European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - December 28, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Iry 1 77l� skylab Lodge at Berchtesgaden now usually associated with skiing and golfing was once a nazi i Fader s Model  grand Check out their skis or Eal heir meals. Yet the facilities Are Lull of history. Legend has it hint Hitler started his Book while staying at what is now known As the Gen. Walker hotel. The Skytop Lodge usually associated with skiing programs and summer a Oilme. Was Martin Bormann s Model Arm. Bormann served As nazi party Secretary replacing Rudolf Hess after his mysterious flight to Scotland in 1941, and was the Man behind much of the buildup that occurred at Obe Salzberg. Across from the Skytop is the Evergreen Lodge Albert Speer s studio. Above the Evergreen is Speer s House now privately owned. Speer. An architect by profession served Hitler first As an architect and later As the minister for armament and War production. All of these were part of what was 40 years ago p Lanning a vacation consider these historical notes about a few of the  am Chi Emsee the Chi Emsee recreation area dates to 1938 when it was opened As the prototype for a series of autobahn rests Ops that were planned for Hitler s Germany. Construction of an july 3, 1937 under the supervision of the Gerr an Highway commission in Munich. It was officially dedicated sept. 1, 1938 with an opening crowd estimated at 10.000. During the War it served As a transient hotel for senior nazi party officials and military officers. Later it was converted into a rehabilitation Center Lor the German army. American troops used it As a Hospital until it was converted to a dependents rest Center in june 1946. As Par of arc. In specializes in water sports programs of you take a cute see skiing program you la pass through the old stables now part of the ski instruction area. Many americans visiting Berchtesgaden stay at arc s Berchtesgaden or hoi a hotel that despite being a Little frayed from age reflects a grandiose past. That past includes such guests As British prime minister Neville Chamberlain. Field Marshall Erwin Rommel and Gen. Friench Jodl. Nazi parly officials such As Heinrich a Irmler and Joseph Goebbels also stayed at the hot. The hotel confiscated by the 101 St Aii borne and turned into an officers r & r hotel. Originally was built by a German hotel corporation and known As the grand hotel. The hoi was purchased by the nazi party in 1939, remodeler and opened under its present name strictly for senior military officers and party officials. The history of he Gen. Walker hotel is More unusual. A House the Steinhaus was built on the location several Hundred years ago. In 1877 ii was bought by a woman to Rit Meyer who renamed it the pension Moritz. Business boomed the hotel was expanded with known As the Berchtesgaden recreation area the Center for operational control of the hotel and recreation facilities in All three  later. Garmisch operated separately and the two areas remained separate and Independent until the mid-1950s. Those Early months included planning for construction projects. In Berchtesgaden. This included rebuilding the Pla terhof which had been destroyed in a bombing raid of Obe Salzberg on april 25, 194ft, into the Gen. Walker hotel. Bormann s Model Arm. The guts of was to be renovated into what is now known As the Skytop. In Garmisch. Army engineers started work on the Casa Carioca nightclub that could seat about 600 people and specialized in extravagant ice shows. The club was destroyed by lire in 1970 alter 24 years of operation. Other projects included a Bowling Alley and theater. Construction and renovation projects would continue Lor years the recreation areas would undergo a amp changes and the organization would move its Headquarters Iron Berchtesgaden to Gair Nii cd to Munich and then Back to Garmisch. That continues today As arc goes through an organization change from military to civilian leadership combined with a plan for major renovation and conduction work to expand and modernize the facilities. In arc s future is a substantial change in both cosmetics and operations. A study conducted Over several months at a Cost of nearly $800,000, o lured some 600 recommendations that Range from building a new hotel in Garmisch to buying new towels and linens for its almost 1.200 rooms in 12 hotels. Many of the study s suggestions already have been adopted. The once grand Berchtesgaden or Hof confiscated by the army after the War still reflects its heyday. Wings added. One of the guests was author Richard Voss who wrote a bestseller called two people. Allegedly based on the life of Meyer who died in 1897. The Central character in the Book was Judith fitter and the new owner of the pension renamed Hie hotel the Platter hol. According to legend Hitler s arled his Book mein Kamplin the old Steinhaus now the bavarian room. In 1936, the nazi party took Over the plate rho and renovated it. Adding the Skyline room site of Many top level meetings Between Hitler and his staff. The hotel Hitler s nearby Home the Berghof Martin Bormann s Home and the is Barracks were All connected by an elaborate underground Tunnel system. The Tunnel system is still intact although Only the portion under the Gen. Walker hotel is open for Tours. Arc s Skytop Lodge today is a year round Center with a nine Hole Golf course that converts to a skiing area in the Winter. It s hard to imagine it wa1 designed to be the ultimate in farming a Pel project of nazi Leader Martin Bormann. Keh Steinhaus. Better known to americans As the Eagle s nest is open Lor hours during summer usually from mid May until october depending on the weather the so called Tea House rarely visited by Hitler. Now is owned by the bavarian government and leased to the Berchtesgaden Alpine association private vehicles Are not allowed on the sleep Road from Obe Salzburg to the Eagle s nest. When open. Arc runs Tours twice daily at a Cost of $8 for adults and $6.75 for  under 12. Guided Tours of the Obe Salzberg area including the bunkers under the Gen. Walker hotel Are conducted daily by arc depending on the season the Tours Are conducted in the mornings monday through saturday and. During Winter season a sunday afternoon tour is added. Cost is $2 75 Tor adults $2 for children 17 or younger. �mbflr26, 1985 the stars and stripes Page 15