26 May 1945: The Berghof

The Berghof, Hitler’s retreat at Berchtesgaden, three weeks after cessation of hostilities.

The Berghof had been bombed repeatedly in the final months of the war.

In the photograph, a P-47 Thunderbolt of the U.S. Army 12th Air Force may be seen flying low over the crumbled ruins.

The crater in the background is enormous; it demonstrates that the Allies used significant weaponry at Berchtesgaden.