The bombing of the Obersalzberg on 25 April 1945, a mere twelve days prior to the actual surrender of all German forces on 7 May, now appears inconsequential, even unnecessary. The objective of such an attack is far from clear, it certainly had little bearing on events elsewhere; the German surrender would have taken place regardless, and the effect on public morale at that point in time would have been negligible to say the least.
Nonetheless, on that morning, 359 Avro Lancaster bombers and 16 De Havilland Mosquitos attacked the Obersalzberg to drop over 1,230 tons of bombs on the Nazi mountain complex. Despite the considerable measures taken to conceal the buildings on the Obersalzberg from Allied aerial reconnaissance, including camouflage paint applied to the buildings and wire netting with artificial grass and foliage attached covering the buildings, all structures within the inner security zone suffered damage during the air-raid. While a few buildings emerged unscathed, many were badly damaged, and several were completely destroyed.
Hermann Göring, his wife Emmy and their daughter Edda were on the Obersalzberg on the morning of the air-raid; as was Martin Bormann’s wife Gerda and her nine children. There were over 3,000 people on the Obersalzberg on the morning of the bombing. These included staff from the various residences and those who worked in the administration buildings together with a number of SS and RSD, not forgetting some 3,000 labourers.
Nevertheless, it is plainly obvious that the Nazi complex on the Obersalzberg would be subject to a process of eradication at some point for political and ideological reasons; consequently there is little tangible evidence of Hitler’s southern headquarters on the mountain today. Alternatively, given the incredible number of visitors who now descend upon the area, had some the buildings on the Obersalzberg been spared, they might have been used for educational purposes.
In this regard the Kehlsteinhaus (Eagle’s Nest) provides the perfect example. During the period that the Eagle’s Nest is open each year, from early/mid May until mid/late October, depending on weather conditions, Hitler’s second teahouse alone receives over 300,000 visitors. These figures are taken from the sale of bus tickets and do not include the unrecorded numbers of those who undertake the long hike up the mountain to the building. The numbers of visitors to the Obersalzberg increases year on year.