Felsennest, Military headquarters near Bad Münstereifel, Germany
Felsennest is a collection of bunker foundations and concrete remnants on Eselsberg hill near Rodert village in Germany. The remains consist of four demolished concrete bunkers, foundations from two solid buildings, and traces of three wooden barracks now mostly covered by forest floor and vegetation.
Hitler used this command post from May 10 to June 6, 1940, to direct military operations during the Western Campaign against France and the Benelux countries. German military engineers blew up the entire complex in March 1945 before retreating, leaving only foundation remnants and protruding steel bars.
The name translates to "cliff nest", reflecting the elevated position on top of Eselsberg where the command post sat hidden among trees and rocky terrain. Today hikers pass the overgrown ruins without realizing they walk through what was once a nerve center for invasion orders.
Visitors can reach the remains through a hiking trail from Rodert village by following the marked path southwest from Napoleonstrasse toward Eselsberg. The route passes through wooded area and requires sturdy footwear because the ground is uneven and the ruins lie scattered among trees.
The demolitions in March 1945 were so thorough that today only concrete fragments and twisted steel bars protrude from the forest floor. Despite the complete destruction, the scattered foundations still reveal the original layout of the complex.
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