Drinking Hitler's Champagne: Berchtesgaden: May 1-8, 1945 Summary and Analysis

In chapter seventeen, Easy Company continued to approach Berchtesgaden, the village of high-ranking Nazi leaders, which led to Hitler's Eagle's Nest. The Allied countries were in a race to Hitler's famous residence. The Army occupied the grandiose Nazi homes while the German troops continued to surrender. American soldiers, as conquerors, looted the town and confiscated valuable personal effects from surrendering German soldiers. Easy Company was the first to reach Hitler's Eagle's Nest. The American military promptly ransacked the residence. Winters discovered a gigantic cellar filled with liquor and wine from across the globe. Winters shared his findings with his friend and alcohol connoisseur, Captain Nixon.

The soldiers had luxurious homes to stay in, opportunities for looting and a seemingly unending supply of alcohol. The men began to celebrate the end of...