Herbert Döhring, Eight Years with Hitler (circa 1999), Sept 1, 2023
Herbert Döhring (* September 29, 1913 in Paaris, Rastenburg District, East Prussia; † December 23, 2001) was a member of the SS and Hitler's house administrator at the Berghof on Obersalzberg from 1935 to 1943.
In this interview from 1999, Hitler's former employee describes for the first time in detail how he remembers his time at the Berghof. Döhring, who died in 2001, was one of the best contemporary witnesses from Hitler's immediate environment due to his extraordinary memory. In this interview he impressively describes his time at Obersalzberg.
Having belonged to the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler in Berlin-Lichterfelde since 1934, Döhring transferred in 1935 to the "Führerschutzkommando", which was about 30 strong. His first task was to provide Hitler with personal protection at the Reich Party Congress in Nuremberg in 1935 at the Hotel Deutscher Hof. After the Nazi Party Conference, Döhring was called to Obersalzberg, where he first worked as a telephone operator/guard in the old Haus Wachenfeld - which at this time was being expanded by the architect Alois Degano into what would later become the Berghof. Then he took over the construction supervision of the extension works. When Hitler was present at Obersalzberg, he stayed in the guest house "Hoher Göll". Finally, Döhring became the caretaker of the generously expanded Berghof.
While working at the Berghof, Döhring met his future wife Anna Krautenbacher, who was also employed there. On December 10, 1936, they were married in Berchtesgaden. The subsequent wedding celebration, which Hitler also attended, took place at the Berghof.
This interview was recorded in 1999 and never published until now.