Relations between Nazi Germany and fascist Italy got off to a rocky start, but by 1936, Mussolini and Hitler were warming to each other.

This was good news for them and bad news for Europe generally, and in particular, the nation that lay between them, Austria.

Welcome to the history of the 20th century.

The 20th century. Episode 303, Axis and Anschluss, Part 1.

In the year 1916, a German businessman named Otto Winter built himself a chalet in the

Bavarian Alps near the town of Berchtesgaden, close to the

Austrian border. He named it Hauswachenfeld. In the 1920s, Adolf Hitler, who had lived his

early years in Austria and Bavaria, began to take his vacations in this region, known as Ober Salzberg.

In 1928, Hitler leased house Vachenfeld from Otto's widow, Margueretta.

The lease included the right of first refusal in the event Margueretta chose to sell the house.

Hitler's half-sister, Angola, lived in the chalet and served as its housekeeper.

Frow Vinter offered to sell the house to Hitler in the autumn of 1932.

But as you'll recall, that was a busy time for him.

It took nine months before the deal was closed in

June 1933, by which time Adolf Hitler had become chancellor. He took possession of the house

and all its furnishings. For the first year or so, after the purchase was settled, Ober Salzberg became something of a tourist attraction for Hitler's admirers.

The Chancellor was known not only to frequent the chalet, but to enjoy going out for long walks to take in the magnificent alpine scenery.

Sometimes he would drop in at a nearby restaurant.

Visitors would gather at the foot of the driveway

or along public walking trails

in the hope of catching a glimpse

of the man who had risen from corporal to world leader.

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