Dietrich-Eckart-Krankenhaus, a well-known hospital in Berchtesgaden, has a long and controversial history that dates back to Nazi Germany. The hospital, named after the radical nationalist and poet Dietrich Eckart, who was one of Adolf Hitler’s key mentors, was established in the 1930s. Eckart’s ideas and nationalist fervor helped shape Hitler’s ideology, and his influence on the Nazi regime remains historically documented to this day.
Berchtesgaden, located in the picturesque Bavarian Alps, became a politically significant location during Hitler’s era. Hitler frequently stayed at his mountain residence, known as the Eagle’s Nest (Kehlsteinhaus), and many Nazi leaders and officials were drawn to the area, not only for political meetings but also for healthcare and rehabilitation services in local spas and hospitals, including Dietrich-Eckart-Krankenhaus.
The hospital served not only as a healthcare facility for the local population but also for the needs of the Nazi leadership. During the war, it treated common injuries and illnesses as well as soldiers who required rehabilitation or psychological support. Hitler and other members of the Nazi leadership utilized nearby healthcare facilities and spa services for recovery and rest.
After the end of World War II, the hospital underwent significant changes, with gradual renaming and restructuring efforts to eliminate its Nazi past, operating until 1996, when it eventually went bankrupt.
Today, Dietrich-Eckart-Krankenhaus stands as an empty, decaying building, serving as a reminder of dark history rather than a place of healthcare. The abandoned hospital has become an attractive location for those exploring paranormal phenomena, though, unfortunately, it is also a site persistently damaged by vandals.
That’s why we decided to spend the night there…
