By Kevin M. Hymel

For the Western Allies, the war in Europe ended with more of a whimper than a bang. With the Soviet armies hammering into Berlin, American and British forces took territory and collected prisoners. One of the last goals for the generals and grunts alike was Berchtesgaden, Adolf Hitler’s Bavarian retreat where many of the most ardent and wealthy Nazis lived.

While the U.S. 3rd Infantry and French 2nd Armored Divisions liberated Hitler’s Eagle Nest, the paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division had the honor of occupying the souvenir-laden area. The Screaming Eagles made the most of their stay. Finding most of Hitler’s residence bombed out and gutted, they occupied the surviving buildings and feasted on the remains of the Thousand Year Reich.

These are color photos of the airborne victors. They show the destruction wrought by British Royal Air Force bombing. They also display a peaceful occupation by soldiers turned tourists, waiting out the end of war to return home.

Under new management: a soldier of the 101st Airborne Division stands guard at the base of Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest. The only way to the Nest was a tunnel that ran through the center of the mountain to a gold-leafed elevator that led directly to the chalet. Today, the elevator is brass plated.
Under new management: a soldier of the 101st Airborne Division stands guard at the base of Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest. The only way to the Nest was a tunnel that ran through the center of the mountain to a gold-leafed elevator that led directly to the chalet. Today, the elevator is brass plated.
Those fishermen in baggy pants: shedding combat gear for fishing poles, glidermen pass the time by fishing in the King River. Despite the relaxation, the men continued to train for war, believing they were headed to the Pacific for the invasion of Japan.
Those fishermen in baggy pants: shedding combat gear for fishing poles, glidermen pass the time by fishing in the King River. Despite the relaxation, the men continued to train for war, believing they were headed to the Pacific for the invasion of Japan.
Soldiers as tourists: a band of Screaming Eagles listens to Lieutenant Louis Merz as he explains the Berchtesgaden Hof, a local inn. Berchtesgaden was a resort village, but the war deprived all the stores of their wares. The only major occupation of the townspeople by the end of the war was inn keeping. Almost every building in the town bore a sign identifying it as a hotel, inn, or Gastof.
Soldiers as tourists: a band of Screaming Eagles listens to Lieutenant Louis Merz as he explains the Berchtesgaden Hof, a local inn. Berchtesgaden was a resort village, but the war deprived all the stores of their wares. The only major occupation of the townspeople by the end of the war was inn keeping. Almost every building in the town bore a sign identifying it as a hotel, inn, or Gastof.
Outside the Berghof, Hitler’s house for guests in Berchtesgaden, a few Screaming Eagles commandeer an SS staff car. The Americans liberated any vehicle they could find, including Volkswagen and Mercedes Benz automobiles, troop trucks, fire engines, an amphibious vehicle and Hitler’s and Luftwaffe Chief Hermann Goering’s staff cars.
Outside the Berghof, Hitler’s house for guests in Berchtesgaden, a few Screaming Eagles commandeer an SS staff car. The Americans liberated any vehicle they could find, including Volkswagen and Mercedes Benz automobiles, troop trucks, fire engines, an amphibious vehicle and Hitler’s and Luftwaffe Chief Hermann Goering’s staff cars.
Shedding rifles for cameras, these glidermen of the 327th Glider Infantry Regiment snap photos of the Swiss Alps. Visiting GIs to the area became so numerous that General Maxwell Taylor, who commanded the Screaming Eagles, moved his headquarters to the nearby resort town of Badgastein, where he promptly kicked out the Japanese diplomats who were staying in the hotel.
Shedding rifles for cameras, these glidermen of the 327th Glider Infantry Regiment snap photos of the Swiss Alps. Visiting GIs to the area became so numerous that General Maxwell Taylor, who commanded the Screaming Eagles, moved his headquarters to the nearby resort town of Badgastein, where he promptly kicked out the Japanese diplomats who were staying in the hotel.
Three soldiers walk past the SS barracks on the Berchtesgaden grounds. The Royal Air Force bombed the barracks on April 25, 1945. A correspondent who visited the area reported, “The trees and shrubbery were gone, the grass was gone, there was just torn, brown earth and splintered rocks, a mockery of beauty and power.”
Three soldiers walk past the SS barracks on the Berchtesgaden grounds. The Royal Air Force bombed the barracks on April 25, 1945. A correspondent who visited the area reported, “The trees and shrubbery were gone, the grass was gone, there was just torn, brown earth and splintered rocks, a mockery of beauty and power.”

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