The past unfolds through various events and developments. - Since September 2023, Obersalzberg has welcomed 100,000 guests.
Nearly 100,000 individuals have flocked to the freshly redesigned documentation center at Obersalzberg since its rebirth in September the previous year. The temporary display titled "Idyll and Crime" has garnered a considerable amount of enthusiasm during the normally sluggish winter season in the region of Berchtesgaden.
The exhibition is presented in five different sections, spanning over 350 objects, documents, images, and various multimedia elements. It explores the stark contrast between the picturesque mountain scenery and the nightmarish atrocities of the Nazi regime. The historians from the Institute for Contemporary History (IfZ) are responsible for conceptualizing this exhibition. They aim to re-tell the story of Obersalzberg while highlighting the experiences of those who were victimized.
The former documentation center, installed back in 1999, was running over capacity with more visitors than anticipated. Consequently, plans for a partially buried new building were approved in 2012, which are estimated to cost around €30 million.
Obersalzberg holds a significant position in history as this was not only the retreat of Adolf Hitler where he received state dignitaries but also a location where he orchestrated persecution, war, and slaughter. Propaganda pictures were taken here, intended to portray Hitler as a kindhearted "leader." This infamous site resides just five minutes away from the current documentation center.
The "Dokumentation Obersalzberg" ranks within the crucial national and international institutions dedicated to examining the Nazi dictatorship and its after-effects. Prior to its closure for construction, a tremendous three million people had paid a visit to this center.
Apart from the exhibitions, the newly opened documentation center in Obersalzberg offers an extensive educational and event schedule. The demand for these events remains high, as remarked by Sven Keller, the head of the center.
