construction was finished.

Interesting, too, that the author of this article in "Life" Magazine believed that Hitler's "favorite retreat...is on the top of near-by Mt. Kelstein," while today we know that Hitler only visited the Kehlsteinhaus a very few times after it was completed in 1938. Great to see this period photo.

Br. James

[Mannheim]

Note to AlexS: I'd be careful using Arthur Mitchell's book "Hitler's Mountain" as a reference - he quotes the non-existent Elisabeth von Strahlenberg as a source. http://www.trashfiction.co.uk/nazi_lady.html

[Biber]

AlexS -

Though those drawings are quite a catch. Good for you!

As regards the library expansion of the Berghof (perhaps better referred to as a legacy expansion?) I do recall seeing more detailed plans/drawings somewhere. Not sure where I saw them but I'll give a look around. Perhaps Geoff Walden can offer some insight. It was briefly discussed in this thread from 2007 (which I don't remember starting!): viewtopic.php?f=45&t=124271&hilit=annex .

As I remember the expansion was to be a long addition that paralleled the driveway and connected to the main Berghof building, creating a covered grand entrance to an inner courtyard created between it and the kitchen/dining wing.

[Biber]

DELETED by Author - duplicated through operator error.

[Geoff Walden]

Interesting, too, that the author of this article in "Life" Magazine believed that Hitler's "favorite retreat...is on the top of near-by Mt. Kelstein," while today we know that Hitler only visited the Kehlsteinhaus a very few times after it was completed in 1938.
Br. James

Another fine example showing how little the Allies really knew about the Obersalzberg in 1945. All those soldiers arrived in 1945 with a lot of preconceived notions about the place, which were largely wrong. Hitler and Bormann had been pretty successful at concealing details about the OSB.

BTW, for those who haven’t seen the news - the long-delayed (years) new Dokumentation center on the Obersalzberg will finally open to the general public on 28 September.

[Biber]

Deleted - was somehow duplicated in the process or correcting some typos.